Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2024 June 14

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June 14

Turning a PNG into a PSP-readable vector

I'm trying to turn a PNG into a vector graphic or vector object that I can open in Corel Paint Shop Pro, in order to add it into an existing vector composition inside a .pspimage file. The point is that I need it to be a vector in order to make it infinitely scalable inside PSP.

It's basically just a rectangle with two triangles attached that I've originally drawn as a vector in PSP, but because I'm physically and mentally incapable of using weird stuff like beziers or nodes, I've had to rasterize the two triangles in order to cut off two corners, ever since which I'm trying to find a way to turn the result back into a vector that PSP can actually open without rasterizing it.

NOTE: Just turning it into an SVG doesn't cut it, as once I open an SVG inside PSP, it automatically rasterizes it. Same goes for .eps and .ai, they all get immediately rasterized upon opening. 2003:DA:CF04:944:F0DB:9B1A:5CDC:69E5 (talk) 21:34, 14 June 2024 (UTC)

Start again, and stay purely in vectors. It'll be quicker, and it'll look better. Andy Dingley (talk) 22:37, 14 June 2024 (UTC)

Well, that's exactly the problem: I *CAN'T*, because I can't cut anything off of the triangles without turning it into raster. --2003:DA:CF04:944:F0DB:9B1A:5CDC:69E5 (talk) 22:54, 14 June 2024 (UTC)

If it doesn't import vector files as vectors, perhaps it can be fooled into loading them as "preset shapes". What type of files are in your preset shapes folder (if you have at least one preset shape saved)?

Or, try WMF files. WMFs can be opened and edited as vector objects with the right options setting. "Mark the Import vector data check box." Inkscape can trace a raster image and save as WMF, in theory.  Card Zero  (talk) 02:52, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

Nope, nothing doing. WMF is the very same as SVG, EPS, and AI: Once I open them, it immediately slaps me with a rasterizing dialogue. I can't export the PNG as a shape either, that option is greyed out. --2003:DA:CF04:968:C09D:B5DC:CAB5:C30D (talk) 05:48, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

OMG, I *FINALLY* got to make it work! With a lot of fiddling and trial-and-error, I got to learn how to use the vector-cutting (slicing?) tool in PSP. I got it the way I wanted, but I'm so glad I don't have to use that tool again in the next few years. It's almost as terrible as beziers and nodes. --2003:DA:CF04:968:C09D:B5DC:CAB5:C30D (talk) 06:13, 15 June 2024 (UTC)