Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

[fregley]

I'm new to SCAL and Inkscape, so this might be a stupid question. Anyway, when I use a jpg and trace it (whether I'm using SCAL, Inkscape, or Vector Magic), paths are placed along each side of a line. I would like to just cut along each line once. For example, if I wanted to cut out this cow (which I don't)

cow.jpg (24.12 KiB) Viewed 2273 times

When I trace it, it becomes this:

cow 2.png (73.49 KiB) Viewed 2273 times

.

Is there a way to make the cricut just cut along the original lines rather than on both sides?

Thanks!

[Sweetness4713]

Yep.. either in scal or inkscape use the breakapart and then move the base layer from the behind.. the base layer is your solid or blackout piece... You can also just use the paint bucket to fill in the inner parts and move the whole image away..

[fregley]

Sorry, but I don't seem to understand what you said. If I open an svg file and use breakapart, I get the message "no paths to break apart". If I create a new document, import a jpg, and trace bitmap, I can use breakapart, but it doesn't seem to work like you say. If I move away the black base layer like so:

2.JPG (62.55 KiB) Viewed 2248 times

delete it, and save, scal says it can't load the file. Alternatively, if I move various parts around like so:

3.JPG (54.9 KiB) Viewed 2248 times

the result seems to be the same as if I didn't do anything. I discovered that if I view the file as outline only in inkscape, I can see what the svg will look like in scal, but I can't seem to edit it.

5.JPG (43.41 KiB) Viewed 2248 times

Thanks for the advice, but sorry for misunderstanding you.

[(jecheck)]

I don't know that there is a way to do this in inkscape, and I am pretty sure that it will NOT cut well with SCAL (it may draw well with the pens, though!). CorelDraw X4 has a powertrace feature that traces the midline of graphics, which is how I got the below...

cow.JPG (30.94 KiB) Viewed 2243 times

[lkc]

You may be able to accomplish what you want using the union and difference functions in Inkscape...that is what I used to get this image

cowtestfile.png (13.96 KiB) Viewed 2242 times

This is how the image would cut in scal

cowtestfilescal.png (22.09 KiB) Viewed 2242 times

Laura

[fregley]

Sorry I took so long to reply, I've been out of town. Anyway, I can't figure out how to use union/difference, and I can't find any tutorials either. I did find, however, that if I shrink the original bitmap down so the lines are thinner, and then convert it, that it works better.