Am I converting an image wrong?-Miata Sign

[gamble]

I'm using inkscape and still new to it. When I do the conversion to dxf the picture looks great, but when I try to open or import it to torchmate it has a lot of extra lines like this


Is that me importing it wrong? or am I doing something wrong with inkscape?

Image file is below.

[WyoGreen]

I'm pretty rusty with Inkscape anymore, I've converted to CorelDraw. But if I remember right, there wasn't that much difference between the two. To me it looks like two images in your dxf file. So you imported the .jpg into Inkscape, traced it, deleted the jpg image, then exported to dxf?

I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in soon with their take on it, but there's mine.

Steve

[gamble]

Yep I deleted the jpg. Can you try it in corel and I"ll import it to see what happens.

[m79b01]

I converted this with inkscape. I used the brighness cutoff and increased to about 0.550. Looks good to me. I have seen sometimes due to the difference in dxf formats, funny things like you are seeing.

[gamble]

Would if help if I made it grayscale first? I thank you, that worked a lot better. Probably take me an hour or so to straighten out the lines.

[m79b01]

I converted that image "as is" and it took me about 2 minutes. More complicated images you have to adjust to black and white first, but if the colors are solid without much shading I don't bother.

It looks like you are using edge trace maybe. Try the brightness cutoff.

[gamble]

Yep I was using edge detection.
So when should you use one or the other? And how does the number of scans make a difference? Default is 8.
This is the sox logo I want to try next, I guess I'll try it both ways and put them side by side to see what works better.

[WyoGreen]

I ran the .jpg thru CorelDraw and ended up with a few weird lines like you did, just not as bad. I opened it back up in CorelDraw and looked at it a little closer. I deleted a few nodes and overlapping images and exported it again. Looks better now. One thing I have found is the version of .dxf you export to matters. For example, if I export to version R12, I get splines. If I export to version R11, I get polylines. The type of trace you use also makes a difference, i.e. center-line trace, edge trace, etc.
Hope this helps a little, Steve

[m79b01]

I find that mostly I use the brightness cutoff, or trace by hand. The edge detection creates 2 sets of lines, which is not very usefull. If using inkscape and you cannot import svg into your CAM save it as dxf 14. That has had the best results for me.

[gamble]

This program seems to hate me. I imported a picture, selected it, did the trace path, selected brightness. Hit OK and the picture that shows in the small window looks good. I close that window and I don't see the black/white image in inkscape at all. Just the original one I imported. What did I forget?
Edge detection works, but I need just the center the font that edge detection won't pick up.

[acourtjester]

the 2 images are on top of each other put you curser on top and move it to the side you will see both then delete the original.
there is another DXF file you can download and install into inkscape called "big blue saw DXF"

http://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/big-blue- ... scape.html

After you do the trace do you click on the fill and stroke option. there you can give it a stroke size and color then in the fill section click on the X "for no paint"to remove the fill and there you will have only the outline.

[gamble]

I did move it and it's not there when I do the brightness option. But if I used the other option it would show up. It's a different file then the above I will post it tonight. I was able to find who made the logo and found out the font so I will try that route as backup.

[acourtjester]

I did some testing with saving file formats here are 3 saves with different extensions one is R14 then SVG and then Big Blue saw. Only R14 had the extra un-wanted lines in the saved file.

[MIFab]

It's to do with saving after you have selected the 14blabla another box pops up with two boxes select the top box... I can get the details tomorrow I'm on my phone away from my computer. I just went through this with an image a customer dropped off It took me 3hrs to figure out what I was doing wrong.

[MIFab]

Ok at the computer. When saving you select DXF 14 the last box appears (Desktop Cutting Plotter) when saving make sure you have use ROBO-Master type of spline output selected. If you use the LWPOLYLINE you will get extra unwanted lines!

[acourtjester]

Thanks when I watched the tutorials they stated not to change the setting of LWPOLYLINE and I have used it with all the files I saved and only a few had the extra line in them. When saving with the the other 2 file types with LWPOLYLINE selected I don't get the extra lines. Anyway live and learn thanks for the update I'm sure it will be great for those that don't have the "Big Blue" added or cannot use SVG.

[MIFab]

Ok I'm playing with a couple different things and It does depend on the picture you are converting. The picture I did the other day was the first time I have ever had a problem.

[MIFab]

acourtjester you want to share your file you have posted above?

[MIFab]

Ok I right clicked the picture and save it then went in and traced it then save it both ways ROBO-Master and LWPOLYLINE! I also did one of each ED and BC in the file and the file posted is useable but needs finishing touches.

[acourtjester]

I just check and I get the line with both types of saved files under R14 here it is with ROBO-Master

coyote33.jpg

here is the image I used for demo purposes only I have not cut it as I don't know if its copy righted.
If you PM me with your email I will tell you how i did it I have posted that before here. (Inkscape)
Images like that are all over the web

[MIFab]

I have it converted then saved in Robo the other put all sorts of lines in it. This needs some connecting and clean up but its here.

[acourtjester]

you have it
have fun
Tom

[urbnsr]

Per Inkscape docs: "ROBO-Master spline output is a specialized spline readable only with ROBO-Master and Autodesk viewers, not Inkscape".

I never select this option. I tried the Coyote file and saved in Inkscape's R14 format and have no extra lines when viewing in QCAD. I used to use Draftsight and had problems like extra lines: I would use Draftsight's displayquality command and set it to >1000 and that took care of extra lines most of the time.

R12 doesn't seem to know what a spline is. if I have splines and need them converted to polylines (for some types of CAD modifications), I will save the file in R12 format, close it and reopen and all splines are now polylines.

HTH
Paul

[m79b01]

If you are using inkscape and sheetcam there is no reason to use dxf. Sheetcam will import svg just fine. After conversion save as inkscape svg and you are done. This one took me about 4 seconds from download to convert and save. If you still have issues let me know and I can post a short video on my dropbox sometime.

[Jason Krone]

I am also néw to this, I made items in Inkscape and tried to open them in Draftsight for a laser cutter running TruTops as the operating program. The drawing had all kinds of anomalies and lines that were not connected. Anyone else have these issues because I am getting really frustrated. I just trying to get out of having to re draw everything in draftsight. Any help will be greatly appreciated.