Fat lines causing double-cuts for SVG files.

[risahath]

I imported and edited a PNG and then saved it as an SVG, but when I upload to my Cricut, the lines are too wide, so it cuts them all twice (one just slightly bigger).  I was told to "trace bitmap", then "ungroup", then "break apart", then "view/display mode/outline" and delete the lines I do not want.  I then "grouped", "combined", and went back to "normal view," but the only thing I have left is the main outline shape.  I know all the other "paths" are there because when I click on it, it shows the boxes where they should be.  They are just not showing up, just a black shape.  I tried cutting the file anyway and I only get the main outline shape.  I tried changing the layer positions, but it still won't work.  Any help is appreciated. 

[Moini]

It would be best if you could share a file, and indicate which part is the problematic one.

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

It very much depends on the specific image you're using as to which options are the best to use in Trace Bitmap.  And how to handle the new paths after you've traced it often depends on which options you used.

So we can give you all that info, if we could see the image.  I suspect you would not need to do a lot of the steps you're currently doing.

[risahath]

These are screenshots of image and steps I took.  Image, trace bitmap, ungroup, break apart, display mode.  I then deleted the smaller duplicate paths, grouped, combined and went back to normal view.  All I have left is a plain teardrop shape with no detail in center.
 I thought it might be a layer issue, where the smaller inside cuts went to the bottom, but that is not working either.  Maybe this was just the hard way of doing it and I fudged it?  How can I fix this OR make my lines in an imported image or shape thinner to begin with so they cut on one line? Thanks again! 

[Moini]

From forum 6 to forum 7, if you used 'Combine', then the inside paths will still be there, you can verify with the node tool. For cutting, it doesn't matter how it looks, only that the lines exist. You could remove the fill, and add a stroke, and you're done.

For nice display, you can change the fill mode in the fill and stroke dialog. Open it (Ctrl+Shift+F), select the first tab ('Fill') and make sure that the heart-shaped icon with the hole in it is active. If that doesn't work, go back to step 6, and select either both inner, or the outer path, and do Path > Reverse path, then do the combining.

[brynn]

I'm just adding some extra info, but Moini posted the direct answer to your question.

I'm guessing you must have used Trace Bitmap in the default mode (the first option, Brightness Cutoff).  Assuming that's the case, these are the best steps, in my opinion.

 - import the image
 - run Trace Bitmap
 - drag either the trace results or the original image off to the side and out of the way
 - select all the trace results (drag the Selection tool around the whole thing)
 - Path menu > Break Apart (everything goes black)
 - hold the Shift key while you click the black chip on the palette (this adds a stroke) (but doesn't look like anything happened)
 - click the tiny X chip on the far left end of the palette (which removes the fill)
 
Now you can see all the paths, and you can delete the ones that you don't need.  I don't think you need to combine them, to be able to cut them.  But if you do, Moini told you how to do it, and still see the holes in the middle.

I don't usually suggest for newbies to use Outline mode.  I think it's better for newbies to learn how to see the actual paths, as paths rather than outlines.  If you never learn how to manipulate the paths, you'll always run into problems which you can't fix.  But if you learn the basics, so you can get yourself out of trouble if it happens, then you're better off in the long run.

Another option, which might work pretty well for this particular image, is to use the Centerline Trace extension.  It's a special trace that only gives you a single line, and you don't have to go through and delete half the paths.  Unfortunately, it doesn't come installed with Inkscape, so you have to install it....which isn't exactly straightforward.  If you want to try, it's here:  https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-centerline-trace  Also, it tends to create strange effects around the intersection of paths.  Since this particular image doesn't really have any intersections, it should work pretty well.  But anyway, you can try it and see what you think - assuming you can get it installed.

But personally, I would trace it with the Pen tool.  I made a video for someone recently, showing the basics of tracing with the Pen tool.  Ok here, read this message.  It's someone else who wants to do the same thing:  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=1582.msg10664#msg10664

Note that grouping and combining, while they sometimes seem to do the same thing, don't do the same thing.  You always need one or the other, and almost never need to do both.  Grouping is about objects.  Any kind of objects can be grouped.  Combining is all about paths.  Only paths can be combined.

The place where people get confused is because a path is one kind of object.  So paths can be grouped or combined.  And you can do both, but it's usually a waste of time to do both.

In this image, you needed to break apart.  And if you did need to put them back together, you would use Combine, and not Group.  But I think you're better off without combining or grouping in this case.  Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry at the moment.  Feel free to ask questions if I skipped over anything too fast.