Can't open an image

We can't really tell without seeing the SVG file that you saved, or more information:

- Does it crash upon opening the file? Some crashes relating to path effects have been fixed in the latest bugfix release 0.48.5.
- Are you trying to reopen an exported PNG image? Don't do that. Use the SVG file.

Let me ask you this. When I am finished designing a t-shirt and want to save it and still be able to send it to a design contest, how do I save it. The contest holder wants me to make some changes and I may have done so much to the file that I can't open it. Or I actually sent the file in the wrong way. Do I also need to download something else to help me convert these files or is Inkscape enough. Thank you for your help.

How do I send you the files?

I would say the first step is to learn what file format the contest requires. Often graphic design contests (in general) require you to submit a specific type of file.

I would suggest always keeping an SVG version of your image, no matter what the contest might require. (I make it a practice to keep an SVG version of ALL my work.) That's because Inkscape can only edit vector files. If you export a PNG (which is a raster format), and don't save the SVG (a vector format), you have no way of editing it later! (at least not with Inkscape) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics

You didn't say what type of format you exported. In Inkscape terminology, "export" means a PNG (using File menu > Export Bitmap). But a lot of people use the term "export", even though in Inkscape, they actually used File menu > Save As. So if you could provide that specific info, it will help us, help you.

If you did export a PNG, and didn't save the SVG, you're probably out of luck. Unless maybe Inkscape crashed at some point during your work, Inkscape might have saved a backup. Or, it's possible to set Inkscape to regularly save backups. So if you had that option enabled, you probably have a good backup file.

If you saved as PDF, or any other vector format, you should be able to open and edit it.

It's not possible to make so many edits, that the file can no longer be edited. Well, unless the file is so huge that it challenges your computer's memory (RAM). If that's the case, it CAN still be edited, but just not on that computer.

Unless you're talking about an SVG file that won't open, we probably don't need to see the file. Just tell us about the format info I mentioned.

If it IS an SVG file that won't open, someone would need to look at the file. I probably don't have the skills needed to troubleshoot a corrupted file. And whoever volunteers to look at the file, will tell you how they want you to send it. Or you could post at a regular kind of forum, which allows for posting images and attaching files (which can't be done here). Here are all the Inskcape forums that I know about: http://inkscape.org/en/learn/

Thank you for getting back to me. I did send in a PNG. The contest did ask for it that way. However, looking through my saved files I did actually save an SVG of the design and was able to go back and make my changes to submit the PNG again. You did confirm what I suspected and I will have to save an SVG file before I send a PNG to this contest. I was just lucky this time. Again thanks.