Hey guys,
What program do you guys use to import/scan shapes and then save as a DXF? Can corel draw do this? We are trying to make a sign for our business front. Our sign is old and we have a 4x10 1/4 thick sheet od alum just sitting here.
We have Corel draw, and Sheetcam now.
Thanks
Ed

If you need a sign why scan anything? CorelDraw is a illustration program that is designed to work with text and vector objects. CNC machines cut vector objects.

For most signwork 90% of it can be done with the drawing tools in CorelDraw. If you have some fancy logo there are tons of professionally drawn vector clipart out there (see www.vectorart.com).

Whan all else fails we will import a bitmap (scanned image, photo, clipart) and use the vector tools to trace over the sections we want to use.

Corel Trace comes in the CorelDraw Graphics Suite and will autotrace bitmaps. It works well for simple bitmaps or line drawings but less so for images without distinct lines.

Finish you drawing to scale in Corel, export in HPGL or DXF and bring into sheetcam. We do it every day and cut everything from signs to custom brackets.

We did a local 30' long sign (actually 1/4" thick aluminum letters with pins welded to the back of each 15" tall letter), then processed and powder coated. Installed to a stone front store. The challenge was in the installation and to get everything perfectly aligned and set while drilling into solid stone! Hint: it involved a plotter, sheets of masonite and a computer,

Thanks, we bought Corel Graphics suite 12 with Corel trace, and I must say thats a great program. We had the older Corel 8 and man what a differance. Tried the trace program and has worked great. Needless to say we made a sign for our company in 15 minutes, now just need the plasma table to arrive and tweek that (waste some steel getting the settings right)
Thanks as always for the help Torch

Ed