software to convert pictures to DXF files

[Arc Innovations]

Hi I am new to plasma cutting, and was hoping some of you could share what software you use to convert pictures to DXF files smoothly. I have Corel draw and have used it a little, but it doesn't seem to convert pictures into cutable files very easily. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks, Gary
Arc Innovations

[torchhead]

Dirty secret: There is no "Easy Button" to convert bitmaps (scans, images, pictures) to clean vector files. The function you are talking about is "auto trace" that takes the bitmap and tries to figure out where the edges are and trace them. The more complex the image the more laughable the results. You see the magic demo's where they bring in an image, hit a button and then cut it....only thing is that the image is high contrast with defined edges and of higher resolution so the lines are not jaggy. You may have to spend hours clean up a bitmap so you get decent results.

There are various auto trace programs (CorelDraw has Corel Trace built in) but all of them fail miserably on photos or low contrast and/or low resoluton images. In the long run it's faster to learn the vector drawing tools in Corel and handtrace the image (that way you can optimize it for plasma cutting as you trace it) and get a clean file that will cut nicely and can be scaled and used multiple times.

Take some clues from the sign industry that has to deal with this vinyl cutters are basically CNC profile cutters with a knife) and tap into the world of vector clip art at places like vectorart.com. If you start with vector it's a LOT easier and faster to get it on the table. Things like Text should never be traced. The Weld and Trim functions in Corel can let you do some amazing things with clipart and fonts.

You will also find the DXF import and export from CorelDraw is marginal and using Corels other import filters like AI or EPS format yields better imports. DXF export from Corel needs help. See my post in the MACH-SheetCAM thread about a solution.

Tom Caudle

[Arc Innovations]

Thanks for the advice!!