i have mach 3, sheetcam,and bobcad but i can't seem to figure out how to get a jpg image such as a font or picture converted to dxf so that i can work with it HELP!!!

you either need bobart to do that in bobcad or you need something like Corel Draw graphics X3 which you can down demos of to try open a new file and import image into corel and save as dxf. Corel will let you save but bobart demo will not if you want post a jpeg and I'll do a quick conversion to show you
If your using a font and download Corel Graghic x3 one of the programs is called Bitstream Font Navigator. With this you van load font into Bobcad and use as text and then vectorize it. That what I do anyways.

http://www.wintopo.com/

First important thing is to understand the difference in a bitmap and a vector file. Bitmaps are just dots on a screen or printed page. Linear motion machines don't cut dots very well (photoengraving an exception). Consider in a medium resolution (150DPI) B&W photo (bitmap) of say 4" square you can have 360,000 descrete "dots". CNC machines want nice connected lines and closed "objects".

There is no "Easy Button". Some auto trace programs (wintopo, Corel Trace, etc) can do pretty good if the bitmap is high resolution, clean and not too complex. Other times you get files that take hours to clean up or cut. JPegs are especially a challenge since they "smudge" hard lines and use lots of colors to trick the human eye. Most JPEGS are compressed and don't convert worth spit. The normal web resolution of 72 DPI looks like Lego blocks when you blow it up and the resulting auto-trance looks like an etch-a-sketch drawing.

Good clean cuts come from good clean vector artwork. For a wide array of vector clipart see the Mega Collections at www.vectorart.com. Ready to cut vector files but they are in AI and EPS format (very common formats in the decorative cutting/ Sign shop world) BobCad won't import EPS or AI. You will need to import it into a Drawing package like Corel and either take it directly to SheetCAM via the DXF or PLT export or go through an extra redundant step and bring it into BobCAD.

jlenelms,
try an open source program called Inkscape at http://inkscape.org/
It has one of the cleanest trace features I've seen. It won't be the answer to everything, but its a powerful trace feature.

Don't waste your time with a jpeg image.

I've been working on my own software, and you would not believe the diff. between a Bmp & Jpeg. Start with a BMP. :)

Jerry


.

jlenelms,
try an open source program called Inkscape at http://inkscape.org/
It has one of the cleanest trace features I've seen. It won't be the answer to everything, but its a powerful trace feature.
Ditto, the InkScape recommendation. CorelDraw X3 works fairly well, too, after fiddling with the settings. Costs a whole lot more than InkScape, though! :D

...Donald/ HayTay


I have been playing with Inkscape but cannot save a DXF,. When I go to Save as i get options like *.svg, eps and so on but never a DXF.

Could you point me along the path to getting the DXF option,



Many thanks David

...Donald/ HayTay


I have been playing with Inkscape but cannot save a DXF,. When I go to Save as i get options like *.svg, eps and so on but never a DXF.

Could you point me along the path to getting the DXF option,



Many thanks David
Click on 'File', then 'Save As'. At the file type box click the 'Down Arrow' and select 'Desktop Cutting Plotter (*.DXF)' as the output type. Type in a file 'Name' then click on 'Save'. That's all there should be to it. BTW, I'm using Inkscape 0.44, built Jun 23 2006.

That is the answer!

Many thanks

I was using version .43. and have just updated.


thanks again

David

Just want to say Hi.
I am new to this site and a whole lot of great people..
Many thanks....

Great information. More tools for the toolbox

Still struggling with this inkscape.
All threads I've searched everyone is singing the praises of Inkscape. i cannot get anything useable to export as DXF. The best i can get is fragments , maybe 10% of a test logo. Usually a load of lines and dots thrown at the screen.

This is what I have got

Open file
select it
path
trace
brightness threshold
preview (looks positive)
OK
Drag it off the original

delete the original
object
fill-stroke
no fill
stroke THIS IS WHERE I THINK IM LOOSING MY WAY
save as dxf

open it in a DXF editor and it is just recycle it:rolleyes: for the 100th time.

any help to progress this greatly appreciated

David

I thought I read in another thread that the Windows version of Inkscape does not have the same .dxf export as the linux version. Meaning it doesn't work very well.

...any other experience of this 'problem'?

Am I trying for something that doesnt work?

TIA

I went lookin' for a copy of the ver 0.4 like HayTay mentioned. Came across this note:

An output format for desktop cutting plotters, such as the Wishblade and Craftrobo, was added. This format is a very minimalist DXF file with appropriate scaling and translation applied. This output format should not be expected to operate as a generalized DXF output.

I couldn't get it to work either - Bummer.

That was burried in the release notes for ver 0.44 http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/ReleaseNotes044

I think we can agree that Inkscape it not the tool for this job, that is converting/tracing bmp's to dxf's.
Back to the drawing board:rolleyes:


Thanks for now

I think we can agree that Inkscape it not the tool for this job, that is converting/tracing bmp's to dxf's.
Back to the drawing board:rolleyes:


Thanks for now

Out of curiosity, can you share with us the graphic that you're trying to trace?


Just trying to help,

I've uploaded an image, this is typical of what I am trying to engrave/mill.

If I can get an outline then I can hatch/pocket the black or white bits to achieve a result.

Test image HERE (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.hull35/CNC/tara_brooch_compgif.gif)

Thanks for the interest:)

Is this what you're looking for???? Wintopo, just downloaded it a few minutes ago. Nice free program.
Bill
:)

Thanks for your input, bill, I've played with wintopofree and have pretty much got what you have shown.

Attached is more of the sort of detail I am trying to achieve. This is celtid md font converted to dxf by deskengrave.

I wonder how images are converted to TTF's as this would be a possible route.

DXF Celtic MD B (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.hull35/CNC/B.dxf)

TTF's are 100% vector. You can convert a vector file to a TTF using one of several Font generation programs or in Corel 12 and up you can simply save a vector file as a TTF. You can even build your own Font face. There is no bitmap to TTF converter I have seen.

What you guys are seeing is one of the dirty little secrets of CNC artwork. There is no easy conversion from bitmap to vector. The lower the DPI of the bitmap the more ragged the autotrace. You can spend hours trying different autotrace settings and then cleaning up the artifacts the software leaves or you can hand trace the bitmap using native vector drawing and editing tools. After thousands of images and jobs we find the latter to be faster and easier once you learn how to draw in vectors.

I did a bunch of celtic stuff early in my Home CNC career. I found a basic Celtic weave free as a Corel CDR file and used it to build borders and corners. Wasn't a walk in the park but it cut nice and smooth.

Auto trace falls down exactly where you need it the most: Complex bitmaps that need lots of closed objects and need to be accurate.

CorelDraw has a pretty good auto trace program but it's a trade-off of spending hours cleaning up a trace for cutting or just drawing/tracing it to begin with.

I've uploaded an image, this is typical of what I am trying to engrave/mill.

If I can get an outline then I can hatch/pocket the black or white bits to achieve a result.

Test image HERE (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.hull35/CNC/tara_brooch_compgif.gif)

Thanks for the interest:)

Thanks for posting the graphic, Davidh. How's this for results?

It took me LESS than 2 minutes in Inkscape! An additional minute was needed with SolidWorks DWG Editor to convert the file into an AutoCAD R14 compatible format, and SHAZAAAM!!! There you have it. It might need some additional clean-up, vector joining and tweaking to get exactly what you want. I think with about another 15 minutes you'd have something you could cut and be proud of.

Check out the attached previews generated using Vectric's VCarve PRO v3.1. For the price, and the results, you'd be hard pressed to beat VCarve. Be sure to check VCarve PRO and Vectric's other offerings out if you haven't already. And NO, I'm not affiliated with Vectric in any way, I'm just a happy customer.

BTW, the problem you're having with cruddy drawings/imports may be due to the non-standard AutoCAD header that's used when saving DXF files in Inkscape. Try opening the file in another CAD program and saving the Inkscape DXF in an AutoCAD R14 or R12 format.

I hope this helps you out,

'I hope this helps you out,'



In a word, Yes:) and thanks.

I am not 100% clear what just happened there, I'll study it for a bit and get back.

The bones of the problem is, then, that the inkscape dxf, although it is a good file, is not in the correct format to be opened by my CAD(cadstd) program. Am I understanding this correctly?

I used Inkscape for months, its great, but the automatic tracing has some significant limitations.
I bought CorelDrawX3 a week ago and love it. Again it's auto trace has limitations even with its increased flexibility, but the ability to manually trace really is fantastic.

Thanks for the recomendation , for now I'd rather persevere with what I have. So many hours invested already

Let me show off my Shakespere:D
" I am in blood Steeped so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er."

Hi All,
I'm using a cutter/plotter to create intaglio.
I'm very interested in this method of creating art with tracing bitmaps. After the trace how do I spiral pocked fill the area ? Is there any program doing it all ?
Thankful for any help.
Per

I've been playing with "Inkspot" for about a year now but it hasn't done anything real beneficial yet! Stuff I couldnt already do in all my other softwares. It's been quite frustrating to say the least.