Photo to DXF

[pjsr]

Does anyone know a good software program to convert a photo to dxf?

[pelicanmetalcrafters]

I was wondering the same thing, what's best and easiest program to get a photo to dfx?

[JJsCustomDesigns]

IMO theres no easy button to convert photos or images. It takes a little bit of time learning your programs to get the results you want. Or you could pay someone to convert for you.

[Gamelord]

I use Corel to do my conversions, although I am probably going to be switching over to Adobe because of all the bugs and quirks that Corel seems to have that they are refusing to fix. Grrrrr. I have used Corel for over 12 years but recently have been learning Photoshop and AI - and liking them a bit better. It's a little confusing to go from one that you have known for a long time to a new program that re-labels and has the tools in a different location, but it's getting there. The more I use Adobe the more I am liking it...plus it doesn't crash every time I try to do a transparency with a drop shadow.

These are not programs that you will instantly learn just by installing them on your system, they usually take quite a bit of working with them or schooling to get them to do what you want them to do. Once you know how to use the programs it is pretty easy to do the conversions.

If you are paying someone to convert the files over for you, you are not paying for the time it takes to do the conversion, you are paying for the time, effort and expense it took to learn to use the programs.

I am fairly new to CNC, but know how to do the drawings. I am learning more each day though. I don't mind doing some conversions if they are somewhat simple and I don't have other things pressing me at the time. At least I can give back a little to this awesome forum and everyone else here.

[greenweanie]

Check out vector magic...they have a free online conversion, but the home version works alot better with more options. I like to convert my image to black and white and then trace it. The only thing I dont like is it kicks out duplicate lines on seperate layers, so you have to go in and remove a layer and do whatever else editing you want to do before you are ready to cut. But overall it is a good, cheap program to get some decent traces.