8 Bit Laser Engraver?

[woodenink]

My machine is an OmniSign Pro 3000 80 Watt Laser Engraver, it uses 1 Bit technology, and is very frustrating when trying to convert images that are needed for Engraving.
Is it possible to convert the machine ,?? even if this means changing ALL the boards, except possibly the output board???
Sure would appreciate some guidance on this point, and if it is not possible, any recommendations on brands that do use 8 bit or better in their software??
Looking forward to some input from you all, this forum has always been very helpful to me. Amos

[SkipW]

I think the Photograv program would be the best option for you. That would probably be much cheaper than trying to get your laser to recognize 8 bit photos, if that's even possible. Photograv will simulate the same results.

Here's a link to a free Photoshop image processing plugin that originated from a couple of guys over at the sawmill creek laser forum. You could try that first to see if it works for you. The price is right!

Since you have an 80w laser, do you know which focus lens you are using? I believe that most come with the 75mm FL lens. I've never seen a photo engraved with that lens, but I'm pretty sure a 50mm lens would give better results due to the smaller beam diameter.

Skip

[woodenink]

Hello Skip, thanks for answering, I already possess Photograv, but cannot use the images directly from PhotoGrav because it is not in one bit Bitmap, so by the time I do a conversion to 1 Bit Bitmap, it looks ugly on the LaserCut 5.1 system.
I will try following the link you gave and see what comes of it. Thanks, Amos

[SkipW]

Hi Amos,

I confused as to why you have to convert an image to 1 bit after you use Photograv on it. You shouldn't have to do that and I think that's why they don't come out right.

Like with my 80w WK Laser machine (with LaserCut 5.0), it's not listed in the area of Photograv where you select the machine that you have, but Rabbit machines are and they also use 1 bit images. I use Rabbit and just change the parameters to fit my machine, set the machine DPI to 300, and save. Then you open the image in Photograv, resize if needed, process it and save the engrave image as a bitmap, and import that right into LaserCut. You have to set the scan gap in the LaserCut engrave settings to .086, which is 300 DPI, to match the Photograv setting. Is that what you are doing? It won't look very good in LaserCut because of the dithering, but it should engrave OK.

Honestly though, I haven't had much luck getting a photo quality image on wood with mine, so I quit trying. I have a friend who has an older 50w Universal Laser and that will do real nice photo images if I ever need one done. But for 5 times the price of my machine, it should.

Good luck !
Skip

[woodenink]

Skip, tonight I will try what you have told me, it makes sense--I will let you know how I go--. just hope it is "finger trouble" on my part--another way of saying I need to know what I am doing.!!! Thanks for taking time out to explain this to me. Amos

[woodenink]

OK, thanks Skip, I went straight from the Photograv saved image to import on the Lasercut and it worked, BUT--and a big BUT---- the result isn't that good as you mentioned, so that begs the question--can the machine be upgraded?? or do I look for a better Laser Machine, if the answer is look for a better Laser Machine, it follows that I should ask--Any Pointers to a quality Laser Machine?? Once again, your input has been very valuable to me, and you have my thanks for it. Amos

[bpoulin]

I've found quite a few things can affect the outcome of the image, First the image you start with. The more washed out the image is the better it turns out, and NEVER resize the image once it's been dithered if the image is the wrong size go back to the original, resize it then re-do the dither. Second, what medium are you etching on to? I've found MDF and 1/4" birch ply take an image really nicely, and the birch ply can be contur cut out afterwards too, stuff like Luann etch nicely if you want a weatherd or vintage look, but it doesn't contur cut to save it's life. I etch on MDF and the birch ply at speed 800 power 30-35 with an 80w laser. I am away from my design computer until monday night, but when I get back I can post a 1 bit dithered image that has turned out nice for me you can give it a try. Have you tried updating to LaserCut 5.3? Maybe some of the updates will help, not sure but it could be worth a try.

Also if you use photoshop Gold Method Photoshop Scriptis a great script for making a 1bit image I use the 600dpi setting and get great results! But again it all depends on the image going into the program The old adage about digital photography "crap in-crap out" photoshop (and photograv) is just a tool, you have to have a good image to start with. try something with low contrast.

Here is a link to an original image I tried that turned out really well. 1968 Camaro This one I etched a with a little lower power than normal to make the racing stripes really pop! I think my settings were 800 speed, 25 power.

[bpoulin]

I also don't see how 8 bit would be possible, 8 bit is color, the laser engraver can't process color, so it would have to convert it to 2 bit grayscale to use it anyway. Then it would have to process the 4 different shaded bits at different power for each. That I can see possible, but WAY out of the programming of current chinese lasers, and I'm not even sure the better ones do that.

[woodenink]

Thanks for your input "bpoulin", I will try out your suggestions, including Lasercut 5.3 and let you know. Bitmap can be saved as 1 bit, 4 bit, 8bit etc. that is why I asked for that, thinking more detail would really help. Amos PS that engraving is superb, what machine do you have??? Amos

[bpoulin]

The other thing that was hard for me to get used to, is a dithered image looks like junk on a computer screen, nothing like the image you started with, just have a little faith and give it a burn. You might be surprised.

[woodenink]

Thanks again bpoulin, I have noticed that sometimes what looks awful on the computer screen comes out well on the engraver! Amos

[bpoulin]

Here is a photo of a 1bit etch using The Gold Method photoshop script.
A. It's kinda hard to photograph.
B. It's on Luann, if I had it to do over again I would put it on something smoother like birch ply or MDF. But it has an almost 3D effect on Luann.
Camaro Photo