Hey guys! I work with calligraphy and I wanted to start scanning it into my computer to make digital images. I was told working with vectors is the way to go on this, so I downloaded Inkscape! I'm completely new and I need help with something.

I'm trying to change the color of something that I wrote and scanned in. I was told to "trace the bitmap" and then simply use the paint bucket tool. I went to path and traced the bitmap, which made it look much better (less pixelated around the edges), but when I use the yellow paint bucket on my black text, it leaves a black border around them.

Any ideas on what the problem is here?

Thanks!

Hi.

The advice to use the paint bucket was a "bad one".
(It works on bitmaps and the accuracy of the "fill" will be dependent on the page magnification.)

Instead use the proper tool - the stroke and fill property of your object -
to get to the stroke & fill dialog press Shift Ctrl F

I recommend to go through the Quick Start tutorials in The Manual
This will get you up to speed in no time!

Ragnar was here.... ,)

Paint bucket applies both - fill and stroke.
You should take a look at Manual, especially if you plan to work in Inkscape.

Hi.

Maestral wrote:Ragnar was here.... ,)
Paint bucket applies both - fill and stroke.

Wow - I did not know that! (Never too old to learn new tricks!)
"Normally" you would not want the stroke when you want to fill a region, or?

Maestral wrote:You should take a look at Manual, especially if you plan to work in Inkscape.

Good advice - I'll listen to the pros!
I had a printed copy that was damaged (together with all our computers, printers, books etc.) in a "house-flood" last summer
- will wait on the updated 0.91 version before I buy a new one.

Hey AlexAndAHalf!

Soon you will realise that the "same" shape (almost) can be represented with many kind of paths.
There are countless ways for adding the nodes and the paintbucket tool or the trace bitmap option may not bring you the one with the "flow".
Hence, mastering the manual tracing is essential to bring out the most from a calligraphic image.

Here are three simple advices that I can totally agree on.
Furthermore, if you not afraid of some math, here is a nice page to get the concept how the cubic Béziers works.

I had a printed copy that was damaged (together with all our computers, printers, books etc.) in a "house-flood" last summer
- will wait on the updated 0.91 version before I buy a new one.

No need to buy a manual. Help menu > Inkscape manual links you to the free online manual! (written by an Inkscape developer)

Hi.

That's the one I had as a paper copy - being "old school" I prefer the paper version over the electronic one.