Step by step Mastercam Art needed ?

[Fonfon]

Hi all, I searched all forums of CNCZone and also on the web but could not find any step by step tutorial about how to convert an image (bitmap) to vector and then create tool path for it.. (Mastercam Art). I am using Mastercam X3.
I tried to convert an image but result was not very good.
I used "Trace-Raster to Vector" in X3 feature and also tried "New Art Base Surface" and then "From Image" but it did not work well. Please help me. Thanks

[charger19690]

I haven't found a very good explanation to Art either. I have tried using it without much success.

The end result of my playing around was to use a program like Adobe Illustrator and export the image as a DWG and bring it into Mastercam to tool path.

That's the best I have come up with.

Mike in MN

http://www.cncbasics.com
http://www.cncbasicsforum.com
http://www.mastercamforum.com
http://www.mastercamblog.com

[Fonfon]

Hi, thanks for your reply. What are your settings in Illustrator. I tried in CS4 with live trace, but then there are several options in it. Which one to chose, I have no idea.

[charger19690]

Originally Posted by Fonfon Hi, thanks for your reply. What are your settings in Illustrator. I tried in CS4 with live trace, but then there are several options in it. Which one to chose, I have no idea.

It's been along time, but basically you have to get it to trace. I have only played with the CS3 version. I believe it was something like "Object" to "Live Trace" to "Make and convert to Live Paint". One way...

Another way is "Object" to "Tracing Options" and select options according to your image. If it's just "Black and White" leave it there, I think it will just read black and white. Otherwise change it to color or grayscale. Also, look at "Vector" option in there. You probably have to select something like "Outlines". I don't think the actual "Trace" thing does anything.

Once you figure out how to get "Outlines" of your image, you should be able to just export it to DWG.

I guess I am not much a Graphics person, and I remember it did take some time, but the end result was much more usable than what Mastercam Art did with the image.

This is all coming from someone that just clicks on stuff till he can get something done.....

Mike in MN

http://www.cncbasics.com
http://www.cncbasicsforum.com
http://www.mastercamforum.com
http://www.mastercamblog.com

[weirdharold]

Thank's for that tip charger19690 . I wondered if Illustrator could do that. I engrave logo's , sometime's & normally bring in the file as .eps file . Not so so great result's. I 'll try your method & see what kind of result's I get.

Regard's
Harold C.

[mxer]

See if this is of any help to ya, http://cnc4free.org/

[Fonfon]

Hi thanks for the help and link to the website. I have to try them. Great help thanks everyone.