Tech support - Inkscape needed

[barb.j.enders]

I have some compound cut patterns, on paper, that I purchased years ago.  I would like to be able to scan them and then choose a few to duplicate to combine onto one page.  After I scan, how do I "break out" the patterns I want?  I have tried to do the "object to path", "ungroup" but that hasn't worked.  I hope the question makes sense.

[OCtoolguy]

Following.

[kmmcrafts]

I'm not super great with inkscape but I've never been able to manipulate a pattern that I've imported into inkscape until I use the "trace bitmap" function.. after that I can break apart or do most of whatever I need.. I'm not really understanding exactly what you're trying to do but maybe tracing the design will help you get to where it is you're looking to do..

Good luck, LOL

[Wichman]

Scan at the highest resolution you can, or at least 600 DPI(inkscape default is 96 DPI). In inkscape change the default import resolution to 600 DPI or whatever you scan at. Tace bitmap, centerline auto trace, once this is done, either copy the .svg to a new document or delete the original scan. Select the entire image and break apart . Select the potion of the image you and and select combine. You should now be able to select and move just the portion you want to work on.

When I get the laptop plugged back in and running I'll try to get a breakdown of all the steps for each operation.

 

[Wichman]

Inkscape, change default DPI 

File > Preferences > Imported Images > (near the bottom of the box) Default import resolution, set to the resolution of the scanner ( 300, 600, 1200 DPI).   Note; increasing the DPI will use more computer resources and will slow down your system, only use a high enough resolution to get the job done.

 

Import or open file resolution changes:

File> open> dialogue box ( in the dialogue box ) Image DPI, select "from file". Imaging Rendering Model, select "smooth"

 

In the trace bitmap sub menu you will have to experiment a bit. Some scans work better with some settings better than others, sorry.

 

Once the bitmapped image has been traced I cut the .svg image into memory ( Ctrl X ) and then paste it into a new document. I will then close, without saving, the original file. Before going further I will use "save as" to save the .svg file in the appropriate folder, with a name I can remember.

More tomorrow, I'm beat.

[BadBob]

20 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

I have some compound cut patterns, on paper, that I purchased years ago.  I would like to be able to scan them and then choose a few to duplicate to combine onto one page.  After I scan, how do I "break out" the patterns I want?  I have tried to do the "object to path", "ungroup" but that hasn't worked.  I hope the question makes sense.

I do this a lot.

• Import the scan into Gimp.
• Using the selection tool, select the pattern you want. 
• Copy and paste it into Inkscape.
• Use trace bitmap to create an SVG.
• Delete the bitmap the you pasted.
• Select the SVG, resize it, and move it to where you like.

You may need to do some editing in Gimp, depending on the quality of the scan. Colored backgrounds, shading, and print showing through from the back of the paper can cause problems that need to be fixed in Gimp. The scan is a bitmap, and Gimp is a bitmap editor. Patterns printed on magazine pages are the worst as they are printed on cheap, thin paper.

If the scan is clean and clear, this is simple. If it isn't, you will have a great learning experience as you try to figure it out.

[barb.j.enders]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.  I guess I will be spending some "quality time" at my computer in the near future.

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.  I guess I will be spending some "quality time" at my computer in the near future.

Hope you enjoy it more than I do..  I always hated doing graphic work on the computer especially when I don't know what I'm doing. 

[Dave Monk]

Many times I have a hard time getting a nice clean pattern by using trace bitmap so I redraw in using my bezier tool. Might be a bit slow but it beats watching the tube. 

[barb.j.enders]

3 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Hope you enjoy it more than I do..  I always hated doing graphic work on the computer especially when I don't know what I'm doing. 

There is no enjoying it.  It is just a necessary evil to enjoy the hobby!!

[kmmcrafts]

Don't get a laser or CNC then.. even if I buy a design I still have to edit it in some way shape or form so I get to do this stuff almost daily now days. One plus is now I'm getting better and don't mind it as much as I once did.. My issue now is each machine uses a different program so I can't just use inkscape or gimp.. having 3 lasers and 1 CNC and each on a different program.. every time I think I'm getting it learned they update the program and move everything around, LOL

[BadBob]

The hardest thing for me to do when learning any graphics software is to figure out what questions to ask. If you can ask the right questions, there is plenty of information available on the Internet.

[Wichman]

In my last post I mentioned the different types of trace bitmap; these include:

Brightness cutoff 

Edge detection 

Color quantization 

Autotrace

Centerline tracing (autotrace)

I normally use Centerline tracing. Some of the other tracing options will give a double line with the fill in between them. This can really throw you off if you want to use a fill color for contrast so you can tell the cut part from the waste areas.

So, now that the pattern is scanned and you're ready to start separating the individual pattern or parts of a pattern.

Start by selecting the whole scan with the selector tool. Next go to Path> Break Apart; this breaks the pattern into individual nodes. Using the selector tool draw a box around the area of your pattern ( place the curser at one corner of the area to be saved, left click, hold and then drag the curser to expand the selection box). Now go to Path> Combine, check to see if you got everything you want by clicking on the area and dragging it a bit, if you didn't get everything then Crlt+z will take you back one step. Once you're sure you have what you want then select the area you're working on and Crlt x. Open a new document and paste the selection into it. Rinse and repeat until you have all the pattern(s) that you want. Save the new pattern. Close the original scan, without saving,

Note: inkscape does not "erase" nodes, it masks them with the color of the page. To erase and clean up the file use the node tool, you will have to break apart the nodes, then carefully select the nodes to erase (select and delete) when you have finished cleaning up the select and combine.

[Wichman]

19 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Don't get a laser or CNC then.. even if I buy a design I still have to edit it in some way shape or form so I get to do this stuff almost daily now days. One plus is now I'm getting better and don't mind it as much as I once did.. My issue now is each machine uses a different program so I can't just use inkscape or gimp.. having 3 lasers and 1 CNC and each on a different program.. every time I think I'm getting it learned they update the program and move everything around, LOL

One advantage that we have with our scroll saws is we can do on the spot corrections, with the computer guided machines you must find and fix all issues before you start, any defects in the pattern will be transferred to the piece.

 

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, Wichman said:

One advantage that we have with our scroll saws is we can do on the spot corrections, with the computer guided machines you must find and fix all issues before you start, any defects in the pattern will be transferred to the piece.

 

Yes, exactly.. I started doing a lot of my own scroll saw patterns by just combining graphics etc. and I never really "cleaned" up the pattern as I knew where I wanted to cut or stop cutting.. one reason I never really shared my patterns because someone else would just follow the lines or cut out the floater etc. 

Now that I'm messing with the lasers and CNC's has to be cleaned up.. where it shows on the screen is what the machine will do.. LOL. But I'm learning it slowly.. 

[BadBob]

On 3/6/2025 at 10:23 AM, Wichman said:

Start by selecting the whole scan with the selector tool. Next go to Path> Break Apart; this breaks the pattern into individual nodes.

I played with this method, and it works well so long as it is a clean scan.