User Decals - A Tutorial On How To Make .SVG (Request in separate thread)

[CodeRedR51]

Now you need to delete all the unnecessary nodes. Upload your svg in a zip and I can have a look. Maybe could do a tutorial using your original scan.
Hand tracing is the best way for size but try these in Inkscape.
Combine all the paths of letters and shapes that are the same color, so NEXEN TIRE = one path GENISIS = one path.
Remove background nodes. If the black path has holes for the word GENISIS all of those nodes can be deleted.

No idea what any of that means but here's the file...

 

[Maninashed]

No idea what any of that means but here's the file...

O.K Quicker to fix than explain all of it.
Just a quick redraw of the stripes at bottom and the car, combining letters etc got it to svgomg precision 2. Another 30mins could get it to 3 but would be hard to tell the difference.
Edit: Went through the text removing unnecessary nodes. Made lots of lines straight, added gradient on the orange 4. SVGOMG full precision.

 

[CodeRedR51]

O.K Quicker to fix than explain all of it.
Just a quick redraw of the stripes at bottom and the car, combining letters etc got it to svgomg precision 2. Another 30mins could get it to 3 but would be hard to tell the difference.
Edit: Went through the text removing unnecessary nodes. Made lots of lines straight, added gradient on the orange 4. SVGOMG full precision.

Thanks, I will take a look at it when I get home from work.

 

[CodeRedR51]

@Maninashed so since I will be wanting to do this for a lot of different racing leagues in the future, what should I do initially to try to keep the file size down? I'm using Photoshop CS6. Just trying to make it easier for people to have one item to apply for the number plates without having to build it from scratch.

Option #2 looks great by the way. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[Maninashed]

@Maninashed so since I will be wanting to do this for a lot of different racing leagues in the future, what should I do initially to try to keep the file size down? I'm using Photoshop CS6. Just trying to make it easier for people to have one item to apply for the number plates without having to build it from scratch.

Option #2 looks great by the way. Thanks for taking the time.

If you design them and just upload the png I can trace them from scratch, which can be quicker than reducing a scan down to size.
If you let us know what fonts you have used it can make life easier.

 

[CodeRedR51]

If you design them and just upload the png I can trace them from scratch, which can be quicker than reducing a scan down to size.
If you let us know what fonts you have used it can make life easier.

Only 'SPEC' was added separately with text, all else was google searched logos.

 

[Mugo123]

Hi, I'm looking for some help please on the attached file. I've managed to find a workaround in this instance, as the decal file size was less than half the 15kb limit.

The issue I have is with the stroke part of the text appearing too large in GT Sport. The first image shows how the text appears in inkscape, I added the green background for visibility of the white stroke. I have selected the second option of stacking indicated by an arrow (stroke, fill, markers) which buries half of the stroke size below the fill. It also appears correctly on the second image which is on the decal up-loader.

However, when in GT Sport the fill gets buried below the stroke. The third image in my picture below shows the left hand image with the incorrect fill/stroke stacking and the decal to the right shows when I duplicated the text with no stroke to overlay the fill/stroke error text below. Hopefully I've explained clearly enough, thanks.

I've included the .svg that's playing up below..

 

[Maninashed]

Only 'SPEC' was added separately with text, all else was google searched logos.

That's fine, If you design a number board I can trace it. If you use the highest res logos you can find it is a bit easier to trace or scan. The last picture you had was ideal and would probably be just as quick for me to trace than to reduce the file size from a scan.

 

[Maninashed]

Hi, I'm looking for some help please on the attached file. I've managed to find a workaround in this instance, as the decal file size was less than half the 15kb limit.

The issue I have is with the stroke part of the text appearing too large in GT Sport. The first image shows how the text appears in inkscape, I added the green background for visibility of the white stroke. I have selected the second option of stacking indicated by an arrow (stroke, fill, markers) which buries half of the stroke size below the fill. It also appears correctly on the second image which is on the decal up-loader.

However, when in GT Sport the fill gets buried below the stroke. The third image in my picture below shows the left hand image with the incorrect fill/stroke stacking and the decal to the right shows when I duplicated the text with no stroke to overlay the fill/stroke error text below. Hopefully I've explained clearly enough, thanks.

I've included the .svg that's playing up below..
View attachment 816468

Have never used that stroke option myself. Looks like it may not be compatible with GTSPORT. Some of the others may know a trick to get it to work, but I could not. When hand tracing, I just put my nodes offset and adjust them all. Or on smaller decals,, do what you probably did for a workaround and duplicate and put that underneath, giving the copy a stroke.
There is a trick for black offset shadows. Make the original text color undefined. (shows black in GTSPORT) Make a clone of the text. Will show in objects as "use" instead of path. Pick a color for the "use" object (has to remain above original path or will not work). Offset the "use" and original path. This uses minimal kb and the amount cloned does not matter.
If you still need SVGOMG with a clone, the options Round/rewrite numbers and Round/rewrite numbers list need to be off.
Note all clones can have different colors if original is undefined.

Update: Just tried this.
Use your original letters both stroke and fill undefined.
Make two clones of the original.
Make stroke of clone above original white and give thickness.
Make top clone black and stroke none.

 

[CodeRedR51]

That's fine, If you design a number board I can trace it. If you use the highest res logos you can find it is a bit easier to trace or scan. The last picture you had was ideal and would probably be just as quick for me to trace than to reduce the file size from a scan.

Will do. I've run across another problem which is really making me second guess spending money on Vector Magic to make my own decals. When I save a PNG from photoshop with a clear background and load it into Vector Magic, the background becomes white. Why is that?

 

[Maninashed]

Will do. I've run across another problem which is really making me second guess spending money on Vector Magic to make my own decals. When I save a PNG from photoshop with a clear background and load it into Vector Magic, the background becomes white. Why is that?

Don't know , have not used vector magic. @McDotter may know if he sees this.

 

[Mugo123]

Have never used that stroke option myself. Looks like it may not be compatible with GTSPORT. Some of the others may know a trick to get it to work, but I could not. When hand tracing, I just put my nodes offset and adjust them all. Or on smaller decals,, do what you probably did for a workaround and duplicate and put that underneath, giving the copy a stroke.
There is a trick for black offset shadows. Make the original text color undefined. (shows black in GTSPORT) Make a clone of the text. Will show in objects as "use" instead of path. Pick a color for the "use" object (has to remain above original path or will not work). Offset the "use" and original path. This uses minimal kb and the amount cloned does not matter.
If you still need SVGOMG with a clone, the options Round/rewrite numbers and Round/rewrite numbers list need to be off.
Note all clones can have different colors if original is undefined.

Update: Just tried this.
Use your original letters both stroke and fill undefined.
Make two clones of the original.
Make stroke of clone above original white and give thickness.
Make top clone black and stroke none.

Thanks Mani, I think I get you. I'll try it out.

 

[daan]

Will do. I've run across another problem which is really making me second guess spending money on Vector Magic to make my own decals. When I save a PNG from photoshop with a clear background and load it into Vector Magic, the background becomes white. Why is that?

Yeah, Vector Magic sees blank space as white. It is quite annoying most of the time, but I then just put it into Inkscape and remove the white. The outside bits are easy enough to remove but the inside bits can be a bit tricky as you my have to "punch" holes through layers.

 

[MatskiMonk]

with a clear background and load it into Vector Magic, the background becomes white. Why is that?

Vector magic probably doesn't support the PNG alpha channel required for transparency, which version are you using?

I have the same problem with CorelDraw, but that is 16 years old

 

[daan]

Inkscape ignores white when it scans, but then it's pathetic if you have colours.

 

[McDotter]

Will do. I've run across another problem which is really making me second guess spending money on Vector Magic to make my own decals. When I save a PNG from photoshop with a clear background and load it into Vector Magic, the background becomes white. Why is that?

Vector Magic has an Option which says keep transparency / fill white/ fill black.
Maybe it is because of that.
There is also a tool which lets you cut out the Background if you dont want it.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Vector Magic has an Option which says keep transparency / fill white/ fill black.
Maybe it is because of that.
There is also a tool which lets you cut out the Background if you dont want it.

Says it's only available in the desktop version, I'm only paying for the browser version.

 

[McDotter]

Says it's only available in the desktop version, I'm only paying for the browser version.

I got the Desktop version, dont know the Browser version ...

 

[CodeRedR51]

I got the Desktop version, dont know the Browser version ...

Looks like I'm cancelling my subscription.

 

[BLiTZ]

Will do. I've run across another problem which is really making me second guess spending money on Vector Magic to make my own decals. When I save a PNG from photoshop with a clear background and load it into Vector Magic, the background becomes white. Why is that?

When you save the PNG are you selecting 'interlaced'? If not the background will default to white.

Also, it's worth noting that not all software supports interlaced PNG's.

 

[CodeRedR51]

When you save the PNG are you selecting 'interlaced'? If not the background will default to white.

Also, it's worth noting that not all software supports interlaced PNG's.

No. Never been a problem for me until now.

 

[seadog777]

I don't have the time (or the will!) to go back through the 34 pages in this thread, but just getting into livery creation and discovered something fantastic (and probably already mentioned)! A really cheap, but powerful app for iPad called Graphic can export any file you make as an .svg file, with a blank background (provided you set the Canvas to 0). Absolutely amazing.... I uploaded my handwritten "test" to the website and it works like a charm.

GTS just gets better and better the more you get into it!

 

[BLiTZ]

I don't have the time (or the will!) to go back through the 34 pages in this thread, but just getting into livery creation and discovered something fantastic (and probably already mentioned0! A really cheap, but powerful app for iPad called Graphic can export any file you make as an .svg file, with a blank background (provided you set the Canvas to 0). Absolutely amazing.... I uploaded my handwritten "test" to the website and it works like a charm.

GTS just gets better and better the more you get into it!

I use Graphic on my Mac, great software, it has a few bugs and limitations at the top end but for the price it's fantastic value and from what I've read of other people's experience with other software, it generates the most GT Sport friendly SVGs without too much grief. I've also got Gravit which is free and use that to complete some of the more complex jobs that Grapic can't/won't do (like combining certain paths without losing shape).

Gravit has its own way of working and I find it much more frustrating hence why I don't use it full time. Graphic shares many of its commands with Adobe so its more intuitive if you're used to working with Photoshop or Illustrator.

 

[seadog777]

I use Graphic on my Mac, great software, it has a few bugs and limitations at the top end but for the price it's fantastic value and from what I've read of other people's experience with other software, it generates the most GT Sport friendly SVGs without too much grief. I've also got Gravit which is free and use that to complete some of the more complex jobs that Grapic can't/won't do (like combining certain paths without losing shape).

Gravit has its own way of working and I find it much more frustrating hence why I don't use it full time. Graphic shares many of its commands with Adobe so its more intuitive if you're used to working with Photoshop or Illustrator.

I thought about getting it on the Mac, but I would miss using the Pencil (I don't have a tablet!!). Agree with you, for the price (was only about $9 for iPad I think) it's amazing kit.... and you own the software, not rent it!

 

[BLiTZ]

I thought about getting it on the Mac, but I would miss using the Pencil (I don't have a tablet!!). Agree with you, for the price (was only about $9 for iPad I think) it's amazing kit.... and you own the software, not rent it!

I can't imagine using a tablet with vector software, not precise enough for me. I just use my MacBook's trackpad.

I think I paid £25 for the desktop version about 2 years ago, it might have come down since then, not looked. But you're right, compared to £20 per month for Illustrator it's a no brainer!

 

[seadog777]

I can't imagine using a tablet with vector software, not precise enough for me. I just use my MacBook's trackpad.

I think I paid £25 for the desktop version about 2 years ago, it might have come down since then, not looked. But you're right, compared to £20 per month for Illustrator it's a no brainer!

I'll try Gravit.... as you say, it's free and on the App Store.

 

[vsfit]

Vector magic probably doesn't support the PNG alpha channel required for transparency, which version are you using?

I have the same problem with CorelDraw, but that is 16 years old

I'm using CorelDraw2018 on PC and have just now started getting into more detailed decals. Using affinity on both MAC and PC along with Gravit on Mac as needed. Honestly, it just takes time getting to know the capability of whatever software you're using. So far, I haven't had a problem with CD but I still can't believe the level of detail some of you are getting in 15kb.

Thanks for all the tips and tricks everyone.

 

[Walter_Start]

I wanted to do some svg, but i'm really struggling to be under 15kb with Inkscape and OMGSVG, or sometimes, the form is completely broken. Can anyone help me to understand creating svg ?

 

[Niko Collins]

I'm using inkscape and I'm trying to make some collegiate decals from colored PNG images. The tutorial seems to only cover monochrome images and I really ant to retain the color and get the image down to the required threshold...the most I can do, even after compression is about 195KB to 1.25MB and that's waaaay over. I'm getting really confused honestly.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I'm using inkscape and I'm trying to make some collegiate decals from colored PNG images. The tutorial seems to only cover monochrome images and I really ant to retain the color and get the image down to the required threshold...the most I can do, even after compression is about 195KB to 1.25MB and that's waaaay over. I'm getting really confused honestly.

Can you post up a couple of examples of what you're trying to create?