Tracing JPG Help - Inkscape Difference Tool

[HCmillertech]

I have a logo I trace to bitmap and get that good. However I want to cut it out of a 20" piece of steel. When I drag it on top of the steel I can not get it to do a difference.
I know I am missing a step, I do this with address plates. When I drag the text over the square I can get it correct. But for some reason I can not get this one.
Thanks.

[HCmillertech]

Here is the file.

Logo.svg

(33.45 KiB) Downloaded 45 times

[adbuch]

Are you after something like this?

[HCmillertech]

yes exactly. What am I doing wrong?

[adbuch]

For plasma cutting I don't think you need to worry about using the difference tool here. There may be more fancy ways to do this, but this is how I would do it starting from your original image. I messed around with your provided file and did get the result shown in my first reply. But I really don't remember exactly what I did to arrive at that result.

I will assume that you started with a bitmap image like this.

sign 1.jpg (31.82 KiB) Viewed 1005 times

When you import this to Inkscape and Path, Trace Bitmap you should see something like this.

You can delete the original bitmap image, and then draw a rectangle around the logo and letters.

Select letters/logo and rectangle, then Path, Combine.

Save as svg or dxf for opening with Sheetcam or similar for creating cut paths and cutting.
I have saved as dxf and opened with Design Edge to check the file.

[adbuch]

You can use the Difference tool to stencil the letters. Here it is with the letters stenciled and red fill added.
David

[adbuch]

I was able to recreate the edit I did previously on the original Logo.svg file you provided.
I showed the first step and last step in the attached screen shots.

You can see the entire process (20 screen shots) by clicking on the the link below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vo9n6rh9cbAURrnD7

David


I started here.

And ended here.

[HCmillertech]

Thank you so much.

Is there a way I can save the document you made of the 20 screen shots?

Also can you attach the final file you created?

[TJS]

Maybe I am missing something. Are the strings going to fall out. Albeit, I did not open the SVG in inkscape yet. It might be because when I look at it the fill is thowing me off. I usually do a View ===> Outline.

[acourtjester]

HC you can save this post ( or other web sites) by clicking on and highlighting the URL (web address) and clicking on the copy feature (Ctrl C).
Then go to where you want to save it, can be the desktop of in a folder on your system. Do a right click and the menu will appear as shown. Next paste the URL you saved into the place shown. Click on enter and on the new screen fill in the name you want to use for it. Any time you want to look at it go to the location you placed it in and click on the shortcut, it will open it. This is what the shortcut will look like where you saved it to (desktop or in a folder).

a ps 2.jpg (76.57 KiB) Viewed 994 times

a ps 4.JPG (59.92 KiB) Viewed 994 times

a ps 5.JPG (50.97 KiB) Viewed 994 times

a ps 6.JPG (66.01 KiB) Viewed 994 times

[adbuch]

Thank you so much.

Is there a way I can save the document you made of the 20 screen shots?

Also can you attach the final file you created?

Just download the google slideshow into a folder on your computer.
David

[adbuch]

Maybe I am missing something. Are the strings going to fall out. Albeit, I did not open the SVG in inkscape yet. It might be because when I look at it the fill is thowing me off. I usually do a View ===> Outline.

You can get a better idea with this view.

Here it is in outline view.

[adbuch]

HC you can save this post ( or other web sites) by clicking on and highlighting the URL (web address) and clicking on the copy feature (Ctrl C).
Then go to where you want to save it, can be the desktop of in a folder on your system. Do a right click and the menu will appear as shown. Next paste the URL you saved into the place shown. Click on enter and on the new screen fill in the name you want to use for it. Any time you want to look at it go to the location you placed it in and click on the shortcut, it will open it. This is what the shortcut will look like where you saved it to (desktop or in a folder).
A ps 1.jpg
a ps 2.jpg
a ps 3.jpg
a ps 4.JPG
a ps 5.JPG
a ps 6.JPG

Tom,
I created a Google slide show, so that is different than copy from this site. The images can be downloaded. The file will be compressed.
Here is the file. I did this because it was much quicker and more efficient that posting all the screen shots here.
David

Logo editing with Inkscape.zip

(3.75 MiB) Downloaded 51 times

[acourtjester]

Good show both will work to save info or tutorials for viewing later. I have used this method for YouTube videos, take less disc storage then the files if saved like a recording. Or using the google drive for the actual recording or file storage.

[adbuch]

Thank you so much.

Is there a way I can save the document you made of the 20 screen shots?

Also can you attach the final file you created?

HCmillertech - I want to give you and others a chance to learn about Inkscape. This is a good learning example. Once you have attempted to edit this on your own, then post your results and we will take a look. It if often counterproductive to show the "answer" before the "students" have a chance to work the examples on their own.

David

[adbuch]

Good show both will work to save info or tutorials for viewing later. I have used this method for YouTube videos, take less disc storage then the files if saved like a recording. Or using the google drive for the actual recording or file storage.

Tom - maybe I am missing something here. When I click on the link, it immediately opens the google page. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

Tom - I figured out what you mean. Right click and save as bookmark. Well done.
David

[acourtjester]

I am still using Win 7 somethings are different

[HCmillertech]

adbuch

I did everything but when i go to move the logo over the rectangle I can not see the logo. I have attached the file. I tried a difference anyway and both disappeared so I am missing something.

Thanks for your help.

[adbuch]

adbuch

I did everything but when i go to move the logo over the rectangle I can not see the logo. I have attached the file. I tried a difference anyway and both disappeared so I am missing something.

Thanks for your help.

When you move the logo over to the rectangle it may be underneath the rectangle.

I used Path, Combine for the last step.

[adbuch]

If you are only plasma cutting, then you can work in outline view and simply draw a rectangle around your logo from the auto trace, select both the rectangle and logo and then Path, Combine. Then save as dxf or svg cutting. Note that you will need to do the auto trace in normal view mode. Then you can just delete your original image and switch to outline view for the remainder of the steps.
David

[TJS]

Thanks for this David. I work in outline view most of the time.
T.J.

[adbuch]

Thanks for this David. I work in outline view most of the time.
T.J.

You are welcome TJ. Here is a quicker way to do it in normal view using auto trace (Path, Trace Bitmap).
David

[Nzniceguy]

What is the difference please in Path Union and Path Combine? eg when would you use one rather than the other?

[adbuch]

What is the difference please in Path Union and Path Combine? eg when would you use one rather than the other?

"Combine makes 2 or more paths into a compound path with 2 or more subpaths. This means that they all share the same style (color, opacity, stroke width, etc.). The paths may be open or closed."

"Union typically results in one closed path, although not always. Like most of the path operations, it works on areas. It takes the area inside one closed path and the area inside another closed path and puts them together, resulting in one closed path."