Complete Guide to Trace Bitmap Inkscape 1.2

Learn to convert photos and illustrations into vector graphics using the Trace Bitmap function in Inkscape. You can create line drawings for colouring books from photos, convert sketches into shape vector graphics or make detailed vector copies of photos.

Inkscape allows you to convert images into single paths, ideal for logos, fonts, illustrations and line drawings, or you can use the multi colour option to replicate images with multiple colours. Depending on the number of scans you set you can control the number of coloured layers you create.

Learn about the different settings – such as Threshold, Speckles, Smooth corners, Optimize, Invert image and User-assisted trace in the single scan mode and Smooth, Stack and Remove background that are available in the multi-colour mode.

This complete guide to Inkscape’s Trace Bitmap function will open up a whole new world of possibilities to help you get the most from Inkscape.

In this tutorial, I’m using the latest version of Inkscape – Inkscape 1.2.1

A little bit of knowledge can go a long way.

Follow along with ‘Create For Free’ to create your own artwork – for Cricut, print on demand good, low content publishing, T-shirt designs, etc.

For more tips, tricks and tutorials, visit Create For Free at:

#createforfree #inkscape #tracebitmap

Intro Music: Find Your Way Beat - Nana Kwabena

Inkscape logo by Andrew Michael Fitzsimon

[Feinkostfieber]

Thx for video! 🤗 Iam a totally beginner and watched many videos to this topic. Yours is my no 1 👌🏼

[marionkelly-jult]

Exactly what I was looking for, with concise, clear directions and not too rushed for the beginner as many others are. Thank you very much and look forward to more of your videos.

[Opethian]

I was just watching this for fun. When you separated different vector elements with "ungroup" action - hundred lightnings struck me! With this method you can separate colours in vector layers and cut those out from plywood with laser cutter. Now I can make multilayer art from photos / scetches... Wow! Thanks a lot!

[jricard]

Excellent in every way. I watched it a few times and learned what I needed for my project. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[krystleroy]

I’ve been practicing on digitizing for 2 months straight and u helped me figure out what every thing dose thank u so much

[MissChelle]

Thank you so much, very well explained tutorial for complete newbie like me! ❤️🇦🇺

[goodkarma]

Brilliant, easy to follow guide. Thank you & Merry Xmas

[BlackCat_]

Glad I watched this as the removing all white was frustrating me for ages. Most images it isn't an issue but the panda bear... that one has driven me crazy and I was never successful with keeping the white. I hope this works also in the 1.1 version of inkscape. I'm still learning my way around it so I have not upgraded yet. - Heidi

[living]

Loved this video, got little confused with the use of the mask as you did it very quicly and couldnt undersatnd it properly. beginner here. Thanks

[JohnColgan.]

Great tutorial, learned some new tricks on tile separations.
In previous version, I used to use Autotrace for converting geometric shapes. Would give crisp lines & correct angles . Now autotrace seems to have curve junctions / angles locked on, I cannot get my crisp images, even when clicking off-the 2 selectors. Any way I can improve accuracy or autotrace?

[Ryan-kxkc]

Great video so helpful. Only problem the user trace at 20mins is so quick I can't see what you are clicking on and I just can't do what your saying. Cursor is just jumping about to quick.

[southmanchestervermincontrol]

Great video, it it possible to use Trace Bitmap to create a 3d image from a photo to carve with a CNC?… cheers

[trevh]

Thanks for all your videos from a beginner hoping to use Inkscape for PoD designs. If I open a jpg in Inkscape, resize and then 'Save', it saves it as an .svg file. Isn't that the same as a vector? Is an .svg scalable without loss of quality? Thanks.

[zoltanbrindza]

Very helpful video, thank you! I have tried what you showed in the video. From a portrait photo I tried to make layers to make a layered paper portrait. I mean cut the layers from paper and glue it together. However I am suffering to create the layers without the „holes” of the upper layer. (I want to glue the layers on top of each other to create a 3D effect.) Do you know a solution for that? Thank you!

[robertphelps]

I am trying to create fretsaw cutting templates from photos. I don’t want to create simple jigsaws. Your bitmap video is really good but I can’t work out how to create a template showing colour change ‘cells’ I can stain to create dog portraits for example.
Images from photos start black and white in edge detection which I have learned how to do. Thanks very much for helping me achieve this.
A painting by numbers type template is what I need so after I create wood outline, cells to be coloured are clearly showing. I’ll be cutting those out and putting them back after colouring. Cutout cells needn’t be too many or I’ll be there forever but enough to give good overall definition so I think it must be possible to increase or decrease the number for more or less detail. Can you assist?
I’m really enjoying the Inkscape 1.2 series, thank you so much.

[Gina]

How to use trace bitmap to produce a simple or detailed colouring page image from a colour image or photo with defined edges and outline around the image? Do you have a video to explain? Ie. Don’t want greys

[MrLeew]

Hi, I am trying to convert a pdf to vector so I can edit on autocad. For some reason I am only getting a small viewport and not the whole drawing in my preview box could offer any advice please. Thanks

[carlosalbertoaguiarbatista]

Bom dia, por gentileza vcs poderiam ter a versão do mesmo em português. Obrigado

[Kelly-yoyk]

Great video! My problem is when I open the trace bitmap feature nothing happens! On another computer I would see the similar image in the background. Not on my new computer?? Any suggestions ??

[DanHolland-bvkt]

I am not able to download INKSCAPE I have a macOS Ventura 13.0.1 What can I do? I'd love to be able to use INKSCAPE.