Is there a simple way to reduce the number of nodes in just a section of a drawing? I have craft patterns (white background with black line drawings) that I'm converting from jpg's to Inkscape svg. In order to edit them, I import the jpg, trace a bit map using the "Brightness Threshold" set to 6.5, then delete the jpg. I was getting 10's of thousands of nodes in some drawings (YUCK!!!) but fiddled with the Inkscape Pref. settings and life is GOOD!...one went from 9658 nodes to 2285 with just a click. However - if I use the node tool to "rubberband" select nodes in a section of the drawing, to refine it further, then ask it to simplify, it simplifies the whole drawing. Any ideas?

KJW

I don't think you can simplify a section of a path without simplifying the whole path. Also, did you change the settings on the trace dialogue or actually in Inkscape prefs?

I changed it in Inkscape Prefs - if changing it in the trace dialog would better, just point the way and I'm there.

KJW

When you do Path>Trace bitmap the dialog comes up with three tabs: Mode, Options, Credits. Select the Options tab and increase the tolerance (bottom row) to decrease the number of nodes in your trace. Make sure the Optimize paths box is checked (I think it is by default). I'm not sure if this is better than doing something in Prefs, but it should be additive -- meaning this will further decrease the number of nodes in your traced path.

Just tried it - it's WONDERFUL!!! I was able to eliminate 7000 nodes just by making that adjustment and didn't sacrifice the quality of the image.

Thanks so much

KJW

kjw wrote:Is there a simple way to reduce the number of nodes in just a section of a drawing? I have craft patterns (white background with black line drawings) that I'm converting from jpg's to Inkscape svg. In order to edit them, I import the jpg, trace a bit map using the "Brightness Threshold" set to 6.5, then delete the jpg. I was getting 10's of thousands of nodes in some drawings (YUCK!!!) but fiddled with the Inkscape Pref. settings and life is GOOD!...one went from 9658 nodes to 2285 with just a click. However - if I use the node tool to "rubberband" select nodes in a section of the drawing, to refine it further, then ask it to simplify, it simplifies the whole drawing. Any ideas?

KJW

That would be nice. I tried to do that recently. Selected a bunch of nodes by dragging the mouse, then did "Simplify".
Thought it would just be on the selected nodes, but it simplifies the whole path.