hi first of all i would like to introduce myself having just joined the forum and to using inkscape program i think i will need a lot of help
my name is christine and i am totally overwhelmed with it all ,i can sort of grasp the basics of the program, but i would like to no if i can import a photo of my grandson and turn into a stencil that i can then use to do some etching is this possible with this program and if so how

christine 154

Welcome christine!

Hhhmm, I think possibly, yes. A raster graphics program (Inkscape is vector) might do a better job. Do you know that you specifically need a vector image to do the etching? It might depend on how you want to create the stencil. Are you planning to use one of those cutter machines? I know I've seen a tv commercial where they did a glass etching using some brand of cutter. But it was not a photo. If you are planning to use the cutter machine, you can visit our Inkscape and cutters forum, to help learn how to integrate Inkscape (because they usually come with other software).

But you can still use Inkscape either way. You can definitely import the photo. Then Path menu > Trace bitmap. This tool can convert your image from raster ("bitmap") to vector. And there are a number of settings you can play with there. Be sure to read the instructions in Help menu > Inkscape Manual. But also do your own experimenting. I'm not sure exactly what effect you want, or I could offer suggestions. Note that there's a bug in the update feature (preview) for one of the settings. I think it's Brightness Cutoff, but it might be Edge Detection, I can't remember for sure. If you run into trouble getting the preview to update, let us know, and we can hopefully help.

Also no worries about being new to Inkscape. That's why we're here - to help

in my opinion--with limited trace bitmap skill--a good result is mostly obtained by tracing the image, which is quite easy to setup with layers in inkscape. the trace bitmap can be a good starting place to get an idea of where edges should be, but the resulting vectors are too complex (for me at least) to use for the final vectorized portrait.
so what i'm trying to say is that inkscape doesn't really provide a one step automated method, and will take some work and degree of skill. the good thing though is that you can keep playing with vector components for as long as you like to get just the right look.
one tip i have is that if the image is going to become essentially a two tone stencil, you may want to adjust the image first in a raster graphics program like photoshop or gimp etc, to enchance contrast before working in inkscape.

brynn wrote: Welcome christine!

Hhhmm, I think possibly, yes. A raster graphics program (Inkscape is vector) might do a better job. Do you know that you specifically need a vector image to do the etching? It might depend on how you want to create the stencil. Are you planning to use one of those cutter machines? I know I've seen a tv commercial where they did a glass etching using some brand of cutter. But it was not a photo. If you are planning to use the cutter machine, you can visit our Inkscape and cutters forum, to help learn how to integrate Inkscape (because they usually come with other software).

But you can still use Inkscape either way. You can definitely import the photo. Then Path menu > Trace bitmap. This tool can convert your image from raster ("bitmap") to vector. And there are a number of settings you can play with there. Be sure to read the instructions in Help menu > Inkscape Manual. But also do your own experimenting. I'm not sure exactly what effect you want, or I could offer suggestions. Note that there's a bug in the update feature (preview) for one of the settings. I think it's Brightness Cutoff, but it might be Edge Detection, I can't remember for sure. If you run into trouble getting the preview to update, let us know, and we can hopefully help.

Also no worries about being new to Inkscape. That's why we're here - to help

thank you for the reply yes it is to use with a cutter i didn't know there was another forum for that purpose i will pop along to them and see if there is trick
im sure i be back soon
christine