need help-converted to svg, but think i'm not doing it righ

[janthos]

Hi everyone.
I spent the majority of yesterday trying to learn to create a svg in Inkscape. My daughter LOVES the pbskids show called SuperWHY-I took a coloring sheet & converted that to svg pretty easily
Then I used the paint bucket tool to color in areas to create the layers (and let me say it took forever to piece those little hairs into 1 piece). When I cut it out, it still doesn't look quite right --What am I doing wrong?
Also, I can't figure out a way to cut out the book logo on his super suit, which is an important part.
I am going to attach the svg I created, as well as the image I created.
I did also have the markers draw out th eimage, but of course the lines are like shapes themselves--how do I get rid of that so it's actually lines?
Thanks for any help

[janthos]

here's the jpg I created from the pdf coloring page

[Sweetness4713]

Are you using SCAL 1 or SCAL 2???? and did you save each part to object to path after you created them.. ????

[janthos]

I am using SCAL 2
I did each color on it's own layer
I am not familiar with the object to path that you are referring to.....so I don't think I did that--what does it do?
I spent a ton of time yesterday looking @ tutorials & such, and it's possible that I skipped that part or got confused........

[Sweetness4713]

The object to path allows the object to path allows SCAL to recognize it and it keeps the shape of the item as it is shown in Inkscape... It seems some of the shapes are off... Otherwise it does look very very cute.. As for the book?? why not just draw the lines on for the book???

[janthos]

so after I import it & do a trace bitmap, then I need to do that?
or am i supposed to do that after I fill the space with the paint bucket tool? you're right, that's exactly what I am missing and why the pieces look off. thanks for your help by the way

[HeatherM]

You don't trace or convert to path when you use the paint bucket tool, it creates vectors automatically.

One of your layers has an ellipse, that might cause a problem with SCAL2. If you have a piece that looks off when you import it into SCAL, that is probably it. Select it in Inkscape and Path/Object to path.

I think what you needed was a base or mat layer to piece onto. I typically use black, but you can use other colors. I selected all of the pieces, copied them, pasted them into a new base layer, then Control J to make a Dynamic offset. Move the little white square up and away from the image to make the mat. Path/Object to path. I also added a new layer with a book I traced from your coloring page.

I think you are using the markers to draw the book and outline the character? The biggest problem with markers is that they are rather wide. You might try a mini gel pen instead for the book. The base or mat will take care of outlining the character. HTH

BTW, I think this one would have been easier to trace (connecting the hair, the book).

[janthos]

thanks so much for the help----
My layer 1 was the base that I was using--it was like an outlined coloring sheet, --I gather that i was doing it incorrectly??? (i had it not showing, eye icon closed)
Yeah, i noticed that ellipse, but when I went back in inkscape, I couldn't find it.
This vector stuff is new longo for me--photoshop stuff I am fmailiar with, but this is where I get confused, which is why I have been putting off using inkscape........

OK, I did Ctrl A on the base layer, then CTRL J, moved the little white square & got this black blob-is it supposed to look like that?

I used a mini fine point sharpie the first time to draw the character out, until I could figure out the paper pieceing.....but it didn't draw it as an simple outline, it was like it an outline of the outline.....

I used pse to convert the PDF to JPG, and in Inkscape, I did do a bitmap trace in inkscape--is that what you mean when you said "I think this one would have been easier to trace (connecting the hair, the book).[/quote]"--b/c after the trace, each individual hair was it's own shape & I couldn't figure out how to get it as 1 shape, and that's when I came across the tutorial here about using paint bucket:
http://www.swfcabin.com/open/1235599457

I went about this the wrong way huh? What would have been the best way? b/c I have other superwhy characters to turn into paper piecings for my little girl.....
I am so confused, I don't even know what to do, and I want to figure it out, b/c this would help me in my classroom too.....

You don't trace or convert to path when you use the paint bucket tool, it creates vectors automatically.

One of your layers has an ellipse, that might cause a problem with SCAL2. If you have a piece that looks off when you import it into SCAL, that is probably it. Select it in Inkscape and Path/Object to path.

I think what you needed was a base or mat layer to piece onto. I typically use black, but you can use other colors. I selected all of the pieces, copied them, pasted them into a new base layer, then Control J to make a Dynamic offset. Move the little white square up and away from the image to make the mat. Path/Object to path. I also added a new layer with a book I traced from your coloring page.

I think you are using the markers to draw the book and outline the character? The biggest problem with markers is that they are rather wide. You might try a mini gel pen instead for the book. The base or mat will take care of outlining the character. HTH

BTW, I think this one would have been easier to trace (connecting the hair, the book).

[janthos]

oops--here's the black blob i was talking about

[HeatherM]

The white square was pulled a little too far.