Hi! I am trying to use inkscape to turn images into SVGs for my vinyl cutting.

When I first installed inkscape, I tried playing around with it and did okay for a simple image, however I watched some tutorials and got really excited about some of the things I can do.

So THEN, I opened inkscape, opened a file, but when I simply attempted to trace bitmap, if I make ANY changes to the selection, inkscape locks up on me. I cannot chose a different option anywhere in the screen that it will not lock up. Sometimes I can X out of the box, sometimes I'm having to alt-control-delete my way out. I have uninstalled the program and reinstalled it 3 times making sure any trace of previous installation was gone prior to installing again.

I have read that it's possible my computer cannot handle the program, however it did work before (although it was very slow to respond) and I do use this same laptop for complicated embroidery programs, often running many different programs at one time. I have shut down EVERYTHING prior to trying to use inkscape and still no change.

So, if anyone can tell me what I'm doing wrong or anyway to help, I'm very anxious to use this program to take my vinyl designs to another level! I also think I can use this as a first step in creating some awesome embroidery designs as well.

While I'm no computer expert, I'm not exactly clueless either. I just have no idea what is going on! Thanks for any help you can give me!

Please post your setup:

OS & version
Inkscape version
Hardware info: CPU, RAM, HD capacity and free space left

Trace bitmap can be very resource intensive. Image size, level of detail, and number of scans, all combine to load the processing of the trace.

Windows 8 (not 8.1, I'm never not on my computer long enough to give it installation time, haha)
CPU: AMD E-300 APU
RAM: 4GB
HD Capacity: 273 GB
Free Space: 222 GB

I have opened several different files of different sizes, etc. It does the same thing. What it is doing now....No matter where I click in on the screen, it either increases of decreases the Brightness Cutoff Threshold. I don't even have to be anywhere near the Trace Bitmap box. I was able to use the tab key to tab over to Okay. I can now see a black and white image on top of the original, but I cannot close the Trace Bitmap box.

Here's a test svg file (untraced):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6vecss3pwj40 ... y.svg?dl=0

It should only take a moment to trace. If not, something's amiss.

There was some locking up but it was more of a long delay than a complete lock up. Until I moved the upper layer from the original image, now I'm locked up completely. The files I'm using are much simpler files! As an example:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z4insl9z1a7ky ... s.bmp?dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ay6sr1jv7vnb ... y.bmp?dl=0

Waskally Wabbits.

Can you perhaps post a screenshot of your "About Inkscape" screen?
(Menu: Help>About Inkscape)

Here it is:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7p4ypd14l0y4c ... 6.png?dl=0

I can get around some things by tabbing around. Also, having two projects open and switching between the two will unlock whatever feature box I'm using in the other screen. It's just weird and very limiting! I know other people are really enjoying the program, and I'm sure it's an amazing program but something is screwy with it working for me! (And it totally could be me!)

Maybe related maybe not, but worth a try:
disabling rulers


On the example images, that bunny has a gradient fill -cannot be reproduced with the trace bitmap as per se.
The amount of manual editing to make the autotrace look decent would take as much time as tracing it with the pen tool.
I would suggest the latter for a good image.

Oh just forgot, it's for a cutout.
Then the pupils would fall off.

Thanks! I'm limping around the program trying different files, etc. I will try your suggestions!

[quote="Lazur URH"
Oh just forgot, it's for a cutout.
Then the pupils would fall off.[/quote]

Lol, there are ways around that! Or, it could be a blind bunny.

Lazur URH wrote:Maybe related maybe not, but worth a try:
disabling rulers

+1... can't hurt to try.

@dherndon76,
Any idea which graphics system your computer is running? (Intel, Nvidia, AMD, ASUS, Gigabyte, etc.)

Show/Hide rulers: Ctrl+R

AMD graphics. My ex-husband swore by AMD. That would explain a lot. Haha.

Here is where it locked up on me now.... Smooth as butter tabbing around to trace bitmap (getting pretty good at that). Broke apart to color. Colored one section and total lock up.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nnfmav6sil19z ... 1.png?dl=0

Well, I won't lay blame with AMD just yet... and it seems the ruler/Intel/Cairo bug is not the culprit.

But perhaps checking the display settings for hardware acceleration, and trying it with none couldn't hurt. Maybe Cairo version is touchy with a few display adapters.

Another option is to try the previous version: .48.5

https://inkscape.org/en/download/windows/

That may be my best option! I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks!!!

Same thing . I'll try it on my daughter's laptop. May have to confiscate it!

I DID manage to get this done on my computer so not all is lost

https://www.dropbox.com/s/meqe3fimpdju6 ... 3.jpg?dl=0

Which version of Inkscape did you install? If you're using a 64-bit version, you might try a 32-bit version. I had some problems with the 64-bit version of 0.91 (even though I did not, with 0.48.5) handling large files. (You symptoms are reminiscent of issues we see with files large enough to challenge the RAM on your computer.) But when I switched back to the 32-bit version of 0.91, those problems went away.

I've been using the 32 bit. I did DL the 64 but it said the file was invalid. I'm going to put it on my daughter's computer tonight to see if I have the same issues. She's 12 but knows far more about graphics stuff than I as she has been drawing stuff on a graphics tablet and doing all sorts of craziness with it. I can see her rolling her eyes at me and pointing out something obvious!

Nice doggie....

and, it seems you have gotten a feel for some of Inkscape's potential.

Hopefully, the issues can be resolved quickly, so the process is as enjoyable as it should be... it's excellent software.

Just wanted to let you know, I was being lazy the next day and using my laptop while laying around on the bed watching tv. Inkscape worked flawlessly. Yesterday, it was locking up when I was at my desk to get some serious work done. Tonight, laying in bed...flawlessly.

While it might seem being lazy is what makes Inkscape work for me....It's actually not using my wireless mouse.

And I got some fun things done and all of a sudden, my vinyl orders are going through the roof because I can do fun things other vinyl cutters can't This program is amazing!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h3d1ihvs3xmtz ... 4.png?dl=0

Thanks for all the suggestions and maybe someone else can learn from my stupidity!

So you think the problem is with the wireless mouse? I wouldn't exactly call that stupidity. Mouse problems (with Inkscape) can be tough to ferret out. Anyone would expect the mouse to function properly!

Are you using a graphics tablet, by chance? If so, leaving the mouse sitting ON the tablet, while you're using the pen, can cause bizarre behavior like you were having. The solution is to put the mouse somewhere else.