Step 3: Plan Stitch Order & Attach CommandsĪt first you need an idea or an image that you want to transfer into an embroidery file.Step 2: Convert to Embroidery Vectors & Parametrize. You can either paint it from scratch or use an existing image. Inkscape offers various tools to create vector images. Trace the image With the newly imported image selected, click Path > Trace Bitmap. An import dialog will pop-up, click OK to accept the defaults. Scale, rotate and move the whole object with the select tool. Import image into Inkscape In Inkscape, click File > Import and locate the image you just saved. The node editor tool serves to manipulate selected nodes, etc.Īdditionally you could use path effects ( Path > Path Effects.). Remember to always convert the resulting object back into a path ( Path > Convert object to path). When basing a design off an existing picture or graphic, load it into Inkscape in its own layer. Some graphics are amenable to Inkscape’s auto-tracing feature ( Path > Trace Bitmap or Shift+Alt+B), especially if you simplify the image in a graphic editor first (e.g. with GIMP).Īfter tracing, clean up the vector shapes, using Path > Simplify ( Ctrl+L) and deleting nodes by hand when possible. The goal is to use as few Bezier curves as reasonably possible to represent the image. Often the tracing function will produce very little objekts which are impossible to embroider. Therefore it is advisable to cleanup your document with Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Troubleshoot > Cleanup document. When the image is needed to be traced by hand, use the freehand drawing tool.

Trace image in inkscape