GIMP help - using drill templates as basis for pedal artwork

[Ben N]

It seems logical to import the drill templates from documentation from pcb sellers, as they are to scale and include accurate holes for pots, switches, etc. But, being a graphics newb, I can't figure out how to erase all the extraneous (for this purpose) markings and leave only the plain white/transparent background. Anybody able to help?
TIA,
Ben

[iainpunk]

have you considered just leaving them on the water slide, as they get drilled through anyways?

maybe just import to MS paint and go to town there with the eraser tool, and go back to a better program to do the fancy stuff

cheers

[EBK]

If you import from a PDF into Inkscape instead of GIMP, you can easily ungroup the elements and remove the ones you don't want.  I hate to make you learn a different software tool, but Inkscape is quite well-suited to the task, and free, just like GIMP.

[Rob Strand]

I hate to make you learn a different software tool, but Inkscape is quite well-suited to the task, and free, just like GIMP.

The time it takes to remember how to do something with GIMP can often take longer than the time it takes to do the whole thing with a different tool!

[davent]

If you import from a PDF into Inkscape instead of GIMP, you can easily ungroup the elements and remove the ones you don't want.  I hate to make you learn a different software tool, but Inkscape is quite well-suited to the task, and free, just like GIMP.

I was going to suggest using Inkscape as well with one caveat, sometimes pdf's are locked and i've never been able to ungroup them. In that case i've created another layer tracing the lines that i need  to work with. Fairly intuitive and lots of tutorials and info on using it. GIMP does have it's place but i've found Inkscape covers almost everything in the art ways for pedal building. Add in the Pedal Vector Pack and you're off to the races.

http://www.ontheroadeffects.com/vectorpack/

I use a CAD program to create a drill template, print that to pdf, import the pdf and open it in Inkscape, do the art, lettering with Inkscape.

[Ben N]

Thanks for the responses. I guess it's comforting how many people seem to find this challenging. Off to trying Inkscape!

[deadastronaut]

+1 for inkscape....

"Ungroup" , done...