Hi,

I've been using the trace bitmap tool to, well, trace bitmaps. It works fine, but instead of the six nodes seen here, I'd like it to produce 3 nodes centered on each of the pairs. What is the best way to do this?



Thanks!

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

I'm afraid that can't be done (Well, not very easily anyway )
If you're simply looking to reduce the number of nodes in the file, you could try Path menu > Simplify, once. If you click it more than once, it will likely distort the paths. But that won't result in the simple paths you're looking for.

If you're just wanting simple paths, things get more complicated (ironically ). One option would involve a lot of node editing, which many people detest (although I rather enjoy it). When I say "a lot" I guess it really depends on the complexity of the raster image in the first place. Perhaps it might be done fairly quickly, if it's a very simple image. Node editing (look in manual under Node tool) involves breaking up those complex and usually multiple closed paths into the simpler components. I can give you detailed instructions, if you choose this option.

Another option depends on the image you're tracing. If it's like a line drawing, you could forget about Trace bitmap, and trace it "manually", i.e. using the Pen tool (or Pencil), and on a new layer above the raster image, draw fresh new lines, etc. Just like using tracing paper back in the day (or maybe like using carbon paper too) You could reduce the opacity of the layer with the raster image, if it helps. This creates those simple paths from the start.

Let us know if these ideas will work

Hi, thanks for the reply! What I ended up doing is using a "break path" command to separate both sets of lines. I then removed one of the two paths.

This actually works pretty well for me as I'm trying to generate g-code with it to physically engrave something. The offset (once I learn to control it well) may actually help me! Is there a way to control how wide the line is that traces the bitmap?

Ah yes, breaking the path is part of what I referred to as "node editing". So it seems you have figured it out, and don't need any further instructions?

You can't directly control the width of the line, but by manipulating the quality of the trace (with the settings in the dialog) you could create wider "lines". It would just be a matter of trial and error, to achieve your desired results. But once you have done the node editing, you can adjust the width of the stroke from the Fill and Stroke dialog, which would be much easier to use, than trying to get the Trace Bitmap dialog to widen them (as well as the proper way to do it). Or fyi, there are Inkscape commands for Inset, Outset and Offset in the Path menu, which might work as well, depending on your goals.