Help Please w/ Opening in Scal!

[AmyT]

I would really appreciate any opinions on what I could be doing wrong. I use the exact same method of importing a simple basic clipart shape into Inkscape, Trace Bitmap, select object (union if there are more than one layers), and then save as Inkscape .svg. This has always worked when importing into SCAL. Now I am opening up files in SCAL and there is no image, just a blank box. I don't understand why some will show up and others won't because I always use the exact same method.
I know it's a longshot, but does anyone know what the problem could be???

[wreed06]

Are you OPENing SVG files in SCAL, or are you IMPORTing SVG files in SCAL? You cannot open SVG files in SCAL. Don't know if that helps, but maybe...

[amcolley]

You can also try doing Edit - Make a Bitmap Copy before you trace. Then go to View - Display Mode - Outline before you save it as SVG so that you can see if you are getting a good outline.

[AmyT]

Yes, I always import the images. I will try viewing in outline mode before I save in inkscape to see if I'm getting a good trace.
Thank you both for answering! I hope this works!!!

[AnointedHands]

Make sure you are deleting the correct image after the trace. When I do an image and there is a possibility that I can delete the traced image instead of the original, I will click on the second icon to see if it the selected image changes to nodes...if it doesn't I will change to the 1st icon and delete the shape. That is the only problem that I can see from what you described. All you have to do it trace an image, save as svg, then open in SCAL.

I am just throwing that out. HTH

[AmyT]

OMG, this is killing me! I don't understand why I cannot view the svg in SCAL!!! I have been doing everything everyone said and I am still only seeing about half of what I save. I have even checked the image in inkscape in outline mode to make sure it is a clean cut, and it always is!
Does anyone know if there are any alternatives to Inkscape? I would really like to try something different. Thanks!

[amcolley]

Could you maybe post an image of what you're seeing so that maybe we can get an idea?

[scraperfect]

I had the same problem and I haven't tried it yet-- but I was told I was dragging the image to the top of the window and it must stay in the center.

[AnointedHands]

There are alternatives to INK but they are costly. There is Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, Funtime and probably others.

What type of image are you opening in INK? That might be part of the problem. Not all images are converted the same way. If it is a wmf, there are other steps you will need to do before it can open in SCAL. wmf are grouped so they would have to be ungrouped. A grouped object will not show in SCAL.

We are throwing out suggestions but we don't have enough info.

[AmyT]

Thanks so much for all your replies! I think I realized what I was doing wrong. I am such a dummy! When saving I was saving the file name, such as "boy" and then entering save. I didn't realize I had to type "boy.svg" and then click save. I thought having the save option clicked to "Inkscape SVG" or "Plain SVG" would save the file as a SVG file. Duh! I am just so relieved I FINALLY figured it out. Thanks again for all your help!