Any advice on creating silhouettes to cut out please?

[Steambike]

Hi guys,
I'm trying to cut out some silhouettes of motorcycles in various styles (dual sport, trials, streetbike, cruiser etc) and was thinking of trying to work from photos of the bikes themselves (with /without riders) so the plan is photos to Inkscape, inkscape to Sheetcam, Sheetcam to Mach3 and then cut, and if they work out post some here. As this is my first venture this way has anyone got any tips they would be willing to share please?
Thanks!

[Capstone]

1. Add "paint.net" to the front of that sequence and take photos (not copyrighted) into the paint.net program and convert them to B&W then jack up the contrast and save as high of a rez as possible.
2. Import into Inkscape and use the "convert bitmap" tool and go from there

[acourtjester]

Ah the pearls of wisdom shine through
Never to old to learn new tricks Thanks

[little blue choo]

Thanks Phil, I was wondering if upping the contrast in Photoshop would help with some traces. Now I know it will!
Thanks again
Rick

[Steambike]

Awesome, thanks guys
(This may appear twice, thought I had posted but didn't show up?) anyhoo, 2 other related questions then so I don't mess up.....,
1) using my own photos bypasses any issues with the copyrights, right?
2) when posting am I able to use the manufacturers name / model in the title, or just a generic description ie "trials bike"?

[metalman42]

There are many type of fonts (dingbats) that already have bike silhouettes in them. Look at dafonts.Com they have some.