Hi everyone!

I'm relatively new to Inkscape but I've been using it for a number of months to help me complete an entrance portfolio project. I'm running into issues with my images (most of which are downloaded from the internet, then edited further in Inkscape OR drawn and scanned in). I currently am using Windows 7 and Inkscape version .48.4

Basically what's happening is that bits of my images are being distorted with a message saying "Linked Image not found" over where my image should be. It's quite perplexing to me since sometimes there's no issue, then if I try to duplicate or sometimes just closing down Inkscape and opening it anew causes this to show up. I attached a screen image of what's supposed to be a tree and some leaves.

As I said, I'm new to Inkscape and I'm new to digital art/graphic design, so it could just be a lack of knowledge on my part, if so, I'd sure appreciate any advice you all could share because I really need to get these design projects done.

Thanks!

I think I found my own answer here: http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php ... t_Found.22.

Nevermind, tried the suggestions at the website above, both trying to trace the bitmap and using extensions-images-embed image to no avail.

Well, the short answer, is that those remedies won't help after you see the "Linked image not found" error message. They are ways to prevent that error message.

Here's the longer answer.

When you first import an image into Inkscape, you are given the choice of either linking it or embedding it (at least in the current stable version). If choose to link, and either: A) you move the imported image from the place where it was when you imported it, or B) you take the whole file to another computer; Inkscape will not be able to find the imported image, the next time you open the file. When Inkscape can't find it, it places the error message/linked not found image, in its place.

You can avoid that, by either embedding the image in the first place, or converting to vector (by using Trace Bitmap). However, after you see the "linked image not found" error, the only solution is to import it again.

Edit
I made a note in the wiki, to avoid further confusion

The URL or path of a linked image is stored in your Inkscape file. If you move or rename the linked image then that path is no longer correct and you'll see this problem.

Unfortunately Inkscape (0.48.x at least) sets absolute URLs not relative ones. In other words, if your picture (pic.jpg) is in the same directory as your Inkscape file then the relative URL would just be "pic.jpg", but Inkscape instead stores "file://home/username/path/to/folder/pic.jpg" (on my Linux box; on a Windows machine it will be a slightly different format, but the issue is the same). If you now move your Inkscape file to a different directory (or rename one of the directories in the path) then the URL is no longer valid - even if you move the image to the same location.

The most robust solution I've found is this:

1) Ensure you copy the image you want into the same directory as the Inkscape file.
2) Drag and drop your image into Inkscape, selecting "Link" if given the choice.
3) Right-click on the image and select "Image Properties". Resize the dialog to a sane size!
4) Edit the "URL" field so it just contains the file name.

Now, provided you keep your Inkscape file and images in the same directory together you can move them around, rename folders, or even put them onto another machine and the linkage will work.

The good news is that you can edit the URL in the "Image Properties" dialog even for an image that can't be found. The URL will show you where Inkscape's looking for the file, and you can edit it to point to the right location. If your image is in the same location as the Inkscape file then edit it to just contain the file name and it will reappear in the Inkscape window as you do so.