I've uploaded my very basic images (which are line drawings) in SVG format but they simply "appear" instead of being drawn by the videoscribe hand. There's also not an option to select "convert to line drawing" as indicated in other help topics. What am I doing wrong?

thanks

To put it in its simplest terms, stroked paths are drawn in videoscribe. Filled paths just appear in videoscribe.

The simplest way to make an SVG that draws well in videoscribe is to use the pen or pencil tool and draw basic stroked paths with no special styles or effects.

If you want to use the paintbrush or the blob tool (in illustrator, or any comparable tools in other programs) or any type of style like paintbrush style, calligraphy pen or tapered strokes, you will need to use more advanced techniqus to make your SVG work well in videoscribe.

More information can be found in the following thread:
Making SVG Images Draw Well (2017 update)

-Mike (videoscribe user)

 

Thanks Mike. 

My scenario more in detail: I created a JPG file in Procreate on my iPad using a "gel pen" brush with black only to create a basic cartoon outline. I dropped the JPG into Illustrator and saved as an SVG. Importing that into VideoScribe had mixed results and there was no option to "convert to line drawing" even if I used the original JPG.

In the interim before receiving your response, I found 2 workarounds that work to varying extents. 

1) When saving to SVG in Illustrator, there was a blue banner that came up that recommended something about saving to "Artboard." I clicked on it and when I uploaded the resulting file into VideoScribe it worked a bit better.

2) I bought an app for my iPad called Astropad and connected my laptop and iPad that way, so I could manually trace the image in Illustrator using my Apple Pencil (because I don't have a Wacom tablet). Then I followed the layer/transparency and saving/importing instructions. This was much more successful in terms of transferring pencil strokes into VideoScribe and I'm probably going to use this method in the future. 

All in all, though, I spent a fair amount of time trying all the recommended SVG instructions, and not being all that familiar with Illustrator, this was a frustrating experience. Hopefully this will help someone else...

Thanks for sharing your work and results!

Autodesk Graphic is another drawing app that people sometimes use for videoscribe SVGs.

-Mike (videoscribe user)