Hello, I'd like to "trace" an outline of an SVG file.
Another way to say what I'm looking for is a "silhouette" of the entire SVG shape.
My start is to import a 2-D DXF file to become an SVG. The DXF has many interior lines and the shape is complex.
I'd like a result similar to tracing a bitmap image like this: Path > Trace Bitmap . I can't get any of the path features to "trace the outline" only.
The import process seemed seamless, and the SVG is "well behaved". I can select nodes, move them around, group, ungroup, etc. All the Object and Path functions work as expected.
Easiest way I guess is: draw a larger rectangle around the whole object - take the Fill tool (bucket icon) and click in-between "frame" and object. Now take the Node tool select one node from the frame - go edit->Select all and hit backspace to delete - additionally you can go Path->Outset a few times to give more room between contour/stroke and silhouette:
I wonder if there is a way to trick the zoom to be "super zoomed in", possibly with a custom extension. For now, I made the bounding rectangle as small as I want to get the detail. I suppose those rectangles could then be rejoined with path operations like Union, Difference, etc.
Re #7: If your starting shape has a fill colour, stroke to path produces a group of two objects, one for the fill and one for the stroke. If there are no filled shapes then the output will have no groups.
Re #6: This method doesn't work for grouped shapes. You may need to ungroup the selection before [Stroke to Path].
Beginners' Questions Tracing an outline of SVG
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Hello,
I'd like to "trace" an outline of an SVG file.
Another way to say what I'm looking for is a "silhouette" of the entire SVG shape.
My start is to import a 2-D DXF file to become an SVG. The DXF has many interior lines and the shape is complex.
I'd like a result similar to tracing a bitmap image like this: Path > Trace Bitmap .
I can't get any of the path features to "trace the outline" only.
The import process seemed seamless, and the SVG is "well behaved". I can select nodes, move them around, group, ungroup, etc. All the Object and Path functions work as expected.
Also, I'd like to post a
Any tips?
Easiest way I guess is: draw a larger rectangle around the whole object - take the Fill tool (bucket icon) and click in-between "frame" and object. Now take the Node tool select one node from the frame - go edit->Select all and hit backspace to delete - additionally you can go Path->Outset a few times to give more room between contour/stroke and silhouette:
Thank you so much. I got an image.
Interesting how your fill color is mostly tighter to the original shape. Mine looks like a Picasso.
Any thoughts on controlling the contour-matching?
The tool works zoom dependent; try to zoom in as much as you can without having parts outside the display area.
Yes, that makes a big difference. Thank you.
I wonder if there is a way to trick the zoom to be "super zoomed in", possibly with a custom extension.
For now, I made the bounding rectangle as small as I want to get the detail. I suppose those rectangles could then be rejoined with path operations like Union, Difference, etc.
Here's another method.
[Edit > Select All]
[Path > Stroke to Path]
[Edit > Ungroup] (This step is not needed if the original shapes were unfilled)
[Path > Union]
@Paddy_CAD half way through: Stroke to Path don´t generate Groups
3 (Path->Break Apart)
4 (Path->Union)
5 (Path->Outset)
Re #7: If your starting shape has a fill colour, stroke to path produces a group of two objects, one for the fill and one for the stroke. If there are no filled shapes then the output will have no groups.
Re #6: This method doesn't work for grouped shapes. You may need to ungroup the selection before [Stroke to Path].
The dxf (see attachment) file has just the typically segmented strokes - so no fill available: