Just  installed inscape. But I'm not new to art programs, so this is really an Inkscape beginner asking for advice on how to proceed on a project (strategy)

I have a low resolution 110x110 pixel-sized, raster, png piece of art that has different strokes, shapes, colors in it. (Actually it's the face of an aircraft instrument used in flight sims).

reSizing to a larger size simply creates a blurred dial face in the sim, as I'd expected from a raster-based image. I need the png to be a copy of the original, but at a higher resolution/sharpness.

So I'm wondering:  Can I scale and convert the existing art into a vector-based 220x220 size (or can I somehow do this at the original size too?)...  so it can then be resized freely while still maintaining its sharpness? Do you see any problems with this approach? Should I be thinking about this differently?

If this is the correct approach to increase the original's resolution and sharpness, then, what processes/steps/tools would you experts use in Inkscape to change (trace?) over the existing low-res dial artwork to a new layer that is a higher sharpness copy? Then I can export just that new layer (can this be done in inkscape like Krita does?) as a larger sized, higher resolution png replacement  please?

Thanks.

Thanks for the advice.

You can try using the Trace Bitmap functionality, but you'll almost certainly get better results with a manual trace (i.e. drawing a replacement image over the top of the bitmap). I covered both approaches in my tutorial series (parts 16-21):

http://www.peppertop.com/blog/?p=1563

In terms of then exporting the new image, you don't usually export individual layers in Inkscape. Rather you just turn off the ones you don't want, prior to exporting. Inkscape flattens the visible image when creating a PNG. Once you've saved the SVG file you can re-export at any size or resolution you wish in future, with no loss of sharpness.

ok -- seems like my option is to trace over and recreate. Thanks!

(Great magazine btw Xav!!)

To be clear, it's not my magazine - I just write the Inkscape column for it. Glad you like it though.