Help Needed

[RONWB]

I am new to this and do not know how to transfer and image into a DXF file. Can some one lease help me out? Also if someone could tell me how to do it , it would be greatly appreciated.

The black lines would be the cut out.

Thank you in advance.

[adbuch]

Ron,
Depending on your requirement for image fidelity, using an auto trace as shown below may be sufficient.

auto trace 1.jpg

auto trace 2.jpg

auto trace 3.jpg

auto trace 4.jpg

The resolution of your supplied image is around 700 x 400. If you had this image at much higher resolution, then an auto trace would yield a better result.

If I were doing it, I would do a manual trace of the non-text portion and add create new text using a font that is close to the original. Or worst case, if you are ok with the drawing portion of the auto trace, then I would type in new text and stencil the letters A, O, P, etc. to keep the centers from falling out when cut.

David

[adbuch]

Here is the dxf for the auto trace. You can take a look to see what I am talking about. I will get back to this later this evening and show you how to clean this up into a nice cuttable file.
David

Backyard Venue .dxf

[RONWB]

David,
Thank you so much for help. Actually mine name is Casey we just took over the business a couple of months ago from my uncle so we haven't switched everything over to our names yet. The only software he ever used was Design Edge so I don't know much about how transfer stuff from a picture to DXF. I do however know how to edit in design edge when I get it there. I would like to find a video or zoom or something to teach me how to do these things though.

Thank you,
Casey

[adbuch]

Hi Casey,
Yes - I use Design Edge as well, but have better luck doing auto trace with Inkscape. You could do the whole thing using Design Edge as well. Do you have Advanced Design? or Basic Design?
David

[adbuch]

Casey - it would make it easier if you knew the name of the font. If not, then one approach is to look thru all the Design Edge and Windows fonts and try to fine one that is close. If you had a higher resolution image, then we could manually trace the letters - but more work.

I assume you will be cutting this for a sign as a Negative? (stencil effect).

How close to you need the lettering to the original style?

candara light font 1.jpg

[RONWB]

Basic. I don't even have Inkscape does that help a lot? My uncle was not very tech savvy so he didn't teach very much. I'm self taught by trial and error right now. I just started doing this a month and a half ago. So far I figured out how to clean up and edit and image that is already in DXF form. But that is as far as I have gotten.

[RONWB]

I knew I would have to change the font and the barn door I know how to do all that. I will have to get with this lady and have here decide what font she would prefer.

[adbuch]

Basic. I don't even have Inkscape does that help a lot? My uncle was not very tech savvy so he didn't teach very much. I'm self taught by trial and error right now. I just started doing this a month and a half ago. So far I figured out how to clean up and edit and image that is already in DXF form. But that is as far as I have gotten.

Since you only have Basic Design, unless you are planning to spend the $998 to upgrade to Advanced Design, I would recommend learning Inkscape (free download) as your best bet. LightBurn will also do auto tracing and vector editing, cost is about $60. I would start out with Inkscape.

I will get back later and show you how to do this one using Inkscape.

David

[RONWB]

Ok perfect I will go download that now to start out. If I can figure out how to transfer files over like that it would be a game changer. I plan on upgrading all of my software eventually I just want to have a good grasp on how it all works first. I appreciate you so much !!

[RONWB]

When ever you have time.... I have downloaded Ink scape now and I am looking around in there. I have an image uploaded in there and made a trace of it. If you could tell me how I actual save it into a DXF from there.

[adbuch]

When ever you have time.... I have downloaded Ink scape now and I am looking around in there. I have an image uploaded in there and made a trace of it. If you could tell me how I actual save it into a DXF from there.

Here is the basic process. You could edit the text with your own font, and clean up the rest of the drawing to straighten out the lines.

I would probably do a manual trace with Inkscape for the drawing portion, then save as dxf to import to Design Edge to add your text.

David

trace 1.jpg

trace 2.jpg

trace 3.jpg

trace 4.jpg

trace 5.jpg

trace 6.jpg

trace 7.jpg

trace 8.jpg

trace 9.jpg

trace 10.jpg

[adbuch]

trace 11.jpg

trace 12.jpg

[acourtjester]

Nice tutorial David showing how and why some processes are needed. RONWB there are many posts here with questions answered about Inkscape for you to use to help leaning, and also YouTube, time well spent.