Have simple outline of shapes - can't create object!

Nazbuster · Postby **Nazbuster** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 10:58 am

I traced some objects onto white paper using a ballpoint pen then had them scanned at Staples. I have PDF document that looks fine, although the outlines are very thin.

I want to use Inkscape to make the lines bolder, smoother, and resize the objects to their correct size (in inches), then write them out in EPS format.

When I try to trace bitmap (Path menu), nothing shows up in the preview menu. I suspect my ink lines are too thin and being interpreted as noise, but I have no clue.

1. How do I convert the outlines in the PDF to scalable objects?

2. How do I get path points onto the tracing? Is that #1 above?

2. How do I size the objects correctly?

tylerdurden · Postby **tylerdurden** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:16 am

Trace bitmap tool can be a bit fiddly... it can take a bit of trial/error to get good results, depending on the original image. Sometimes the trace is easiest by hand.

Once the trace is done, it is usually fairly easy to embolden and scale.

If you can, upload or link to your original image (or pdf), we can take a look at the issue.

Nazbuster · Postby **Nazbuster** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:29 am

Here's the file... I just can't understand the concepts yet and don't get the results I expect.

All I want is to have a nice bold, smooth outline which I can size to the true dimensions of the object. (We have a massive plotter that cuts out the forms into shapes with knives rather than ink heads).

EDIT: I clicked that link and 3 of the 4 images do NOT show in the pdf document from DropBox! I revised my original post to attach the original PDF file

tylerdurden · Postby **tylerdurden** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 1:06 pm

I'd open each page as a file in inkscape and hand-trace with the pen-tool.
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... ths-Bezier

Zero-fill and stroke with can be controlled by the fill and stroke panel.
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... troke.html

You'll have it in no time.

: Fork3.jpg (98.17 KiB) Viewed 2495 times

Nazbuster · Postby **Nazbuster** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 2:11 pm

Thank you! I've read those two tutorials and also looked at your example. I am still unable to get a line to draw on the image. When I have the pencil tool selected, the image selected, and drag the mouse, it draws a box around what I covered, but the box disappears when I release the mouse. No nodes appear. How do I start this process? How do I place nodes on the drawing? Will lines snap to the two surrounding nodes?

tylerdurden · Postby **tylerdurden** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 8:36 pm

Here's a nice little clip...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAgWhnf_p3k

Postby **brynn** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:13 am

If you're using the current stable release (0.48.5) the Preview is broken for the Brightness Cutoff option (for Trace Bitmap). So if you're looking at the preview and concluding that it doesn't work, just click the Ok button and it will trace. However, you still may need to adjust the Threshold, to get just what you want. If you're using the dev version (0.91 pre2) it's fixed.

There's always Help menu > Inkscape manual, to learn how to use the Pencil tool. Or here's an in depth tutorial about drawing lines, with both Pencil and Pen tools: http://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/inde ... ;article=7

If you want to place nodes in specific places, I would use the Pen/Bezier tool. The Pencil tool, in default settings, will draw a gazillion nodes -- way more than you need. Although the Pencil tool may be easier for a newbie to use. For the Pencil tool, try setting Smoothing to 50, then adjust as you need from there. I think by default it's set at 1 or 0, and it's hard to draw a smooth line. So some amount of Smoothing will help.

Nazbuster · Postby **Nazbuster** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:31 am

I want to thank everyone for responding! I finally managed to trace the existing outlines, size them, and even take two objects and combine them into one! (I had to cut one of the templates because it was too wide to scan and this allowed me to merge the two halves back together.)

This is a fantastic program, but the concepts take a bit of learning. I kept clicking on the curve adjustment tool, not the Bezier tool. Also, I didn't understand that the workspace MUST be large enough to house all the objects when written out. Many more things I didn't understand. But I got my job done!

Case CLOSED!

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