Mac + Inkscape + PDF = HELP!!

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Scramper
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:23 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Mac + Inkscape + PDF = HELP!!

Post by Scramper »

I have a MacBook Pro and Inkscape .47 for Mac. I'm not really sure that this is an Inkscape problem so much as a PDF problem I'm having. But here goes the stupid question of the night..........

I have found an image in an online catalog that I want to convert to SVG. Here is what I've done so far:

1) Downloaded the PDF of the online catalog.
2) Opened PDF in Preview and located the image I wanted.
3) Selected the image, and then clicked Edit, then Copy, then File/New From Clipboard.
4) Save the new clipped image as a PDF.
5) Opened the new PDF in Inkscape and ...... here is where I'm running into trouble.....

When I open the file in Inkscape, it's the entire catalog page, not just the image I clipped and saved as a separate file. I can figure out how to select the part of the page I want but when I copy it over to a new page in Inkscape, it is no longer a vector image and is all pixelated and I can't make it larger.

So I'm hoping there is someone here that can help me out. Not sure what to do at this point.
firstcut
Posts: 1822
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:19 pm
Location: FL; SCAL1, SCAL2; Mac; Ink .47, AI CS4
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Re: Mac + Inkscape + PDF = HELP!!

Post by firstcut »

Don't open the PDF in Preview first. Just open the PDF in Inkscape, tell it what page you want and it will open in vector form, assuming it was vector to begin with. Then control-click to select the image you want (this will select within groups). Then choose Invert Selection from the Edit menu and you will be left with just the outline you want.
Scramper
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:23 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Re: Mac + Inkscape + PDF = HELP!!

Post by Scramper »

Thanks for your help. I was able to get it done but the control-click thing didn't work for me. I ended up ungrouping and deleting the other stuff I didn't want then regrouping what I did want. Not as quick as what you suggested but it got the job done :)
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