Can I use Inkscape to solve my vector graphic issue?

[TR Fischer]

I recently purchased three pages of vector images from a stock photo site to use as scene separators in my books. I have no experience creating graphics, just inserting them into docs in Word, Scrivener, etc. In one of the sheets, I am unable to pull an individual image out to use it. I called the company and they advised that I need to use a software (like Corel Draw or Adobe something or other) to access the "layers," a term I am not familiar with.

The other sheets I purchased, I was able to pull a single image off, but when I used that one for one book and another one for another book, the first image changed to the second one. It seems the whole page has the same file name or something.

What I need to do is to pull out a particular image and save it as a separate file with its own file name so I can use it individually. If I download Inkscape, would I be able to use it for this? I'm willing to learn how if I know it will work. I paid for the rights to use the images and am frustrated not to be able to do this effectively.

If yes, please direct me to the right tutorials or give me some tips if you don't mind. If not, please save me some brain damage and tell me it won't work using Inkscape.

Thank you!
TR Fischer

[brynn]

Welcome to Inkscape Community!

As far as I understand, you should be able to do that with Inkscape.  But I need to ask a couple of questions, before I can say for sure.

First, what format is the file?  SVG?  Or other?

Can you either describe what a "scene separator" is,  or show us one of the sheets/files?  (You can attach here.)

After I know those things, I can say with more certainty, and help you work out the problems.

Inkscape is free, so it won't be any great loss if you downloaded, and later realize you can't use it.  You can dl from the website https://inkscape.org/en/download/

[TR Fischer]

Hi Brynn,

Thanks for getting back to me. They are all PDF files. One also came as a JPG.

TR Fischer

[brynn]

Hhm, well PDF files can contain both vector and raster content.  You can open PDF files with Inkscape.  But I can't tell exactly what you will need to do from there, because I still have no idea what's in them.

We can do it one step at a time.  You can open a PDF file and try to select an individual object.  If you can individually select what you want, I guess you're in business.  If not, you probably need to Ungroup.  And if you run into problems from there, tell us what it is.

Or you can just show us the file and explain what you want out of it, and we can tell you exactly how to do it.

Usually when we hear someone has purchased stock files or images, the files often have many different objects, all grouped together.  But since the website support mentioned "layers" I'm not quite sure what to expect.  So one step at a time, or show us the files and we can tell you exactly what to do.

Good luck