How to work with a scanned page rather than a .pdf pattern

[Octoolguy]

I have been pulling my hair out over this. I have a great book that has many projects in it that I want to make. The problem is when I scan the pattern pages and save them as .pdf files I can't seem to make the workable with Inkscape or any other program for that matter. If I take one of Steve Goods patterns and import it into Inkscape, I can then do pretty much anything I want to with it. The page I'm working with right now has 3 pieces on the same pattern page and when I try to import the scanned image into Inkscape and then "ungroup" it, I can get nowhere. Can anybody help me to understand what I am either doing wrong and not doing? What is the difference between the two .pdf files?

Ray

[don in brooklin on]

Will your scanner save the image as JPG?

If so import to Inkscape.  Trace bitmap.

You have vector diagram that you can play with.

[don in brooklin on]

If your scanner only saves to PDF there is site pdf2jpg.net that will convert PDF to JPG.

Works fine you just have to watch that you don't push wrong download button. 

Don

[rfielder]

The page I'm working with right now has 3 pieces on the same pattern page and when I try to import the scanned image into Inkscape and then "ungroup" it, I can get nowhere. Can anybody help me to understand what I am either doing wrong and not doing? What is the difference between the two .pdf files?

Ray

There are basically two types of PDF files - those that are composed of text and graphics, and those that are basically an image with a PDF wrapper.

This is an over-simplification, but it is accurate in terms of your question

The first type can be manipulated.

The second type can not be changed.  There is nothing to ungroup - it is just a lot of dots on a page.

All you can do is mark parts of the page and save them as separate images.

[Octoolguy]

Well, thanks to all of you who took the time to answer me. I am still mystified as to the different types of .pdf files but I'll just have to live with it. I have also tried doing the trace bitmap thing but that hasn't worked out well either. I'm sort of dense I guess. What I really need is to have one of you smarter folks sitting right next to me and show me what it is I'm missing. Or doing wrong. Or ?

Ray

[don in brooklin on]

If you want to post one of your pdfs I will try and see what I can do with it.

I am no expert but poke and peck a lot.

I will keep notes on what I do.  I use Inkscape or Gimp usually.

Don

[Octoolguy]

Don, I tried to post one of my .pdf's but the file is too big so I keep getting an error message. I can't figure out how to reduce the size of the file. It's easy with a .jpg but not a .pdf I find. If you can suggest how to go about it or send me your email address in a private message, I will gladly accept your help.

Ray