n00b - can't do a simple trace

[pipfrosch]

Hi - I'm new to Inkscape, not new to SVG.

Let me start by saying the way my mind works is clearly different than many people. I have no problem figuring out how to do what I want to do in LaTeX but word processors I never can figure out.

I'm fairly good at using a simple calculator, text editor, and browser to edit SVG but I've never been able to get Inkscape to do what I want. I have similar issues with the GIMP. It seems GUI applications are written for a mind that works completely different than mine and I have never been able to figure them out. Okay -

All I want to do is trace a bitmap image that is basically black on white - so I can take the resulting path and stick it in a def to use in an SVG I am manually creating.

I can get inkscape to trace it, but the coordinate it uses are really funky - I can't seem to figure out how to create the path so that the m coordinates correspond with 0,0 being the top left corner of the smallest rectangle that completely contains the path.

That seems to me like it should be the default, but it isn't. Instead when I cut and paste the resulting trace path into another SVG and use it - what was traced is displayed in a radically different place where 0,0 as top left corner is clearly not the starting point inkscape used in creating the path.

Also, it looks like Inkscape is creating a path that is an outline of what I want, e.g. an outline font - rather than tracing what I want, so I clearly do not understand what the import options mean.

I am not trying to say the problem is inkscape. I excel at many things but GUI apps are not one of them, my brain has trouble grasping what GUI app designers intend.

Also, it puts a lot of xmlns stuff into the resulting SVG that isn't even used or needed. Is there a way to turn that off? e.g. why is there a creative commons xmlns when I am not using that namespace nor have I even specified a license. I do not understand why it would add namespaces that are not requested not used, doesn't seem logical.

Thank you for your time.

If attachment works, top is what I traced and bottom is the outline that inkscape made from it (on top of other stuff because the coordinates for the path are not based at 0,0 being top left corner where used)

I just wish I understood it. And the documentation, seems like you have to already be a graphic artist to understand it, at least to me.

[pipfrosch]

I still want to know how to do it, but for what's it worth - I found an online tool that gave me *exactly* what I wanted first try. Perfect trace, not an outline, and the coordinates for the path m make sense and worked exactly how I wanted it to.

-=-

Is there a way to hide the emoticons in post / reply box? All the motion in them is really disturbing, too much going on at once.

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

You can use the Quick Reply at the bottom of the message thread, to avoid the smileys.  Although if you need attachments or other formatting options, you still need to go to the full editor.

Yes, Inkscape's coordinate system is different from the internet or browsers (and probably different from other graphics programs, although I couldn't say which).  I seem to recall some talk about flipping it around, and there's a possibility it's already available in the development version.  But I don't know that for a fact - it just Might be.  I'm pretty sure the development version can be found here, but I couldn't tell you which file is the right one.  Although it sounds like you might understand developer-ese, and maybe you can figure it out.  https://ci.appveyor.com/project/inkscape/inkscape/history  If not, someone else should be along shortly, who can tell you which file to try.  In fact, they can probably even say whether the flipped coordinate system is even availabe in a dev version yet.

Do I understand correctly that you want a single path for the text, rather than the outline of the text?  For that you would need  to use Hershey Text.  Extensions menu > Render > Hershey Text (don't ask me why they didn't put it in the Text submenu  )  However, I'm not sure if it offers the specific font that you're using.

There's another hershey text extension which produces more than just one line at a time.  I don't know if it offers more fonts.  https://github.com/HardRainbow/Hardy-Hershey-Text  Oh, and there's another.  It provides a few different tools for lasers, which includes Hershey Text, but like the others, I've never used it or looked at it, so I don't know if it will provide what you need or not.  I don't know if it even works with the current version of Inkscape.  But just in case it might.  https://github.com/KnoxMakers/KM-Laser

Do you need instructions for installing extensions?

For the extra SVG/XML code, you could try saving as Plain SVG, rather than Inkscape SVG.  File menu > Save As.  As far as I understand, it removes the XML which is specific to Inkscape.

I can't give you an answer about the licensing in the code.  I don't think that code is giving the document any particular license, because you can assign whatever license you want to your work.  (File menu > Document Properties > License)

Hhmm, when you say "xmlns" does that mean the namespace?  I didn't even realize the namespace was related to the license.  Although I've heard "namespace" talked about, just looking at a quick test file, I don't see any "namespace" in the XML Editor.

Well, clearly, you know XML much better than I do!  Just one more new thing to learn about, right?!  Someone else should be along before too long, who can give you more info about that.

Oh!  If you don't like GUIs, Inkscape can be used from the commandline.  Maybe you would be more comfortable with that??  Here's a reference if you're interested.  https://inkscape.org/en/doc/inkscape-man.html

[Moini]

Yes, the coordinates are inverted in Inkscape. A fix is underway (see https://inkscape.org/en/news/2018/09/20/inkscape-hackfest-kiel-2018-what-happened/) for the next major version.