Copy a jpg to LXSymbolseditor?

[HarryTwoFingers]

In LxSymbolsEditor, is it possible to have as a background a jpg or tif picture of a lampsymbol. To trace against when making a new symbol?
Regards

[admin]

Yes it is actually fairly easy. Go to the source of your image and select "copy". Open the LXSymbols Editor and select "Add Symbol". Then select "Paste". The image will appear in the preview and you can trace on top of that graphic. The pasted graphic is temporary and is not stored with the symbol.

You could also use LXFree to trace over a graphic by putting the graphic on one layer and drawing over the top on another layer. You can use the Format->Convert->Selection to Path command to create a path object out of a collection of lines and curves. (You'll want to be careful to draw in order so that connections between lines can be made)

A path object from LXFree can be pasted into LXSymbols Editor using XML Copy/Paste. (This option must be enabled in the Preferences. Allowing XML copy/paste adds extra information to the clipboard.) When you copy a path object and switch to LXSymbols Editor and choose paste, a new symbol is created using that path.

[HarryTwoFingers]

Hmmmm! Tried the first alternative. I copied a tif picture with the outlines of a fresnel. The background turned up as a small boy on a beach with the text tif. With a jpeg...same boy and the text jpg. Am I using the wrong picture format?

[admin]

It sounds like you are selecting the file in the Finder to Copy. LXSymbolEditor does not allow you to paste an entire file (although that ability can be added in the future). Try opening the image file with Preview and Copy from there.