Anyone use Tracing in your EQ?
 

I am wanting to do a lesson on tracing a picture for a quilt block in EQ. I am having trouble understanding it from the manual. And I have all 3 manuals but they aren't much help!

If anyone has any experience with this I would greatly appreciate a sounding board to get this process figured out so I can post it as a lesson.

I will be watching for answers.

well I am hoping some of our more experienced quilters will have some answers. If not I plan to call the co and see if they can walk me through some of my questions. But I thought I would start here first.

I've done a couple of tracings, maybe I can help?

Well I 'm not even sure how to get started. The manual just jumps in and tells how to manipulate the picture but not how to get the picture to work with. I wanted to use a quilt block already in the EQ library

I have done tracing a few times, but only importing pictures I have saved in a file. When I use the blocks in EQ, I use Easy Draw and make changes there. Are you trying to make a block using an existing block and incorporating a picture into that block? The picture has to be saved to a file (jpeg etc.) first on your computer. Then the picture is imported into the workspace/block, saving it to the sketchbook or it won't be able to be brought up again to work on. You can then trace the picture to create blocks. But, perhaps you are trying to do something else? I am very new to this and am slowly working my way through EQ. I have emailed EQ and they are quick to response; I am thrilled with their service. Anyway, this is the little bit I have figured out, and there may be steps I miss or faster ways to do things, so I will be watching this post too.

I've only worked with photos, but I think you could export the block image as a jpg, then import it back in for tracing purposes.

If you are trying to get a quilt block on the tracing workspace, here is how I did it. Have block workspace open to tracing tab. Open Block, New Block, Easy Draw. Go to Block Library, click on desire block. Add to Sketchbook. Close. Open sketchbook. Click on Block, then Edit. Block will appear on Easy Draw. Then go to top tabs-File, Export Image, and a window comes up to name that block, and will be saved into 'MY EQ7", under Images. Be sure to name the block, then Save. A window comes up asking what size block you want it exported as. Change if needed, then press Ok. Go to the Tracing Image workspace, right click and click on Import Image. Screen comes up with My EQ7 files. Under Images, click on the block you named. A crop image window comes up. Press OK if you don't want to make any changes to image (size, etc.). Then on the Tracing Image space, you will see the curser changes to allow you click where you want to put the block. Double click and block appears for tracing. Does this make sense and what you were looking for?

So if I understand this right to use a block from the library I have to save it to my pc and then retrieve it from there to use to trace it. I understand all the steps you used. I just wasn't sure how to get a block from the library to the tracing worktable.

I saw somewhere where they had used a simple flower to show how to use patchdraw to trace to make patches to make templates for applique.

I am so confused when it comes to the differant layers. I really need to do more playing with it to make sense of the differant sections in this part.

Did you use the tracing to make applique templates?

thanks for your help ladies. I am going to work on this some more. I want to be sure I understand it enough to explain it for the quilters. I knew there were things I would run into that I didn't understand yet! I continue to say I am no expert on the EQ when I post the lessons. But if I can put this together so someone can understand what I am learning then it is all good.

I tried it once and couldn't figure it out either.

I use the trace feature a lot. I crop quilt pictures to show only one section or block and import that part. It's easy to trace and then convert it to easy draw, a window pop opens asking if I want to convert and I click yes. I don't understand why you would want to trace a block from the EQ library. It's already there. Open it and edit or redraw how you want. I learn something new every time I use EQ7.

I don't generally use the tracing either for a block already in EQ but when Rhonda asked the question, of course I had to go check it out. Played around and my post above is how I did it. Worked for me. When I edit it, the block goes to Easy Draw which is what I click on when creating a new block. I have copied images using the Snipping Tool from WORD, saving to a picture file, then importing it into EQ and creating blocks and quilts from that. One of the few things I have figured out how to do without reading the manuals.

I tried before I asked for hep but it just didn't make sense to me. I still think it is like going round robin hood barn as my mom says to have to save the pic from the library to your pc and then import it back in when I already have it in my sketchbook. I would think you could upload it from the sketchbook but apparently not. But what do I know??? LOL

I wanted to use a simple picture and didn't have anything in my files to use. So went looking for one in the library. I dont' have time to try it now but will mess with it later on.

I appreciate all the help!