Flattening an image

[bbanna]

Is it possible to flatten an image in order to change outline colors and such?

It is not a photo image. It is a drawn image. Like a cartoon in .jpg form.

Thanks.

Brian

[phiscribe]

Flatten is a term I take to mean make many layers one.  You want something opposite that, taking one part and making many.  It sounds like you want to convert the photo, (.jpg is a photo,) to vector.  This would give you vector objects not pixels that can be filled with your color of choice and given outlines.  The trace bitmap option in Inkscape can do this, but can't always do it to satisfaction, depending on the photo.  Sometimes a little or a lot of manual effort is also needed.

[brynn]

Hhmm, I'm not sure what you're asking either.  In GIMP (a raster graphics editor) "flatten" means to combine more than one layer into one layer (as far as I understand, and also as phiscribe mentioned).  But as you said "to change outline colors and such", I have no idea what you mean.

If you want to put everything in one layer, that's easy to do by simply selecting everything (Ctrl + a) and then Object menu > Group.  If you don't actually want everything grouped, you can just Ungroup immediately afterwards. 

(I think it might be seen as a bug, that ungrouping doesn't put everything back where it was.  But in any case, it doesn't, and everything will remain in one layer after you ungroup.)

However, grouping won't change anything except the layer arrangements.  It won't change the colors.

I'm also not clear whether you're talking about a vector image or a raster (JPG).  The way I read your message, I'm not sure how  you're using "like".

If it's a vector image, grouping should put everything into one layer, if that's what you mean.  If it's a raster image, possibly phiscribe has the answer.  Tracing a raster image (such as JPG) will convert it to vector, and will allow you to change colors.  Although you could also change the colors of a raster image using a raster editor (such as GIMP or MS Paint)

[bbanna]

Very sorry if I am not exactly clear on what I am asking. Let me see if i can clarify.

Lets say I have a .jpg or .png image. It is not a photograph. It is artwork I copied off the internet. It is a silhouette of the state of Illinois. A white silhouette on a black background. When I copy the file and bring it into inkscape it comes in as a black rectangle with a white silhouette of the state on it. I want to be able to remove the black background and change the white silhouette to black so all I will have is a black silhouette of the state.

Brian

[bbanna]

Thank you phiscribe. I tried the trace bitmap and it worked PERFECTLY!

I really appreciate the help.

Brian