I'm trying to figure out exactly what I'm working with re; raster and/or vector (looked online and baffled even further)
Here's my problem; I create text in Gimp - shape to my liking - zoom in about 800% to trace paths, reall taking time and care (text to path produces a real bad outcome) then subsequent strokes on the paths are uneven and/or incomplete.
Upon inspection (at 0 zoom) the traced paths are themselves uneven and/or incomplete???
Would I be looking to make my traced paths into SVG? If so how can this be done, I can't find how Gimp does this?
(Are other folk getting such good results by using other software?)

Text-to-path usually works well. Do you have examples of the "bad outcome" (and the source text layer)?

I agree path from text is fine, however on this occasion I had to warp the text then trace the paths. I can't provide an xcf as I made good the paths. I just wondered if paths can break down when traced at 800% zoom for work at default, or is it more likely some error in the tracing by me?

Alternatives to tracing by hand

It depends on all sorts of factors. For curved text, the Gimp Text-along-Path works as good as anything. You can also use Inkscape for that. The only real advantage with Inkscape is real-time editing. You see what you get as you adjust the path.

For some things Gimp can be better than Inkscape. An envelope deform using Saule Goodes Warp Text script can look better than the Inkscape envelope deform.

example: The blue is Gimp warp-text with the deform path showing. Red imported from Inkscape. Warp Text will tend to keep verticals, vertical


Warp Text script see: http://chiselapp.com/user/saulgoode/rep ... pt-fu/home In the rendering section.

When debugging by scripts I often zoom at 25600% for editing, and never broke a path that way. And my biggest hand-tracing project resulted in 2358 anchors in 67 strokes. So IMHO, GIMP isn't a very likely suspect.

Thanks guys - concede to that one, I'll have to slow down