Hello, I am trying to switch from Adobe world to GIMP and Inkscape. Feature that I really used a lot was to create or adjust some bitmap in Photoshop, save it as PSD, import this PSD into Illustrator, add some vector work there and export final PDF. If I need to adjust bitmap I just do that in Photoshop, save and it updates in Illustrator since PSD is linked, not embedded.
Is there such a possibility with GIMP and Inkscape? Save bitmap in GIMP as XCF and link that to Inkscape composition?
Close, but not quite. Requires the extra step of export to PNG.
Inkscape can embed linked PNGs, so I can have GIMP open with the XCF, edit the bitmap content, the export to the linked PNG. Switch back to Inkscape for the updated content.
That is not even close:) This is sad point where Adobe wins, human lifetime is limited and export from GIMP requres few more clicks than just simple save:( Anyway thx for reply
Sure two clicks are not a killer but any unnecessary step repeated many times is annoying. To be clear I am not a complainer, I really admire Inkscape, big respect to developers. Just looking for best possible workflow.
When you open a bitmap in GIMP which is linked in Inkscape, make edits you can "Overwrite" the bitmap (not sure if there´s a hotkey for that) and Inkscape will automatically update:
I am trying that BUT: exporting to PNG is very slow (as everywhere) and you lose layers. So I try to export to TIFF but that is somehow messed in GIMP. When I open TIFF again and do some changes it looks like it is overwriting but the file remains unchanged. Mess.
So really - Inkscape ability to ingest XCF directly would be really good, keeping layer structure, simple save instead of export which is not always working..
Importing XCF is not remotely likely. Inkscape is a native SVG editor, not a proprietary internal format like .ai or .psd, or for that matter, xcf.
Inkscape svg files can be opened in any SVG renderer (apps, browsers, etc.), but that does not mean all other renderers closely follow the SVG specification, nor that Inkscape includes all the features of the format.
Hello, I am still experimenting with using TIFF because it saves much faster than PNG, can use transparency and keep layers. But when I save TIFF in GIMP with more layers and import it in Inkscape it shows only bottom layer. When I open it back in GIMP all layers are there. I have read it might have something to do with TIFF specifications of layers and pages.
Do you know how to import the TIFF to Inkscape correctly?
UPDATE:
In GIMP - when the bottom layer called BACKGROUND is deleted (not just hidden), then it works fine in Inkscape
I'm not able to replicate here, though. I can edit the TIFF layers in GIMP, but still only see the bottom layer when linked into Inkscape. Plus, feathered edges are dark. 🤔
Please share a screenshot of your TIFF export settings and example TIFF file. (and xcf, if still part of the workflow). Thanks.
In GIMP layers have to be in Layer group in order to be all seen while exported as TIFF and imported to Inkscape. If layers are not in group then only the bottom one is visible after import to Inkscape. Dark feathered edges have to do something with blending mode in my opinion (norm, light, add etc.), but I did not figure out how to get the right option. It might be the question of blend mode at GIMP side or at Inkscape too.
Using Inkscape with Other Programs importing GIMP XCF into Inkscape
Inkscape.org
Hello, I am trying to switch from Adobe world to GIMP and Inkscape.
Feature that I really used a lot was to create or adjust some bitmap in Photoshop, save it as PSD, import this PSD into Illustrator, add some vector work there and export final PDF.
If I need to adjust bitmap I just do that in Photoshop, save and it updates in Illustrator since PSD is linked, not embedded.
Is there such a possibility with GIMP and Inkscape? Save bitmap in GIMP as XCF and link that to Inkscape composition?
thx a lot
Close, but not quite. Requires the extra step of export to PNG.
Inkscape can embed linked PNGs, so I can have GIMP open with the XCF, edit the bitmap content, the export to the linked PNG. Switch back to Inkscape for the updated content.
That is not even close:) This is sad point where Adobe wins, human lifetime is limited and export from GIMP requres few more clicks than just simple save:(
Anyway thx for reply
Yeah. Those two clicks are a life killer.🙄
Sure two clicks are not a killer but any unnecessary step repeated many times is annoying. To be clear I am not a complainer, I really admire Inkscape, big respect to developers. Just looking for best possible workflow.
When you open a bitmap in GIMP which is linked in Inkscape, make edits you can "Overwrite" the bitmap (not sure if there´s a hotkey for that) and Inkscape will automatically update:
ok, thanks a lot
PS.: Hotkey is available and working:
..
I am trying that BUT: exporting to PNG is very slow (as everywhere) and you lose layers. So I try to export to TIFF but that is somehow messed in GIMP. When I open TIFF again and do some changes it looks like it is overwriting but the file remains unchanged. Mess.
So really - Inkscape ability to ingest XCF directly would be really good, keeping layer structure, simple save instead of export which is not always working..
Importing XCF is not remotely likely. Inkscape is a native SVG editor, not a proprietary internal format like .ai or .psd, or for that matter, xcf.
Inkscape svg files can be opened in any SVG renderer (apps, browsers, etc.), but that does not mean all other renderers closely follow the SVG specification, nor that Inkscape includes all the features of the format.
https://www.w3.org/TR/SVG2/intro.html#AboutSVG
Hello, I am still experimenting with using TIFF because it saves much faster than PNG, can use transparency and keep layers.
But when I save TIFF in GIMP with more layers and import it in Inkscape it shows only bottom layer. When I open it back in GIMP all layers are there.
I have read it might have something to do with TIFF specifications of layers and pages.
Do you know how to import the TIFF to Inkscape correctly?
UPDATE:
In GIMP - when the bottom layer called BACKGROUND is deleted (not just hidden), then it works fine in Inkscape
That's encouraging.
I'm not able to replicate here, though. I can edit the TIFF layers in GIMP, but still only see the bottom layer when linked into Inkscape. Plus, feathered edges are dark. 🤔
Please share a screenshot of your TIFF export settings and example TIFF file. (and xcf, if still part of the workflow). Thanks.
In GIMP layers have to be in Layer group in order to be all seen while exported as TIFF and imported to Inkscape. If layers are not in group then only the bottom one is visible after import to Inkscape. Dark feathered edges have to do something with blending mode in my opinion (norm, light, add etc.), but I did not figure out how to get the right option. It might be the question of blend mode at GIMP side or at Inkscape too.