trace bitmap advise

[auga]

I have tried a importing different trace bitmaps with limited sucess.

I used PDF, jpg and DXF.

Using DXF I have had not issues.

Using PDF and JPG files which are black and white. I use the trace bitmap and the vectors are broke into small bits.

I tried a simple snowflake christmas decoration. Trace bit finds the bw edges but the vectors are small bits less that
1/4 to 1/2 inch long.

I looked as other videos but just not working for me. Any sugguestions?

[FixitMike]

Select all. Use the Convert Selected Vectors to Curves tool, check the Bezier curves box. This will clean up a bitmap tracing quite a bit.

[Adrian]

With bitmaps it's all about the quality of the image. Most images (but not all) on the web are heavily compressed to help with download times and look fine to the eye but if you zoom in to the edges what looks like a crisp line is a jumble of small squares.

For simple shapes like snowflakes you will get much better results by using the drawing tools to trace the picture by hand. As snowflakes are symmetrical shapes you would only need to draw one section and then copy the rest.

There are some good videos on auto tracing in the tips and tricks section - http://support.vectric.com/tips-and-tricks/select.php

[Mike-S]

Try searching for "snowflake line art" or better, "snowflake coloring book pages"
Choose the highest resolution pics.
Set your trace like below to get rid of jaggies, and use FixitMike's Bezier suggestion.

[fred ruppert]

Excuse my ignorance, but where do I find the tools mentioned - i.e. Convert Selected Vectors to Curve, and the box for the Bezier curve?

[auga]

Using the Curve to fit located in the edit area after I trace it seems to work the like a charm.

As indicated the biggest issue is having great quality helps. Unfortunately some of the bitmaps
qualities we locate or purchase in form of scroll saw patterns are not always good quality because
of the compression.

Using the curve to fit help resolved my issue. There is some editing required and learning curve.

Again thanks for all the help. Learned alot on this subject today.

[FixitMike]

Searching for "snowflake stencils" will give you some nice results, too. Look at the images.