Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Ray on August 24, 2009, 07:21:55 PM
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Is it possible to take a GIF, BMP or JPEG and convert it to DFX to use with Mach3? I have been trying to find a file converter that would make that conversion but haven't found one. Thanks, Ray
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It is called raster to vector conversion. THere are a few out there.
Hope that helps, (;-) TP
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Good Luck on using the file conversion stuff. Most are not worth much in my opinion.
RICH
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Thanks vmax549 and Rich. I downloaded 5 different Rastor to Vector programs but none did a good enough job making a usable DXF. Using my CAD to insert the file and changing to DXF dosen't work. I may have to give up the idea. Thanks again for your assistance. Ray
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Ray,
Depending on what you want to do....it just easier to draw over the top of the raster file in CAD.
RICH
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RAY , ok I am a sucker (;-) What is it you are trying to convert. Some things convert a lot better than others. Sometimes a few changes in the raster makes a HUGE difference in the outcome.
Got an example ??? DOn't give up YET (;-)
(;-) TP
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As Terry said, post what you need, maybe even one of us can convert it for you depending on what you're after - ;)
You can also go to the CNC Zone and look for a user named "switcher" as he's come up with a pretty slick free way of doing this in Inkscape.
Have you tried Wintopo?
Dave
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Thr file I wanted to convert is a Harley Davidson logo GIF I downloaded. I wanted to make it a DXF, put it into TurboCAD 16 Deluxe, resize it and change it to gcode in Mach3. GIF attached I hope. Ray
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That picture is way too small to do anything with Ray ;)
Dave
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Thanks Budman68. I will try to find that in a larger size and post it. Ray
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HERE is a hint you need to work at the highest resolution that you can. As the resolution gets too low the pixilation starts to show when you try to enlarge it, this really upsets the Conversion as it can no longer work with edgelines as they turn into a jagged blur.
(;-) TP
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Thanks. I will remember that vmax549. Ray
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Ray,
Attached is something to consider. I brought your image into CAD, drew over it, imported the DXF into LazyCam,
posted it to Mach3 Mill. Took 33 minutes total including this posting......figure an hour to do a finished good job of it.
I would have finished it but then you would of had nothing to do! ;)
RICH
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Ray,
There is another reason for doing it this way. After the outline is done you can go in and do shading and assign different cut depths such that you have control over what things will look like when your all done. Notice that the code is not all that long.
Raster to vector......you find one worth a hoot, give me a yell, as folks have been waiting and looking for years.
That includes some of the very expensive ones also, all crap!
Please prove me wrong, >:D
RICH
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Actually Rich, you should give the trial of VCarve a go. While expensive, it's the best one I've ever used. Of course it's not "perfect" but 9 times out of 10, any touch up work you'll have to do is just a bit of playing in "node edit" mode.
You can even seperate colors from a colored drawing to select only certain vectors if you'd like.
I go on and on about that software and there's a reason for it. ;D
Dave
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Thanks Dave, I 'll have to give her a try.
RICH
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Rich, I have used AutoCad to accomplish something like you mention - copy an image into AutoCad, "draw over it," and then import DXF into LazyCam. But the big difference is the amount of time it took me to draw the image and complete the project. How are you "drawing," over the image.
I have used various functions - defining arcs, splines, etc. and that works, but it is really time consuming. If you have a better mousetrap I would appreciate being pointed in that direction.
Thanks
Bob@BobsShop
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Thanks a lot Rich for taking your time to work on the eagle, and thanks for sharing your files. I will work on it. Ray
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BoB,
No better mouse trap. Maybe I am somewhat old school on this. If something is important to you then you spend the
time to do it. Depends on what you want to do. What do you do if the image is bad? I took some pictures of tatoos off bikers and made custom engraved plates to match, or from a custom bike paint job and tweaked those images
for machining. Raster to vector just never seemed to do very well on trying to shade something or you get too much detail in the piece. I guess my engraving days of long ago have influenced me too much. Most important if something works for you and your happy then go for it.
RICH
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I also import the pic into cad , draw over it , with mostly arcs , and pedit to connect as many lines as possible.
Works great for me . but does take some time . >:(
I'm also old school. (school?) :D
Ed
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Agreed, that is definitely the best way for me to get a true accurate drawing of the subject.
VCarve is nice, but not THAT nice, lol! :D
Dave