In this image you can see the colors are muted. Don't know what I did wrong.
Converted from jpg to svg.


I've converted like this before with no problem.

Hi.
It seems the right one wasn't traced with as many steps as many colours -14- the left one has.

Based on your previous image now I can see you have a scanned image of the outlines and fill the colour areas in a raster program, then import a flat image to inkscape to vectorise?
For clean vectors maybe having a separate raster image with the black outlines only, and one with fills only on a transparent background,
then importing both to inkscape and autotracing would work better.

Lazur you're a life saver.

Yes, I scan the inked work and then color it in Photoshop. Then import them into Inkscape to vectorize.

So you're saying I should vectorize the black and white art first then do a layers where the color goes? Then import the black and white then the color plates into the same new file and then vectorize?

Yes, in a nutshell, I would separate those two in the process.

The vector version is similar to the raster one.
The only difference is that with photoshop you can set multiply composite mode for the colour layer easily and can have the fills above the outlines, but
you might as well do it the same way as with the vectors:
put the black outlines on top, and colour areas below it,
making each edge of the coloured parts hidden below the black outline.
Then if you have a colour areas without outlines, and an inked outlines separately as a raster image,
by autotracing them on top of eachother you can have a clean look.

okay so in effect I would take the psd file that I did the color on and put the black plate
on top of the colors. Each layer is 'multiply'? Let me give that a try.

Nope that won't work as Inkscape ddoesn't recognize psd files. When you say layers do you mean import them into Inkscape and then multiply as transparencies/

Will post an example soon.

Thanks. Problem is I have the jpeg colored. Didn't save unflattened art like a knucklehead. I figure there's a way to separate the ink from the color though and make layers.

Well I found an easy way to make separation layers from the colored jpeg files. I just tool select the blak ink and cut it leaving a pristine color plate. I now have a clean ink plate and color plate. I've dropped both into inkscape and used multiply on layer 1 but can't figure out to do multiply on layer 2.

Tried with a separated black outline and with a separated fill only raster image but it didn't work as I expected it.
Thus had to rethink the whole process.
Here is how you can use the benefits of the auto-tracing as much as possible:


Actually the dynamic offsetting part would be nicer if avoided and used outlines on the paths instead, but that's many times faster.

Good God! That's more complicated than flying the Space Shuttle! How long did that take you????

It took a while to figure out and polish the method.
Well it can be done around 10 minutes for each character I guess, after doing it on the fifth character.

What we need is a program that can change a color raster image to svg. This process is a nightmare.

Evolbaby wrote:What we need is a program that can change a color raster image to svg. This process is a nightmare.

10 minutes? I guess after i drill enough I might find it second nature. I'll need to decipher some of the terms you used.

When I hit "duplicate path" nothing happens. It doesn't look like what you've posted.

That is because that image next to the "duplicate path" words was capturing the process step after the duplicating, and breaking apart, and opacity lowered.
With duplicating you wouldn't see anything new rendered, it just ensures that you will have a complete path for the black inked outline, and
a separate fill -flat colours- made from the exact same path.

Thanks for clearing that up Lazur. Note that I'm still unfamiliar with the software and terms. Don't assume I know what you're talking about when you mix and change steps. One of these days I'll be a Jedi Inkscape Master like you but for now I'm still a Padawan.

Don't worry, post if anything is unclear.