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Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:11 am
by 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
cow.jpg (24.12 KiB) Viewed 2275 times
When I trace it, it becomes this:
cow 2.png
cow 2.png (73.49 KiB) Viewed 2275 times
.

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

Thanks!

Re: Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 4:24 pm
by 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..

Re: Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:03 pm
by 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
2.JPG (62.55 KiB) Viewed 2250 times
delete it, and save, scal says it can't load the file. Alternatively, if I move various parts around like so:
3.JPG
3.JPG (54.9 KiB) Viewed 2250 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
5.JPG (43.41 KiB) Viewed 2250 times
Thanks for the advice, but sorry for misunderstanding you.

Re: Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:10 pm
by (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
cow.JPG (30.94 KiB) Viewed 2245 times

Re: Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:19 pm
by 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
cowtestfile.png (13.96 KiB) Viewed 2244 times
This is how the image would cut in scal
cowtestfilescal.png
cowtestfilescal.png (22.09 KiB) Viewed 2244 times
Laura

Re: Tracing image: 1 line instead of two

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 12:51 pm
by 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.