I would like to add a white fimbriation to an unusually shaped picture from which I've extracted a bitmap image. How would I do this? Because of the shape, it doesn't work to copy and paste the outline, turn it white, then scale it up.

Really new to the program, sorry for noobness.

Ok, well I had to look up "fimbriation" -- which turns out to be fringe! And we just had another topic on creating a fringe type of border: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18965 However, those are all somewhat advanced techniques.

Let us know if the effects shown in that topic are about what you want to achieve, or if not, can you explain in more details what you want to do (or show us an example of the effect you want). We'll move on to how to do it, once we're clear what you want to do. (because the definition I found for fimbriation could be something a little different from fringe, and it's good to be clear, before we figure out how to do it)

This is an image that sort of shows what I'm going for: https://flagspot.net/images/g/ge-akhm.gif

I'm trying to create the white border around the blue Y. However, the shape I'm trying to do is more complicated and it'd be immensely easier (and look better) to make a border around it than to draw a new shape around it.

I looked at the thread you linked and I think it could help me, but I just need to work on familiarizing myself with the program first.

Thanks

Hhmm, well the white border in your example doesn't look like fringe at all. It looks like you just need a white border. Maybe it's the shape of the object that's spikey, or fringe-like?

I think I might have an idea what you want....maybe.....

Instead of trying those techniques in the link I gave, it sounds like you just might need to add a stroke. Object menu > Fill and Stroke > Stroke paint tab, and click the solid square button (2nd from left). To make the stroke wider, go to Stroke Style tab > Width.

Or if it already has a stroke, then you might be needing Path Outset. Duplicate the object, then Path menu > Linked Offset (or actually, you might not have to duplicate first, for linked offset). Here's info about offset paths: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... hs-Offsets.

If neither of those will work, if you could show us the shape, we could probably quickly be able to offer appropriate suggestions.