trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 10:48 am

Something has happened to my Trace Bitmap feature. Rather abruptly it failed to work right. I had a line drawing on the desktop to test things again. If I click on Trace Bitmap, the picture disappears but the dialog shows up on the left. At the same time as the options appear, the Preview appears too but without a picture. If I click on Iconify, the dialog appears without the picture. It's either one or the other. Are you confused too, or can you clarify? I would appreciate it if someone more familiar with Inkscape could explain.

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 10:52 am

The object is selected? And it is a bitmap? (first things first, probably not your issue here, but who knows)

Postby **brynn** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:15 pm

I don't quite understand what you're explaining. Could you show us a screenshot of what's happening?

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:46 am

I'll simplify the problem: I import an 8-point PNG star, click on Trace Bitmap, and nothing happens, no change. I try later, do the same moves, and a second window opens on top, hiding the star page. That particular window (the top one), shows two title bars one right above the other, both saying Trace Bitmap; the top one shows minus,plus,X; the second one (underneath) shows iconify and X. That's it, nothing shows on the page, no picture, no dialog. I am mystified. I have a feeling that the problem lies, not with Trace Bitmap, but with Inkscape. Other pictures I have tackled behaved similarly. I'll be curious to find out what suggestions some of you more experienced may offer...

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 11:13 am

So, uhm. What's your operating system and full Inkscape version number? Can you share a screenshot?

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 11:13 am

Also, where did you get the installation file from?

Postby **brynn** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:38 pm

Sometimes when you use Trace Bitmap, it looks like nothing has happened, because the results are precisely on top of the imported image, and exactly the same color. But the results are there. You just have to drag them over to the side.

So first, I would suggest to make sure that really nothing happened. If it's hard to select the results to move them over, then select the PNG image, and move it over. Watch the status bar to make sure what you selected. If the PNG is selected, the status bar will say "Image....". If the trace results are selected, it will say "Group of...."

If you don't find anything, then let's follow Moini's idea. Please tell us your Inkscape version and operating system, and also, exactly which Inkscape package you downloaded.

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:10 am

Wanted to attach two files but was told "invalid file extension". They are gg1.bmp and gg2.bmp. Another problem? What's the matter there now? Anyway, Inkscape v. 0.92.Ink; downloaded from Inkscape itself; Windows 10. Your suggestions, Moini and Brynn . I attempted them but no matter how and where I go on screen, nothing happens. Before I go: what do I do about the two files? (I could not attach and I could not drag).

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:19 am

Can you maybe save your screenshots as png or jpg? bmp is a very uncommon image format nowadays, I'm not surprised that this forum doesn't accept them as valid image files.

For the Inkscape version, please look into Help > About and copy-paste the full version info from the dialog here.

Then, also share an SVG file that shows the problem for you. Thank you!

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 4:24 am

Inkscape version: 0.92.3
Gadwin Printscreen saves as .BMP so I went to GIMP to export as .PNG
Had a surprise: was able to "trace bitmap" a file, one with a star, and it multiplied happily along an oval. But, the surprise didn't reproduce: I closed the file to do it again. Well, that was not to be. All I got was that blank Trace Bitmap screen. I closed Inkscape to see what would happen. Then, I had a second surprise: Trace Bitmap did open again. I closed Inkscape again, and again was faced with the Trace Bitmap dialog. So what do you guys/gals think is the origin of the problem? Isn't Trace Bitmap supposed to remain available during a session?

Postby **druban** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 3:53 pm

In view/show/hide could you activate the status bar? this provides important info that is useful to see, for instance, how many objects you have selected. Are you dragging a selection marquee to select objects? This will select more than one if they overlap perfectly.

Also, you appear to have several floating dialogs at the same time, this may cause some internal conflicts with Windows window manager and Inkscape, specially because the trace dialog seems to not be perhaps totally conforming to Inkscape's docking protocol... (edited: seems to be improved?).
I am not a developer, but you might try this to avoid this particular conflict: dock ALL dialogs except for Trace Bitmap. Open this using the menu or the keyboard shortcut. When finished with it, always close it, don't just shift focus by clicking in the main window, leaving it open behind, or dock it, or collapse it.

Lastly, you mentioned the GIMP. Do you have GTK toolkit or themes etc installed separately from the GIMP install?

Polygon · Postby **Polygon** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 6:55 pm

Guillaume wrote:Inkscape version: 0.92.3
Gadwin Printscreen saves as .BMP so I went to GIMP to export as ....

Just because you´re in GIMP already; you know that GIMP can generate paths from every selection and save to SVG?

Cheers

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:26 am

I think there is a known bug with the dialog... Firstly, I would try updating to the current 0.92.4 (uninstall, reinstall). Additionally, I would look for known bugs in our two Issue trackers:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape
https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inbox/issues/

I'm quite sure I've seen a similar behavior described before.

If you find the report, please share the link, then we can help with the next steps.

Postby **brynn** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 4:14 pm

Oh, you mean the Trace Bitmap dialog is empty??? I wasn't getting that at all from your description. It's why we love the screenshots.

I'm not sure if Windows 10 has this, but Windows 7 has a screenshot tool called Snipping Tool. You can find it in Accessories (if Windows 10 has it). It makes PNGs. (BMP aren't preferred much these days, because they tend to be huge files. PNGs are more compact.)

There was a bug where the 2nd time you open Trace Bitmap in one Inkscape instance or session, the dialog is blank. But that was fixed and should not be happening with 0.92.3. I'm not sure if he would be able to find that bug report, since it was fixed.

Not unless there is another bug. I haven't heard if there is.

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:38 pm

Then maybe updating to 0.92.4 could help?

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 3:52 am

I had the status bar open as a default. Closing the Trace Bitmap window I have done too. I don't know what GTK is. I am attaching gg2.PNG to show what it looks like when I say it is empty except for the two title bars (clicking on those elicits nothing.) I am going to try the version you recommend (0.92.4) and see if the problem exists there too.

Postby **brynn** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:09 am

Oh, I see now! That definitely looks buggish to me.

I think the best thing to do would be what Moini suggested. Try uninstalling that version, and installing the current stable version, which is 0.92.4. If you still see this happening with that version, it should probably be reported as a bug. We can help you with that, if necessary. But the first step is to try the current version, because it could be already fixed.

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:50 am

Downloaded and installed v. 0.92.4 Well, it seems to me that the problem is solved. My ignorance prevented the good working of Trace Birmap. I had kept closing the Trace Bitmap window after each attempt at success. I have discovered that, leaving that window open through the session, I can change the path and I can change the pattern at will. 0.92.3 would probably have worked as well. I thank you all for coming to the aid of a novice.

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:25 am

Now it's not clear to me if 0.92.4 has the bug that you described or not, Guillaume.

Can you clarify if it was
- your change of behavior that makes the bug not appear
- a change of version that makes the bug no longer exist

Postby **brynn** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:43 am

Yes, Moini's right. You should be able to close and re-open Trace Bitmap as many times as you want. If you can't, we should report it.

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:38 am

Am not sure yet of my reply but will look some more..

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 3:10 am

My query title should have been “Trace Bitmap and Beyond”. Yes, Trace Bitmap itself gave me few problems; it was what comes next, the Path Effect and Pattern along Path. For your information I have added some attachments. Roadrunner.PNG shows a nice spiral of the critter; it was realized with Generate from Path > Scatter. The other two pictures were an attempt at success with Pattern along Path. bowloffruit.PNG has double lines and bowloffruit2.PNG has double lines; I got rectangles in between the two lines too. How was I able to repeatedly alternate patterns and paths and how am I not able to do the same feat now eludes me. I have made identical moves and yet... I think some of Inkscape's functions are unstable and it needs some rehab... Maybe I make some subtle move that complicates things. But, I wonder why it is that nobody else has encountered these difficulties; I don't think that developers would pay attention to an isolated case. Anyway, Scatter has some idiosyncrasies too; it may keep reminding that it needs two selected paths, whereas I have repeatedly complied, without satisfying its requirement. Until I realize that Pattern along Path is more reliable, I will confine my moves to Scatter simply because I use Inkscape, and the complementary Gimp and Scribus, for an interesting and satisfying occupation.

Moini · Postby **Moini** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 4:05 am

For a new topic, please open a new thread, Guillaume.

Can you still reply to my question:

- Does the trace bitmap dialog in 0.92.4 work for you, even when you close it and reopen it?

Guillaume · Postby **Guillaume** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:04 am

OK Moini, the first time I open Trace Bitmap, no problem, dialog is there. If I close and reopen, only Trace Bitmap title appears, no dialog. I have tried with several file extensions, SVG too shows that problem. Have even done Object to Path with the images before the Trace Bitmap. Interesting though: Trace Bitmap works wilh the Inkscape built-in shapes. With the imported images I must leave Inkscape to restart, and Trace Bitmap works one time only.

Postby **brynn** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:59 am

I think Guillaume already has a topic about PAP. Let's see.... Yes, here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=34459

Guillaume, if your questions are similar to that topic, you can post again there. (I know we went a little bit off your original topic at the end. But you can still post again there, and bring us back to the topic.) Or if your questions are different, then you can start a new topic.

Whatever you decide to do, we need to see your SVG file, with your attempts or with your problems showing. I have a feeling you may be confused about what type of objects are needed for each particular technique, whether PAP or Scatter. But it's hard for us to guess at what might be going wrong. That's why we need to see the SVG file.

If you use the full editor, and not Quick Reply, you can try to attach your SVG file. Look below the Submit button for the "Attachments" tab.

If the file won't attach, you can upload it anywhere (such as dropbox, or....hmm, it seems imgh.us is dead. Here's a very old list of places where you can host images or files, but it's very old, and I just looked at imgh.us, and it's definitely dead viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7)

This is a read-only archive of the inkscapeforum.com site. You can search for info here or post new questions and comments at inkscape.org/forums

This is a read-only archive of the inkscapeforum.com site. This feature is no longer available.

InkscapeForum.com

trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Re: trace bitmap (Inkscape 0.92)

Who is online