Convert PNG's to Scalable Vector Images?

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:35 pm **(#1)**

GIMP Version: 2.8.4
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Advanced Level

List any relevant plug-ins or scripts:
N/A

List any ERROR messages you received:
N/A

I'm looking to convert some PNG text images I made with Gimp, into 'scalable vector images'.
Can this be done using 'Inkscape'?
I'm also new to Inkscape, if this is possible I would need a detailed description of how this can be accomplished.

Any suggestions or assistance would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Akros · **Joined:** Jan 10, 2013 **Posts:** 863

Wallace,
Maybe this will help. Not sure ...
Not in English, but it might be possible to follow the images.
http://blip.tv/file/get/Aurium-IntroInkscape19VetorizaoAutomticaPorSrgioLuiz986.ogv

K1TesseraEna · **Joined:** Sep 22, 2012 **Posts:** 2089 **Location:** US

Inkscape>Path>Trace bitmap. Or convert your glyphs to paths in gimp, save as svg and open in Inkscape.
Kinda hard to give an advise without seeing your 'text images'
Depending on task and complexity of your text approach can be quite different.

Esper · **Joined:** Jul 17, 2012 **Posts:** 2769

what K1te said
dont expect wonders, though

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:44 pm **(#5)**

Esper wrote:

what K1te said
dont expect wonders, though

K1TesseraEna wrote:

Inkscape>Path>Trace bitmap. Or convert your glyphs to paths in gimp, save as svg and open in Inkscape.
Kinda hard to give an advise without seeing your 'text images'
Depending on task and complexity of your text approach can be quite different.

These are just some of the images that I'm referring to...

kimppi · **Joined:** Feb 17, 2011 **Posts:** 225

Not exactly what you're searching for, but if you need a text with certain font converted to SVG paths, just make the text in Inkscape and convert it to path (Path->Object To Path). After that you can modify it, add color sliding fills etc.

About your previous issue, however, Inkscape's bitmap tracing is quite good, but your sliding colors probably cause problems. Of course SVG image *can* contain an embedded bitmap(i.e. your original image), but there's no sense using SVG then...?

Esper · **Joined:** Jul 17, 2012 **Posts:** 2769

what are you actually trying to do, Wallace ?

one of your examples just seems like ordinary text
of course fonts are fully scalable in IS

the ones that have a stroke and a gradient, are easily to recreate in IS too
so no need for tracing

bevelling is quite different in IS i think
i already posted a link to a tutorial how to do 3D text with IS and Gimp

i think what you want is quite possible, maybe just not with tracing
but im no big expert on that

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:58 pm **(#8)**

Esper wrote:

what are you actually trying to do, Wallace ?

one of your examples just seems like ordinary text
of course fonts are fully scalable in IS

the ones that have a stroke and a gradient, are easily to recreate in IS too
so no need for tracing

bevelling is quite different in IS i think
i already posted a link to a tutorial how to do 3D text with IS and Gimp

i think what you want is quite possible, maybe just not with tracing
but im no big expert on that

kimppi wrote:

Not exactly what you're searching for, but if you need a text with certain font converted to SVG paths, just make the text in Inkscape and convert it to path (Path->Object To Path). After that you can modify it, add color sliding fills etc.

About your previous issue, however, Inkscape's bitmap tracing is quite good, but your sliding colors probably cause problems. Of course SVG image *can* contain an embedded bitmap(i.e. your original image), but there's no sense using SVG then...?

@ Esper,
I want to make those text image I posted into vectors. I can create them with Gimp, but making identical text images in Inkscape would be a bit of a task at best for me.

Thanks you guys for your suggestions.

I think creating the text images in Inkscape would be the way to go/begin. Of course there's a learning curve I'll have to contend with, but it shouldn't be to insurmountable of a curve.

Right now when I open Inkscape, I basically sit there staring intensely at the interface before me. Trying to find the parallels between it and Gimp, every so often pressing a button or two in order to see what happens. :hehe

Esper · **Joined:** Jul 17, 2012 **Posts:** 2769

i felt the same
exactly the same
for a long time i couldnt wrap my head around IS - i didnt know what to do with it either

then i found Photoadvanced´s youtube channel
and it clicked for me

http://www.youtube.com/user/PhotoAdvanced2

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:44 pm **(#10)**

Esper wrote:

i felt the same
exactly the same
for a long time i couldnt wrap my head around IS - i didnt know what to do with it either

then i found Photoadvanced´s youtube channel
and it clicked for me

http://www.youtube.com/user/PhotoAdvanced2

That's for the link Esper, :bigthup

I've got to check that one out.
I've begun watching all the tutorials I can about the basics of IS, so I'll add this link to my list of youtube channels to subscribe to.