Huh? OK we are getting a bit techie today but I swear this is easy! I get many emails form my fabulous blog readers on how to convert jpg and png files to svg files so they can cut them on the Cricut. Not that I don’t LOVE the emails, I thought it would be easier to explain it here with pictures because it is so easy. Expect to say “duh!” before this post is over. Don’t worry, I did not forget my non SCAL/Cricut readers you can do this project “old school” with paper and scissors and you digi-scrappers can play as well!. You will need Sure Cuts a Lot (SCAL) Software, a Cricut and a free program called Inkscape for this tutorail.
Here is what my 4 year old daughter made with what I cut:
Ooh-La-La, a fancy mask!
Here are the free png mask files I used for this project. They are a freebie from Digi-Designer Meredith Fenwick and you can grab them on her blog here. Don’t forget to leave some love if you download, a simple thanks will do and it is sure to make her day!
Halloween mask freebie by Merdith Fenwick
A note about converting files. The files still belong to the original creator, that means you cannot share them or sell them without permission. This is for personal use only, otherwise I would just give you the files I made but that would be uncool since these freebies promote the designers business and drive traffic to their blogs. Yes, I’m a total square…OK I’m off the soapbox 
Step 1. Find a file you want to convert (simple is best like a coloring book page or png file with a transparent background). Open that file in Inkscape.
open the file in Inkscape, select the mask.
Click the arrow in the upper left column, then click on your graphic.
In the “Path” menu choose “Trace bitmap”
Click "path" then "trace bitmap"
A box pops up, click update, and you will hopefully see your graphic. Click “OK” and close the box by clicking the “x” in the upper right hand corner.
A window appears, click update and you see your graphic, click OK then "x"
Save the file as a .svg then you can import it to SCAL. * this is important, you don’t open a svg file in SCAL you need to choose “import”.
Open SCAL, click"file" then "import SVG" and select your file.
Yay! There it is just like magic! resize as needed.
That is all there is to it. I you have a multi-colored image you can use a graphics program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro to separate everything with the “magic Wand” tool first then cut and paste them in a new document before opening it in inkscape…I think you can even do that in inksape but I haven’t tried (if it ain’t broke why fix it!). Have fun and if you have trouble leave me a comment and I’ll see what I can do…feel free to comment if you are successful too…I like the success stories!
I’m gonna cut a bunch of these for my kids classes, they had a ball decorating these and it will be so much easier than cutting them by hand! Honestly, I can’t wait to make some myself!
Thanks for sitting through this long post. Until tomorrow, Happy Crafting!
Lindsay
Filed under: Crafts 4 Kids, Freebies, SCAL software + Cricut, Stamping, Templates, Uncategorized | Tagged: convert jpg to svg, convert png to svg, cricut, cut any file with a cricut, Freebies, halloween craft, how to convert svg files, inksacpe, mask, SCAL software + Cricut, sure cuts a lot, tutorail
[...] thefrugalcrafter wrote an interesting post today onConvert a .PNG to a .SVG fileâ?¦works for .JPG too!Here’s a quick excerptHalloween mask freebie by Merdith Fenwick. Halloween mask freebie by Merdith Fenwick. A note about converting files. The files still belong to the original creator, that means you cannot share them or sell them without permission. … [...]
[...] thefrugalcrafter wrote an interesting post today onConvert a .PNG to a .SVG fileâ?¦works for .JPG too!Here’s a quick excerptFind a file you want to convert (simple is best like a coloring book page or png file with a transparent background). Open that file in Inkscape. open the file in Inkscape, select the mask. open the file in Inkscape, select the mask. … [...]
This is so cool, Lindsay! Great job!
WOW! You’ve been busy! So Sorry I haven’t been around in a while! But I am back!
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That’s so helpful. I got SCAL yesterday and I was not doing some steps in inkscape. Watch out. I need some new cutting blades, this one is going to burn out!
Thanks,
Annie
Awesome info! Thanks so much for explaining! Inkscape has way too many options for me to every figure that out on my own!
thanks for doing this and explaining! I’m still on the fence about getting SCAL. Is there anyway you can show how to work with an image that has more then one color? for example a pic of a disney character like this one: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mousemanual.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/tinkerbell.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mousemanual.com/category/blog/&usg=__azOzwlv8eyPUgVNVDp06YZlZweQ=&h=533&w=276&sz=11&hl=en&start=10&um=1&tbnid=CuEOXzaOX49svM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=68&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtinkerbell%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den ? How do you seperate all the pieces (say in photoshop) and then ‘reassemble’ them in inkscape so that you can play with them – ie put them together to create a mat or resize them? after all you probably will want to resize the full image with all it’s parts to use in a project.
OK cloetzu, here goes… First I want to say that that image is copyright protected so don’t share the file or Disney may have your butt in a sling LOL but I’m here to teach so here is how to do it: Open the file in Paint shop or Photoshop. Open a new document 6″x12″ 72 dpi will be fine. Use the magic wand tool to select tinkerbell. Copy and paste tinkerbell in the new doc. Go back to the original pic, use the magic wand to select her dress, copy and paste it into the new doc. Do this for each part of her except the wings.. Make sure when you arrange the peieces you spread them out accorss the page so there is plenty of space for you to lay ou the diffrent colors of paper you will cut. After everthing is arranged on the page flatten the layers and use the magic wand tool to select every peice by clicking on the background (white) then go under the ajust menu and pick hue/saturation/lightness and pull the slider so the peices are black. Save an a jpg. Do the setps listed above in the post to make them an SVG file then import in in to SCAL to cut. If you cut the image of tinkerbell whole out of vellum and peice the other shapes on top it will be lovely! That way the wings will be vellum. good luck!
great thanks! and yes I won’t share. I’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes – assuming I can still get a trial version.
I followed your instructions for converting files to .svg in Inkscapes and importing with SCAL. It worked perfectly and I can’t thank you enough for posting this valuable information.
I’m so glad it worked for you!
Thanks so much! This was incredibly easy. I had no idea. I’m all set for another crafting adventure.
Why would there be no picture when I go to import to SCAL? Thank you for the instructions. They worked great on one image.
Hi Beverly,
I’m guessing then tou didn’t “trace bitmap” correctly. Open the image in inkscape again and select the arrow at the top of the left hand toolbar, then click on the image, it will make a box around the image, then go under the path menu and “trace bitmap” click update (you will see a picture of the image in the little window) clik OKm and clost the window. You will notice that the box aroung the image is smaller now touching the edges of the image. It’s happened to me before when I forgot to select the image before i did the trace. It should work now. good luck!
Im sorry I know you are tired of explaining this.
The steps were so easy but…………..
I did all the steps. When I saved as, I have a screen
Name……………….(my name of file)
Save in folder……………….(my name of folder)
the far right has (inkscape svg)(plain svg), etc.
I hit save……..
Went to my SCAL and hit import SVG. Can’t find it anywhere?
I also tried (plain svg).
I have Vista so I don’t know if this makes a difference.
Thank you for your time.
Tami
Huh Tami, that is weird. When you import SVG you should be able to see the svg files only but you can’t find the file right? My first step would be to make sure you are looking in the correct folder. Maybe try to save it to your desktop, then when you import look on your desktop for it. I have a newer tutorial too: http://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/convert-a-pdf-or-anything-you-can-see-on-your-computer-screen-to-an-svg-file/ that you may have more luck with. And I don’t mind explaining;-) I just hope I don’t confuse you more!
Thank you so much for this tutorial, i am going to try it sometime this week once I get inkscape. This will be great. Thanks again. The masks are great.
Jennifer
To separate colors in Inkscape you just click on color from the trace menu box, choose the amount of colors (sometimes its actually a few more than you see), (update) close box, and then go to Path and click break apart. Move each color its on part of screen or save separately.
thanks Cathy, that sounds easy!
I did all the steps but when I go to save it still says jpg not svg, Why?
Nina, are you sure it is not filename.jpg.svg? Inkscape adds the .svg after the original file name unless you retype the name in. Try to import it into SCAL and see what happens;)
So easy – thank you so much!
Great Lindsay, thanks for the tute, I’ve just loaded SCAL this weekend and love it, now it’s time for Inkscape and a play with my jpgs. I’ll let you know when it works.! regards
Lesley
thank-you for all that info….
VERY helpful! Simple and thanks for reiterating the “click on left arrow” to one other poster – that was my issue. Thank you for sharing!
I can only say one word DUH. Thank you.
Whats this man, i did’t get anything.