Hello Inkscape users!

I'm new to Inkscape -- I've been using the program to edit and color multiple hand-drawn comics for a webcomic I have. I've created about 5 comics in this way. For each one, unfortunately, I've had this problem: the exported PNG file displays a seemingly random black area on my picture. Typically the black area occupies entirely, or partially, the borders of some shape in the SVG drawing. This black area is not visible in the SVG file. In the past, I've just tried re-exporting the SVG file to try to fix the problem, which may or may not resolve this issue (one time I tried changing the zoom level in Inkscape before exporting -- the mysterious black area disappeared in the resulting PNG, though I obviously have no idea if changing the zoom level was the solution!).

I tried checking for unseen territory by Viewing the Outline, but didn't find any clues. I'd love some insight so that I can be free of this very frustrating problem!

Let me give you an example:

Here's a link to my SVG file...
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34682473/comic%205%20working%20drawing.svg

...and this is a link to the exported PNG:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34682473/Comic%205%20Final.png

(this is my first time trying to put up links to my files on any forum, so forgive me if the above doesn't work or something like that)

If those links work, you'll see this strange black area on the rear wheel of the motorbike in the PNG file -- it almost looks like it's an expanded paint bucket fill from what appears in the SVG file.

My specs, FYI:

Using Mac OSX 10.7.8 on a MacBook Pro, Inkscape version 0.48.2 r9819.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, that's a problem with Export Bitmap and/or the Inkscape renderer (I'm not clear which) (maybe it's both?). Some things that might fix it, are as you tried, zooming slightly; also moving the whole thing over, sometimes even as little as 1 pixel. Sometimes adding an extra node in the affected area helps. I once fixed it by turning the whole image 90 degrees sideways, then flipped it back later.

Sigh.... thanks for the thoughts Brynn, but I'm still having the unwanted black area even after trying all your methods. I guess I'll keep tinkering, unless there are other thoughts? Is this a common bug that others have fixed?

I'm going to have to call it a Mac problem, because your SVG exports fine from all my windows versions of Inkscape.

So I don't know Macs, but my only suggestion would be to ungroup so you only have paths, not groups, and then try the bitmap export.
On the plus side anyone can export it for you because you're not exporting at a large size anyway... ... want me to attach it? I can delete it once you get it so it won't stay up.

druban, that would be great. Thanks a ton for offering. I tried ungrouping everything and re-exporting, but still ended up with the same problem. sigh! much appreciated.

You're welcome, it only took a minute or so. The Inkscape export was a little large but I squoze it a bit and made it small enough to post and it's still 24-bit PNG ...

Got it -- thanks so much, druban! It doesn't really matter to me, but I guess it's probably best if you take it down. (If you're interested, the image is posted on this little comic blog I keep: hcfm.wordpress.com)

If there are others who have insight on this apparent Mac-related problem, I'm all ears! The problem keeps coming up for me...

I haven't looked, but if it's a known bug, it's probably reported in the bug tracker Launchpad. I'm not sure what bit of info sends up the "bug flag" for druban, if it's any more than "looks ok on Windows". But if it's not reported, and there is other evidence, perhaps a new report should, or at least could, be started. If there's enough evidence, and someone wants to investigate further, having a couple of your affected files could be helpful. Although they would probably better be uploaded at Launchpad (in a bug report) because of the secure servers.

Gosh, I sure do miss ~suv's expertise on these Mac and/or bug-related issues.... I may not know or understand the technical issues behind bugs, but I do want to make sure, that if they deserve reporting, they do get reported.