Inkscape Auto Trace a Car

[adbuch]

I am posting this in response to a request from a fellow member asking for some help using Inkscape to auto trace an image of a car. I like to open the image first with Paint.net to make some adjustments to color, contrast, brightness, etc. Then save as jpeg, import to Inkscape, auto trace (Path, Trace Bitmap) and save as dxf or svg. I generally save as dxf and open with Design Edge to check for any potential problems. In this case it looks good and could be cut. I would probably do some node editing in Inkscape to clean it up first, but this was just to show the process I used for this one.

David

[Jb_engineering]

Great info david.

[adbuch]

car from auto trace.svg

(169.44 KiB) Downloaded 53 times

car from auto trace.svg

(169.44 KiB) Downloaded 53 times

[adbuch]

Great info david.

Thanks Chris! Let me know if you have any questions or comments about my procedure with this one.

David

[adbuch]

Thanks david, great advice as usual , il have a look later. Would you cut this as no offset?
What im trying to do is cut the outline of the car, and contours of the fenders etc.
Thankyou again. Il let you know how i get on.

Chris - I'm not sure what you mean by "no offset". Are you talking about lead-ins,or?? Normally the interior features would be cut first, and the outer perimeter cut last. I know you asked a question about offsets with Sheetcam, but I think we misunderstood exactly what you were asking. Please elaborate.

Now that I think about it, I think you are asking about cutting either on path, to right of path, or to left of path. In this case "no offset" would equate to cutting "on path". I don't use Sheetcam, but with Design Edge there is a setting for this. It's called "Same as Source" for no offset. In Design Edge, I would need to create one set of cut paths with no offset (same as source), and then create the other cut paths with the box checked for "Cut parts to right of paths". I don't know if Sheetcam has settings like this, but I would assume it does, as it is also used for cnc machining.

I expect that Tom or one of the other Sheetcam users might chime in here and let us know.

Thanks,

David

I scaled the drawing so that the overall width is about 27".

[TJS]

Thanks for this David. Refresher on tracing is always good.

[Jb_engineering]

Obviously the outside last cut would be outside off set as it needs to be a good edge, but i was wondering if the details would be no offset, or assuming in the program your using would be cut on path maybe. Im still trying to learn all the ins and outs lol.

[adbuch]

Obviously the outside last cut would be outside off set as it needs to be a good edge, but i was wondering if the details would be no offset, or assuming in the program your using would be cut on path maybe. Im still trying to learn all the ins and outs lol.

I would cut details with offset to inside of the closed paths, as I explained above.

David

[Nzniceguy]

Mk1 Escort......my first car!

[adbuch]

Mk1 Escort......my first car!