Author Topic: Remove text "box" from an image  (Read 5428 times)

March 12, 2017, 07:32:19 AM
Read 5428 times

hastaluego

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Hello all,
First topic for me on this forum. Hope i will get some help and could also help someone in return once.

I am currently working on a project and i need a vectorized image to be used on a laser cutting machine.
My problem here is to remove some text that i have on my image and i am not able to do so for the moment.
For instance, the image has this text box which i don't need and i want to remove it.
How could i do that? i have tried, seen many things but none of them helped me to solve this on Inkscape.
Thx a lot for your support  :th:

March 12, 2017, 08:56:38 AM
Reply #1

brynn

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Welcome to the forum!

If that is the actual image which you're trying to edit, the reason you can't isolate the text is probably because that is a raster image (a JPG, which often are photos).  Inkscape is a vector editor and is not capable of editing a raster image, almost at all.   As far as I understand, it might be possible to isolate the text using a raster editor, such as GIMP.  But even if you could do that, there would still be another step needed, to make those circles into vector paths.

Or maybe you have an SVG or other vector file that you're working on, but you only showed us in a raster image?  That looks like something that might have come in a kit, or maybe you purchased a package online or something?  Did it come with any vector files, such as SVG, or DXF, or maybe even PDF, or other?

If so, open that vector file in Inkscape.  If not, I guess you are supposed to use that JPG with Inkscape's Path menu > Trace Bitmap (or other auto-trace engine).  That will convert all those circles into circular paths, which your machine can easily use to cut.

If truly all you need are random circles, like to make a test run or something, you should know that you can easily make them yourself with Inkscape, and not need to trace the raster image.  You might even achieve better accuracy that way.  On the other hand, those circles of different sizes in their specific arrangment, would probably be hard to reproduce precisely, manually. 

So, circles by themselves - easier and more precise to draw manually than auto-tracing.  Many different size circles in that specific pattern - much harder to draw on your own "manually", and better to auto-trace.

Even better yet would be if you received a vector file along with that JPG.

If you auto-trace, then after that you will be able to select that black rectangle with text and delete.  Depending on which version of Inkscape you're using, you might need to Ungroup the file, after the trace is finished, before you can select the text box separately.

If you have a vector file, you should be able to select the black text box and delete.  Although you might need to Ungroup first.  Try this (with either a vector file, or your auto-trace result):

 -- click on the black text box and look at the status bar (bottom of window, in the middle area)

If it says "Path nn nodes in Layer...." you might have it selected already.  Look where the bounding box is.  That's the dashed line rectangle, which indicates to you what is selected.  If the bounding box is much larger than that black box, then probably another step is needed.

 -- try Path menu > Break Apart
 -- deselect everything (click in any open area of canvas, or this button on the control bar  :des: )

If the status bar says "Group of nn objects....."

 -- click Object menu > Ungroup, or this button on the command bar  :ung: , click a few times, until the status bar tells you "No more groups to ungroup"

It might be possible, depending on where the file came from, that you need to do some combination of ungrouping and breaking apart.   Just keep your eye to the status bar, and it will guide you  :)
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March 12, 2017, 10:10:38 AM
Reply #2

hastaluego

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Hello Brynn!
1st Wow and thx a lot for your time and reply. Here are some answers.
This image is the actual picture i need to modify (not an example). It's a free licence one and the one i show is a jpeg. But i also have one with the extention ".eps" I tried to open it with Inkscape but got an error..

I really like the pattern of that pic and want to keep it rather then do by myself..
I will try to apply the tracing method but i don't get why i couldn't vectorzie the jpeg/bitmap by myself?


March 12, 2017, 12:47:34 PM
Reply #3

brynn

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Oh, well good news!  EPS is a vector format!  But I think you need to install Ghostscript to be able to open the EPS file.  Let's see if I can find the FAQ that can tell you what you need to know.....

Ok, this is written in a fairly clear way.  But if you still need help, don't hesitate to ask.
https://inkscape.org/en/learn/faq/#how-open-eps-files-windows
 
I have to log off shortly, and not sure if I'll be back tonight or not.  But other members might be around.

If you're going to be using EPS files in the future, you might as well install GS, and get it working so you can use it later.  If not, you can use that JPG to auto-trace.

I'm not sure what you tried, to vectorize the JPG, that didn't work.  But auto-tracing (Path menu > Trace Bitmap), or tracing by hand (using Pen/Bezier or Pencil/Freehand tool), are 2 different procedures to make the raster image into vector.  So you CAN do it yourself!

Or you can get GS installed and and find the paths all ready for you in the EPS file, to send to the cutter, or export to whatever format the cutter uses, or whatever you need.  They might need to be ungrouped or broken apart, as I explained before.
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March 12, 2017, 02:01:34 PM
Reply #4

hastaluego

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yeah i also read something about ghostscript.. will check how to do that on Mac os. Well it did work in fact but i thought that each element of the picture would become an object and from them i could ungroup each of them (espcieally the text box) and delete it..
Maybe i wasn't clear enough, sorry for that.
So that where i am stuck and for sure i am in learning phase so i try  :2tu:
 :ty1:

March 13, 2017, 01:07:37 PM
Reply #5

brynn

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Each element of the image is a separate object, in the vector EPS file  (although they might be grouped or combined with other object).  NOT in the JPG (raster) file.  In the JPG file, nothing can ever be separate, unless you had trace or auto trace.

I'm sorry.  I'm not clear where you're stuck.

If you did use Trace Bitmap on that JPG, everything has become vector paths.  But they might be all grouped together.  After you run Trace Bitmap, do Object menu > Ungroup.  Then deselect everything (click open area of canvas).  Now you should be able to select the text box and delete it.  And then send the circular paths to your machine or export to whatever format your machine uses.

I hesitate to write more, because I would be guessing.  I think I've given you all the info you should need.  But you might not be understanding the terminology yet.  So if you're still stuck, please tell us the specific steps that you've made, we can tell you where to go from there.
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March 13, 2017, 01:54:30 PM
Reply #6

hastaluego

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yes right, that's also what i have learnt.

What i have done at the end is to use gimp to erase the box and then open the jpg in Inkscape.. went in Path -> vectorize the bitmap ans save as svg file. I think it's enough and easier to do like that.
Soon i will check with the Fablab if the files i have created can be used or not with the laser cutter software :2tu:

March 14, 2017, 05:47:52 PM
Reply #7

Moini

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Or just use this:

March 15, 2017, 02:59:33 PM
Reply #8

hastaluego

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Thx a lot! much appriciated
Would you mind to let me know how you did it?
I was also able to do but when i zoom in it, the circles are finally not really round but kind of ovales.. i guess it doesn't really matter but my curiosity would like to know  :???: :-D which settings, values did you apply in Inkscape for instance'?
thxxxxxxxx