Re: [Gimp-user] enhance logo for large print

[Daniel <daniel yacg com>]

On 12/24/2015 06:03 PM, Steve Kinney wrote:
> On 12/24/2015 10:43 AM, Jernej Simončič wrote:
> > On Wed, 23 Dec 2015 09:10:26 +0100, carvar wrote:
> >
> > > > Ask whoever designed the logo to give you the original vector file.
> > > Big help :)
> > I'm serious - the only way to "enhance" it is to redraw it, and it's
> > probably cheaper to just ask the designer for the original.
> Jernej is right:  A logo "wants to be" a vector graphic file,
> because over its lifespan it may be used in many contexts (four
> color printing, offset printing, silk screen, laser engraving,
> etc.), and at many scales (anything from package labelling to book
> covers to outdoor signs).  A vector file such as an SVG one can be
> scaled, rotated, etc. as needed and just "dropped into" any other
> art in progress, or supplied to any shop from a printer to a sign
> maker for use by them.
>
> Whoever originally created the logo "should have" given the source
> file(s) to the logo's owner; it is possible that the client was
> given these files and promptly lost them.  It may not be too late to
> find those files, or find whoever made the logo and ask for a copy
> of it.
>
> Failing that, I would import the image into Inksacpe and use it as a
> guide to create a vector copy.  This amounts to "tracing" the
> available image using closed Bezier curves, then filling the closed
> curves with gradients in colors picked from the sample image.  Once
> finished delete the bitmap image, save the file in SVG format, and
> the logo problem is solved "for all time", or at least until the
> client loses it again.
>
> You could do essentially the same thing in the GIMP, using the Paths
> tool set to re-create the logo on layers above the bitmap image you
> have in hand.  Again, you would be creating closed curves and
> filling them with gradients.  But the resulting source file would
> not be nearly as "universal" for future applications as an SVG file
> made with Inkscape.
>
> I recently did something similar for a friend who was rebuilding
> some old machine tools, reconstructing the original labels from the
> best available photographs.  This screen shot somewhat illustrates
> the process in progress:
>
> http://pilobilus.net/xfer/vector-tracing.png
>
> :o)
I hate to be one of those "me too" folks, but Steve is 100% right and 
also correct in indicating that Inkscape is the more proper tool for the 
job.

I have spent hours on end converting graphics from bitmap to vector so 
that I could acquire very scalable and flexible images.  Blurs and all 
manner of effects can still be managed and maintained.  Now if you 
happen to absolutely prefer Gimp, you can use it in the tracing process 
as you create paths for export.  Those paths can then be imported into 
Inkscape for polishing.