Inkscape Lesson 11 - Trace Bitmap Tool (Convert Raster to SVG)

[@shmack_7]

I needed to learn this so my CNC software can know how to do 3D cuts on my CNC machine. It's honestly the main reason I have Inkscape. I needed to learn this feature, but decided to start at Lesson 1 of yours and work my way here. I have enjoyed it so much, I'll continue to the end of the series and likely more for other software as well. Thanks for taking the time to do this -- you're a great teacher!

[@Gurubashy]

Before I discovered this god given tool I was tracing things myself with vectors. So much work for sub par results. Good video.

[@TJFREE]

Thanks, it really is an amazing tool!

[@margaretball8835]

This is what I’ve just learned how to use to create svgs for use with my Cricut cutting machine. I did a monster truck for my grandson. Trace bitmap is a fabulous tool. Thank you for sharing all these great tutorials..

[@RickRobertson]

These Tutorials are wonderful. Thanks Mate. My wife and I are about to head to Norfolk Island and manage my late father's T-Shirt business. Your Tutorials have been inspirational.

[@kimleblanc3711]

Man your a great teacher, what I like is that I can watch over and over until I get it. I am just learning with absolutely no experience. And i am actually following and learning. That most certainly said something about your teaching.

[@sandravaldez153]

You're amazing! It's almost 1 am and here I am -watching one lesson after another! Thanks for the tutorials!

[@saddie2817]

Me too

[@joksantelles1297]

What a coincidence, me too here in Mexico (01:21 am) XD

[@pkasdovi]

@@joksantelles1297 coincidence?it is 1:21am here too usa

[@AlberTesla1024]

me too

[@BigShitYeah]

1:49 Danmark hi hi

[@sanchiiiiG_72]

Before I watched your videos I didn't know about illustration and inkscape but when I started watching videos I'm in love with inkscape. Thank you for sharing information about inkscape. You simply amazing.

[@teplovozzik_art]

Это видео было выложено на YT уже 6 лет назад, но не потеряло актуальности. Спасибо за уроки, благодаря вашим видео я открыл для себя замечательный мир векторной графики и узнаю все функции приложения Inkscape

[@afrosymphony8207]

Bruh this is the best beginner tutorial seeries i've ever watched, usually beginner tutorials are very uncomfortable to get through but yours just flow like water.

[@TJFREE]

Happy to hear that!

[@rebeccaolmsted6797]

This is pure magic! Thanks for the clear, concise explanations (without annoying music in the background). This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@lynxnamo5813]

Just amazing! Great content and pacing, fantastically shown (I actually learn what you teach, not getting confused as so many other videos out there). Best tutorial video serie I've watched in a long time! Binge watch!

[@hellbreakfast1590]

I wish I could give this a like twice, because it's saved my bacon before. Both Inkscape as a program, and your lessons saved my relationship with vector graphics as a whole. I went to art school, and was taught Illustrator, which is a very capable program that was unfortunately very user-unfriendly during the time that I was taught it. I've heard it's gotten much better, since, but during that time, it was an uphill battle and a lot of things I can achieve swiftly in Inkscape took many more steps than needed. So, thanks!

[@stephanieteague6381]

Trace bitmap is actually the only thing I know how to use in Inkscape 🤦‍♀️ so I am learning so much from you. Thank you so much!!!

[@nancysimpson5645]

I've seen a lot of silhouettes used as cut files for adhesive or iron on vinyls. This looks like a very easy way to produce those. Thanks! I'm enjoying these tutorials and learning a lot about this complex program.

[@Paul07791]

The "trace bitmap" tool has come a long way, this is glorious! As someone who draws by hand, I gave up on auto-tracing because a black ink drawing on paper always used to produce grey artifacts which were a hassle to get rid of. And I certainly didn't want to have to draw the whole thing, only to have to re-trace it on a PC. Thanks!

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome. I appreciate the insight.

[@fijabo]

TJ, I wanted to thank you for the great tutorials you are offering. I've watched the tutorials #1 to #10 and they are refreshing and interesting. Especially for a person like me who has an engineering background. I want to be able to engrave art shapes with a cnc router and I need to learn how to import pixel images and conver them to vector forms. Your videos are definitely helping a lot!

[@vovinio2012]

Just amasing! I`ve seen images with this kind of effects in the Internet, maybe, thousands of times, and now I know how to do the same! Thanks!

[@stevolarry420stevenslozz3]

Mate I have been trying to learn Inkscape by myself to make decals under 15MB for Gran Turismo sport. This series has opened my eyes to the whole process! Big up your chest!

[@spaizemunkie4397]

I'm binge watching your amazing videos. I can't tell you how informative you are. Thanks again 🙏

[@TJFREE]

Glad to hear it, Marie. You're welcome!

[@calebskinner9348]

I didn't watch the whole thing, but this video helped me find the answer to my question in about 30 seconds. Thank you.

[@shelly49]

OMG. You are AMAZING! I’ve been trying to do a shirt for my brother of a steampunk lamp he made for a show this weekend using Cricut Infusible Ink and I couldn’t figure some things out. You taught me more in less than 10 minutes than multiple other videos put together. THANK YOU!

[@TJFREE]

That's great to hear. Best of luck with your project!

[@owpeterj]

You really do clear up the learning - There’s just enough in each vid. Appreciated is both the learning, and that you choose to share your abilities thus enriching all - both those who learn and those who enjoy the results. I finally produced a simple drawing to laser cut a shield. Love from here and good health

[@TJFREE]

Thanks so much!

[@SammySense]

This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for!!! You are the BEST!!!! Thanks for your time and putting this video together for us! ✨

[@BELINDASPIRIT]

Thankyou so much for this series!! I am totally binge watching these videos to get inspiration on what to do with Inkscape!!

[@dianevessels2632]

Great video. I couldn’t figure out how you were getting the different layers. You showed me what I was doing wrong. I appreciate your help.

[@jsunshine4]

Thanks for posting... I just stopped paying for A CC and wanted to Vectorize with a free platform, Now I can.... Great Post

[@almatellez6132]

I was so discouraged from doing my own editing and then I found your videos!! Thank you so much everything is super cool! And you are great explaining everything easy to understand! Thank you!

[@sunnydeol1985]

Amazing and informative videos. Started with graphic designing just for fun but now it has totally captured me. Great content for the beginners.

[@TJFREE]

Glad to hear it. Best of luck with your creative projects!

[@kellyjean4981]

Thank you!! I am super appreciative for all your tutorials. You break it down and make it simple to understand. Once I make it through Inkscape tutorials I will have to check out your gimp videos

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback!

[@Null8fuenf10]

Mind blown! Cool tutorial! Makes me want to go back and play around with Inkscape again. Btw, welcome back! :)

[@TJFREE]

Thanks so much. Glad to hear you appreciate my work!

[@SFXTRADE]

Thanks alot man you are a real star for making these videos. I have recently broken my collar bone so had a lot of time and started watching your videos. Amazing learning a new skill just watching your videos. Much appreciated. Big thank you.

[@mlem7108]

I've been looking for something like this for ages. In highschool, we did screen printing using that technique of separating it into distinct sections and cutting the shapes out of lino for each one, then printing onto a sheet one after the other. Hard to explain but it's a sick look and I wanted to replicate it

[@furryfriends1011]

Mee too watch and learn from your videos till late night from India thanks a lot

[@dorothys2780]

Thank you for these wonderful videos!! Not overly long, straight to the point and you keep reminding us to play around with what we've learned. You are the best!!!!

[@evvie01]

I love your discovery videos way more than your rushing through building a thing videos, I went back to your earlier Inkscape vid's to get some more "wonder". I hope you will put some more of that in tour videos again.

[@1muddonna]

This tool alone will help me in so many projects! I'm loving your tutorials-thanks so much :)

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome, Donna. I'm glad to hear that!

[@ariesgirl327]

So excited to play around with this tool! Super cool stuff. Please keep these videos coming

[@karolina_ste]

I' ve just started learning Inkscape, but this is the coolest option ever. Just what I needed for my project. Thank you for this lesson! Greetings from Poland :D

[@beachballssideaccount]

What a cool feature, I never knew Inkscape had it until today, thanks!

[@StormWarningMom]

Also....GREAT series. I've watched since video 1, been learning this app and its powerful applications, and I'm thankful for your teaching style. Thanks!!

[@Book-Gnome]

This will be very useful for carving on a CNC router or vinyl cutting. My world is growing exponentially. :)

[@TJFREE]

That's true. I'm hoping to get into this someday.

[@grimjing]

As a recent release from the hoards, Thank You. Not enough stars in the sky to count my words of gratitude. Thank You.

[@SheEsq]

this is the reason i have inkscape. i was in charge of getting signature images into an adobe stamp for folks to use. i found a chicago state bar site that showed me how to trace bitmap to get just the line of the signature so the thing could be see through when brought into adobe and stamped.

[@JulesFredericNerestant]

Super useful! I'm going to use a photo of myself as part of the branding for my website!

[@JimKernix]

I did that for my guitar site - I have a few versions in different colors - such a cool feature. I'm now using it for some featured images for my blog posts

[@eitantal726]

Pre-processing an image prior to vectorization helps a lot. I recommend a fuzzy-select on the darker part of the background, and delete. Then, you can vectorize with ease

[@guitarlessonswithtommymerr2867]

Thank you SO MUCH! Been working hard at building out my Free Guitar Lessons videos, and I wanted to have some photos of my guitar neck converted to Vector based so I could animate them. This will help me a great deal. Much appreciated!

[@elinahafuka4998]

I'm learning this programm in school, but after waching only few of your tutorials I learn much more than with our teacher! I hope he knows about incscape more than me, but actually I asked some questions that he could not answer. Maybe he teaches only the basics...

[@jamessturgeon7025]

Really good tutorial! Clear, to the point, and very actionable.

[@TJFREE]

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback.

[@onomatopoeidia]

Yep I love it. I use it all the time to create 3D stl files to print from drawings. I simply draw the shape I want or trace around a real life object or take a photo of it then bitmap trace it, export as svg, import into Tinkercad then extrude, modify and print. Brilliant.

[@roymath]

Nice tutorial. Just wanted to mention that you could check the live preview box while you adjust the settings, to see effects more immediately

[@warenmann1042]

The Guy is not falling, the back of the jacket, among other things, indicates he is being subjected to some force from his front. If you turn him vertical it is more obvious. for some reason the idea that he was falling just bothered me. Excellent video, it showed me a lot of info about the tool and further stimulated thought in a direction beyond inkscape which is what a good video should do. Thank You...

[@dlsl2828]

TJ Thanks, love your tutorials. So appreciate how clear you explain. Thanks again

[@armymama424]

Super useful!! I use this to change jpeg or png's into svg's for my cricut! Works amazingly!! Love your videos!!

[@TJFREE]

Awesome!

[@mayankshigaonker7725]

This is awesome!! Exactly what i was looking for. But I'm still going to continue wathcing your tutoials:)

[@TJFREE]

Thanks Mayank!

[@aleshiasmith8820]

VERY THOROUGHLY INFORMATIVE; I no longer feel soooo lost!! Thank You,

[@sohanpattnaik4331]

Thanks a lot buddy!!!!😄😄😄 I am very glad that I found your channel. Keep going....

[@pottertogether9710]

TJ: "The sky's the limit. " Dude in image: Reached the sky and now in free fall.

[@KuruGDI]

7:44 You can actually get 50 shades of grey in here.

[@tyrannosaurustits7083]

nice meme

[@fukcg00gle95]

Demonitized

[@shillionaire]

@@fukcg00gle95 WORTH IT

[@fukcg00gle95]

@@shillionaire Totally 👍

[@roqsteady5290]

More than in real life, then!?

[@Henry-n7n8]

I like this trace bitmap, gezzz, saves a lot of time,, thanks for showing how this works....

[@JimKernix]

I can't wait to play with this one. I was thinking of doing a black & white portrait of myself for my About Me on my website. No one does that so I will. But now /I can get some nice colors for different thresholds and get something really interesting - thanks!

[@JimKernix]

I know your busy so no rush but how do you merge two of the tracings? I wanted to upload a pencil drawing for my profile pic on my website since no one does that. But this is cool - I did a blue version of a pic of myself and my guitar. But I wouldn't mind trying to do a few colors - maybe 2. But I'll need them to match up exactly. I couldn't find the merge option. I'm going to try a gradient overlay.

[@noregretsforme]

Wow. Love it! Thank you! I am new to inkscape so all this info is very helpful. Happy New Year!

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome Robin. Good luck!

[@dearbrave4183]

This is great!❤️ I would love to see a demo tutorial on scaling a small grainy logo like you mentioned

[@kathasur1299]

From a noob to a designer, you made me the one!

[@theVpnDealer]

learning 2d animation. found i have to learn to design a character first. and internet threw me here. very happy. love

[@alvarezj77]

Thanks for the tutorials!! I'm learning so much and have been so inspired!

[@Berry-nc8pr]

thank you for the tutorials :) Damn it 's long but so worth it ! thank you for going through it all in such a detailed way!

[@benyahun]

This is just what I needed! Thanks a ton for the video mate:)

[@christopherwhitney6123]

Thank you for your great tutorials! I subscribed and look forward to learning more. Great job!

[@TJFREE]

Thanks Christopher.

[@chrismadden5563]

Great video. Just getting my head around Inkscape and this is a really great video for what i'm trying to do. Thanks

[@shaiknj]

Very cool tool. Excellent tutorials. Thanks a ton!

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome!

[@homeconnect26]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks for uploading.

[@margretneuhoff2118]

This is so cool. I tried it and it works very nicely.

[@rungtiwamangklaa5379]

I love all the video and I would love to thank you very for upload such a great video for education and teaching us. Thank you.

[@thenar]

Thanks TJ, this was helpful...and useful.

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome, Peter. Glad to hear it!

[@nicoledickel4360]

Great videos! I took an image that we put on Inkscape I traced it with the bitmap. Can you please tell me why I can’t get a duplicate to come down out of the original picture like you did with the man falling? I am trying to do this image to send it to my embroidery machine. Thanks

[@louisbunster4266]

Thanks for the video. One question: I scanned 3 separate line drawings on a single page, converted to pdf, but could not un group the objects. Any suggestions? Thx!

[@TJFREE]

Good question Louis. Trace bitmap only groups different colors. Colors are created as one path even if they are not touching. You can select the path and try from the top menu Path > Break Apart to separate parts of path that are not touching. Hope that helps!

[@fattyz1]

Ok Maestro. I'm not worthy lol. That was incredible.

[@lettienugent]

What would I do with this lesson? There are FIRE WORKS going on in my brain!!! So many things I want to DO!! Thanks!

[@ChandraKiran]

hello guys, i have a problem. I click trace bitmap > multiple scans>colors and select 4 colors and hit update and ok. after hitting ok, it takes almost 5 minutes and sysy not responding and closed. I am using Lenovo laptop with 8gb ram and r gb Nvidia MX150 graphic card. Is my laptop not able to handle that work??

[@hamadhassan9401]

You. Are. The Absolute GOAT.

[@alanm3438]

Someone told me that I should be using Inkscape instead of my CAD. He said that I can convert a vector into a DXF and that is what I need for my CNC plasma cutter. I have watched the first 11 videos and it is unreal all the things that can be done with this program. Is there a printable instruction manual????? I need a print out so that I will have a quick reference guide. Thanks for you videos, they are great!!!!!!!

[@TJFREE]

Hi Alan. A printable manual is a good idea. I'll have to think about that one.

[@louiscypher7090]

This has better tools than my PSCS4.

[@momogunsabah]

Thanks for this video. Im new to inkscape

[@mlbullbooks]

I like this tool better than the Bezier tool. Much faster and easier. :)

[@richardmorschel6266]

Very helpful and instructive! Thanks!!

[@TJFREE]

You're welcome! I appreciate the feedback

[@JuanRubio68]

Buen tutorial, amigo, te ganaste mi “Like” y mi suscripción a tu canal. Saludos desde Mérida, Yuc., México.

[@TJFREE]

Thanks Juan!

[@mariannak1463]

Hi! Thank you very much for these fantastic tutorials! It's so easy to follow your videos. I've a question. I imported images into Inkscape but they all turn to black & white images. Would you please tell me if there's any option I need to check in order to have those images color? Thank you!

[@StormWarningMom]

You mentioned my fave website for free pictures. Love pixabay! And trace bitmap? Good Lord I could do a LOT with that. Muahahaaa... Lol

[@stevefleniken]

My trace bitmap box looks different than yours and has less options. Did I do something incorrectly?

[@joythatcher6818]

new to this. I am having bit of a problem finding some stuff. my computer looks a bit different. WOULD FIGURE IT OUT. This lesson is challenging but I'm enjoying every minute of it

[@S-ivanov]

Love this. Thank you for your tutorials. :)

[@waggledanceterrafirma1706]

traced a unicorn for plasma cutting, great set of videos.

[@TJFREE]

That's awesome! Thanks.

[@angelalillie4312]

Hi, great videos, loving the learning. A quick question: how do I get the Trace Bitmap Tool dialogue box to appear as it does in your video? Your kind help would be really appreciated.

[@rebeccahennigs1434]

Nice stuff!!! But so what is the easy way to erase the black part of the bottom? If we don't use the eraser. Is it possible with one of the exclusion tools in the next video? Could you explain how to best get rid of parts of images? Thanks!!!

[@eitantal726]

When you vectorize it, the fact that the background is a gradient is a problem. To overcome this, fuzzy selection in GIMP is great

[@Victual88]

absolute gem

[@jak110sfd]

As always...👍👍two thumbs up!

[@jean_mollycutpurse_winchester]

Thank you. Subscribed. I was hoping you would show how to save in a format that Cinema 4D would accept.

[@Mohogany27]

I was wondering if you can make a video about how to make a rhinestone template using an uploaded PNG, SVG, or JPEG.

[@bekiedude]

Hi TJ, great tutorial on Inkscape, i've been following all of them up to this one. Sometimes I pause to play around in Inkscape myself. After watching this one I had a question though. So, when using the trace bitmap to create, let's say, an 8-coloured grayscale of a picture, and then shift-ctrl-G to ungroup them, I'm left with 8 objects. What I really want is not to have 8 objects in 1 layer but 8 separate layers with one object each. Any chance of doing this automatically? I've been searching around but so far couldn't find anything. Just wondering whether it was possible or not. Thx for any feedback from you or the community. Greets from Belgium & thx again for your great work.