This preparation must be done in a photo editor. You have no control how the shape is divided to parts except by tracing the shape several times in differently partially erased or recolored versions. In addition the number of generated nodes is often frightening high as you have seen. Inkscape traces even thinnest lines as filled areas, never as simple strokes. It's useless to fight with Inkscape's automatic tracing if you expect easily editable result. That means redraw it, but have the original as locked in the bottom for reference Is there a better way to do this? I can't print out pattern pieces for patterns larger than 11.5' if I don't get the pieces separated first.Trace it manually. This allows me to have the machine cut the pieces out of vinyl or cardstock and the allowance for the solder lines are already included. If the pattern is larger than 12', the software automatically rearranges the pattern pieces to fit them on the 12' x 12' mat. Once I am able to get the top black area off, I can save the image as an svg and upload it into the die-cut machine software. In order to allow for the width of the solder line, I set an offset in the 'preferences - behavior - steps', I lose that offset when I move the piece back. The problem is getting the piece I moved back into place. I've used trial and error to move a piece off and then go back to the same area and slide the black area off and delete it.

How do I get the solid black area off of the bottom image? I then select the entire image and use the 'break apart' command, which leaves me with a big black area and the outlines of the pieces. I move the traced bitmap to the side and delete the original. I then select the image and use the Trace Bitmap function. I import the bmp into Inkscape, set the desktop to inches and resize the image. I remove the coloring and text from the pattern pieces and export the file to a bmp.

I use a stained glass design program to create the patterns. I got a die-cut machine for Christmas and am trying to use it to cut out my stained glass patterns.

Inkscape trace bitmap break apart