Why can’t I ungroup this?

[Jstruzik]

I don’t have any trace software and been trying on what I know, Inkscape. I need to make a layered sign and can’t match exact this font so I need the letters traced. Any help would be great. Even is I get guided to do myself I have no problem. For some reason I can’t get this one to come apart. Thanks guys

[djreiswig]

I'm not an expert at tracing, but give this a try. Might have to clean it up a little.

impactclub.dxf

(104.65 KiB) Downloaded 49 times

impactclub.dxf

(104.65 KiB) Downloaded 49 times

[Jstruzik]

Thanks a bunch!!! May I asked what you used to trace that? I use a vector dxf converter but for some reason it won’t pic up the letters. But again thank you!! I have a layered sign to do with black background and colored magnetic letters you just sent me. Again props to everybody on this site!

[djreiswig]

I opened it in Paint.NET and got rid of the black background and painted the letters black. Then I traced it in Inkscape. I tried several options, and I don't remember which one worked the best. I think I used Color quantization. Not sure, really. I tried a bunch of things until I had something that looked good. Like I said, not an expert. Still learning. Glad it will work for you.

[hemichargersrt8]

Here you go Jason, hand drawn with lines and arcs, small clean file. Letters 4 1/2" high, scale as required

[Jstruzik]

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!! BOTH WERE GREAT!!! I cleaned up both very easily!! Again this place is great!!!

[tcaudle]

Its almost always better to try and find a font match to lettering. It affords you the option to do things that tracing does not and its perfect. The human eye reads the shapes of letters and is really quick to pickup on flaws that on regular artwork go unnoticed. CorelDraw ships with hundreds of fonts and there are loads more for free on the old innerweb . You will find that only a limited number cut well with plasma and especially when the type gets smaller.
I love fonts. I grew up in my Dads print shop looking at type in huge drawers. I learned to read upside down and backwards as fast as normal type. In doing decorative plasma cutting or signage, I found that if you give customers too many choices they just won't make one. If you are called to duplicate a sign or Logo exactly, you might be able to have them tell you the font they used . There are even apps that will help you match a specific font to one you can use. Working with words and being able to do things like wrap them around a circle or an ellipse with a couple of mouse clicks saves a lot of time and often you can weld the whole object (Word) to a shape to use as a cutout.

[Jstruzik]

Thanks T. Yeah I been looking online and everything. I found some close but the “C” was the issue. Even the one hemi did by time I scaled it it stretched it out. So I used all of his the used my C I made or cleaned up per day. But all good. All cut n ready to rock. Thanks again