I need to convert a bit map into a vector. I know basically how to do it in Inkscape,(trace path) but the tutorial talks about adjusting the settings and this where I get confused. Do you set one setting and say ok then adjust the next setting say ok and continue? Or do you adjust all the settings at once? I am converting 2-4 color logos for a hotel for printing on shirts and pamphlets. Have not created vectors before, I know Photoshop well, this seems similar, but the Inkscape manual is kinda confusing. Also what size does the bitmap need to when I start? I have some that are 72dpi but I think it should be 300 to print. Any help will be greatly appreciated

You can change as many settings as you want. It doesn't matter what size the bitmap is that you trace (other than big bitmaps have more detail), as the resulting bitmap trace is resolution independent, and you can scale/export/print the trace at any size you like.

Generally, I'd suggest you just play around the tool, tracing, undoing the trace, and tweaking the parameters until you get something you like. Oh, and for a 4-colour t-shirt print you probably want to trace in 5 colours, ungroup the result and throw the background layer away.

So do I understand this correctly, no matter if I start with a 1x1 72 dpi image once it becomes a vector file it can be made any size? Also the image seemed lighter in colour when converted, should I darken fist in Photoshop then convert? Sorry not really a dummy just having a hard time reading between the lines of the manual. So your help is soooo appreciated!

artstuff4u2 wrote:So do I understand this correctly, no matter if I start with a 1x1 72 dpi image once it becomes a vector file it can be made any size?

Yep. Set Inkscape's page size (in document preferences) to the size you want your design to output (in cm or inches, rather than pixels). Don't worry about the size of the bitmap - it may well be much larger or smaller. After tracing, scale your vector to fit into the page size (and hide the base bitmap). Then, if you print directly from Inkscape, you don't have to worry about dpi at all (you might if you export, though).

Also the image seemed lighter in colour when converted, should I darken fist in Photoshop then convert?

You could. It's probably simpler and more direct to do the trace and then change the colour of the vector objects. If you have few colours in the original results from those alternatives will end up pretty similar.