Inkscape/SVG/Scal Issues New User

[Care_911]

Hi everyone,
I have recently purchased SCAL and have, at least so far, managed to figure out how to use SCAL successfully on my own.

However, after having taken my first tentative steps into Inkscape, jpg to svg conversion etc, I am discovering that it is not so easy. With the help of my fiance who can pretty much figure out any problem with a little time and persistance, we've managed to create an .svg from a .jpg using Adobe Elements 6 and Inkscape, with many bumps in the road and frustrating little inconsistencies in AE6 along the way. Basically sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and when it isn't it's really hard to figure out why. But anyway, outside of that, the problem I'm having now is that the finished image, while it does work to import into SCAL, (and I don't have my printer here or cricut, it's at home, so have not been able to actually try & cut out and see how it is cutting) it seems to never be really "clean", the edges are somewhat ragged, hearts are not perfectly heart shaped, sometimes there is a little extra line where there is not supposed to be, that sort of thing. For instance, I was trying to use a .jpg file of the sizzix die called Decorative Doily (my apologies, I have no idea how to attach the .jpg file but if you want to find it, you can go to sizzix.com and just click on their Heart/Valentine collection). Got it to .svg but it just isn't as clean and tidy as I'd like. Am I expecting too much or is there some way to remedy this? Also, how does one deal with it when you open something in inkscape, do the trace bitmap thing, update, and then all you get is a few little broken lines or dots but it doesn't show the image? Thanks...

[HeatherM]

That is a difficult image to work with. It is low resolution with low contrast. However, you can get a fairly decent trace with a little bit of work. Have you seen Dan99's tut using PSP? http://dan99.blogspot.com/2009/01/video ... o-svg.html I'm not sure what tools you have with PSE, but I was able to use this with a slight modification for Photoshop CS3 with good results. Also, the magic wand works really well on solid colors, not just black and white.

[Tingha Treasures]

I just had a go in Inkscape using Dans tut its quite a compilcated file be quite a challenge

[Tingha Treasures]

[scrappinbykris]

Care_911 ..... You have mail Hope it helps

[ATMA]

The first time we used either SCAL or Inkscape was yesterday evening. Installation was a breeze and didnt even need to install the driver. For some odd reason, the laptop had it already. Isnt that a shocker?
Anyway, we found this guy in the UK that makes videos on cutting and does a fantastic job at it. He gets right to the point and doesnt stray.
We watched that video two times then tried it using Inkscape. The result was a perfect 5 color separation and cut. It seems as though Inkscape has a lot of features that show up in CorelDraw! and PhotoShop so that helped us a bit.
I suggest going to this guys site and watch the videos. This link will take you to the most recent video on Inkscape but there are many others he does that are just as good on other sublects.
The link: http://dan99.blogspot.com/2009/01/video ... ecing.html

[lovebeingamom]

The first time we used either SCAL or Inkscape was yesterday evening. Installation was a breeze and didnt even need to install the driver. For some odd reason, the laptop had it already. Isnt that a shocker?
Anyway, we found this guy in the UK that makes videos on cutting and does a fantastic job at it. He gets right to the point and doesnt stray.
We watched that video two times then tried it using Inkscape. The result was a perfect 5 color separation and cut. It seems as though Inkscape has a lot of features that show up in CorelDraw! and PhotoShop so that helped us a bit.
I suggest going to this guys site and watch the videos. This link will take you to the most recent video on Inkscape but there are many others he does that are just as good on other sublects.
The link: http://dan99.blogspot.com/2009/01/video ... ecing.html

dan99 is a regular here, we LOVE him!!! Also susanbluerobot has a TON of great tutorials. There are others on this site as well. It is great to see how everyone does things, since we all have a different way of learning, the more the better!

[ATMA]

We are so new here, we hve not seen but the one video but will sure go out looking for the other people you mentioned. Thanks for the heads up.

[lovebeingamom]

Susans blog is http://susanbluerobot.blogspot.com/ check out the right hand side for all her instructions. She does pictures not video like Dan99 but she is still very informative.

[Care_911]

Hi
I just wanted to say thank you scrappinkris for sending me your version of that decorative doily file--thank you so, so much! You did a great job, I can only hope I will at some point be able to achieve that level of skill. Much appreciated that you took the time to work on it.

Sincerely
Care