Hello,

I want to open a GIF file in Inkscape and trace over/smooth-up the lines in the file.  Can this be done with Inkscape?  The overall process would be to open the GIF, trace over the lines, adjust width/color etc... then save as a file that can be output to a laser cutter, to cut the frames out of plywood. 

I am tracing over the frames of an old ship in order to make a model of it.

I have attached the original file (saved as SVG) and a screenshot of the frames I want to clean up.

Thanks for any help.

Can be done. Image on one layer (locked), draw on another layer with the bezier pen.

Thank you for such an accurate and quick reply!  I am doing this now.

Is there a function that will smooth the lines I draw?  If I make a wiggly or a bit jagged line of points (with the bezier pen), and I want it to be a nice, smooth french curve... is there a way to have that automatically done?  Thanks!

There are buttons for "spiro" curves in the bezier pen controls at the top of the work area. (Each tool has its own set of controls.) 

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Bezier

It is also common to smooth a line using the node editing tools after creating the path with the pen.

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Editing.html