Turn Image into Vector in Inkscape

Converting handwritten text or images into vector art can be a great way to use them in various design projects. In this tutorial, we will show you how to turn your handwriting into vector art using Inkscape.

The first step is to open your image inside Inkscape and select it using the Selection tool. If your image needs to have its contrast improved or needs to be cropped, simply open the photo in GIMP or Photoshop to adjust its levels and contrast (in Photoshop, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels), crop your writing, and save the image as a PNG or JPG file.

Once you have adjusted your image, import it into Inkscape. We'll make sure there are no shadows in the photo and that we have adequate lighting for the best results. Next, scan the writing or simply take a photo of it with our smartphone. This is important for contrast as we want to make sure the background and our writing stand out from each other.

To convert your image into vector art, go to the Path menu and select Trace Bitmap. This will open the Trace Bitmap panel where you can control how Inkscape will vectorize your image. You can use the Node tool to modify any of its points and curves to clean up your writing or to make any other necessary adjustments.

In this example, the default Brightness Threshold value of 0.4 didn’t look good and it actually clipped some of the edges of our text, so we upped the threshold to 0.6 for better results. Use the Update button to preview your results.

Use the Brightness Threshold field to enter a number that will define the sensitivity and the edges of your writing. This control in addition to any of the other controls in the dropdown menu such as Edge Detection can help you further fine-tune your conversion.

Once you’re happy with your preview, click OK and Inkscape will vectorize the bitmap image. You can then remove the original bitmap image from your document so you’re left with only the vectorized version.

By following these steps, you can easily create your own lettering styles to use in Inkscape. With practice, you can master this technique and create beautiful vector art from your handwriting.

Turn image into vector inkscape