multi layered files

[dlwrules]

With the help of some great tutorials that have been posted on this site I have learned how to create titles and mats and trace basic shapes using inkscape to create .svg files.

Now I want to learn more!

Someone posted a photo today on the Designs thread with showing die cuts of animals on a birthday card. I am wondering how to do that. Do you manually trace each section and save it to a file? If yes, how do I do that?

[dlwrules]

Here is an example of what I guess I am getting at.

flower_for_pc.gif (5.23 KiB) Viewed 5221 times

flower sample.svg

(53.99 KiB) Downloaded 267 times

I followed the basic instructions for tracing to get the .svg file. To end up with a die cut for my scrapbook do I just cut this same file several times in the various colors in order to have an end product that is multi -colored? Or is there some way to manually trace so that the bottom layer is solid, then each additional layer is built up on that? In other words the base color would be a solid, the the petals would be solid, etc?

Am I making any sense?

[jancy]

after you trace it, go to:
path:break apart. each piece will have a box surrounding it.
click off the canvas anywhere: all dashed lines will go away
click on each individual piece to separate
save as svg when all pieces are separated
open in scal & cut each piece in desired color.

what you are doing is paper piecing

here's what it looks like after you select "union"

flower pieces after union.jpg (30.22 KiB) Viewed 5214 times

here's what it looks like after pieces are separated

flower piecing screen shot.jpg (34.04 KiB) Viewed 5217 times

this is essentially what you do if you want to trace a coloring page.

[dlwrules]

THAT IS EXACTLY what I needed to know how to do!!

You are a genius!!!

Thanks so very very much!!!!!!!!

[raewyn64]

Oh wow - I didn't know that tip.
Thanks very much for that.
Raewyn

[jancy]

THAT IS EXACTLY what I needed to know how to do!!

You are a genius!!!

Thanks so very very much!!!!!!!!

glad I could help.

where did you get the image?

if you drew it yourself, mind if I make a short "how to" trace coloring pages with it ?

[dlwrules]

Ok, I have played with all of that and have been able to save files individually. The problem now is that when I import them into SCAL they are all the same size. In other words, the outline is 1.5, the middle section is 1.5, and the petals are 1.5. Now we know that 1.5 in petals are not going to fit on top of an outline that is 1.5 inches How do I save each component so that they will all fit together proportionately when cut?

[dlwrules]

I downloaded the image from a free coloring pages site.

http://www.needlepoint.org/Kids/99-05/flower_for_pc.gif

[jancy]

Ok, I have played with all of that and have been able to save files individually. The problem now is that when I import them into SCAL they are all the same size. In other words, the outline is 1.5, the middle section is 1.5, and the petals are 1.5. Now we know that 1.5 in petals are not going to fit on top of an outline that is 1.5 inches How do I save each component so that they will all fit together proportionately when cut?

that, I'm sorry to say, I can't help you with because I don't have SCAL yet.

are you able to resize in SCAL? can you cut & paste each item into one file & resize them as needed?

here's where SCAL really needs to be able to import svg files better. if you could import exactly what was saved in inkscape & be able to move each piece, that would be ideal.

they really need to make SCAL work like the wishblade software to have it work well with svg files.

sorry that I can't help you with the saving/resizing.

[dlwrules]

Thanks so much for your response. I didn't know if I was somehow not properly saving the files in .svg. I can't find a tutorial on saving the files at a certain size.