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A Basic Question from a Newbie
Hi All
Ok for you experienced guys this will probably seem like a basic or maybe even stupid question.
I have a Creative Pcut cutter, WinPCsign and a PC with both illustrator and corel on it. Now I can use WinPCsign to cut basic letters and have managed to done some different shapes with it. What I want to do though is be able to take a jpeg image, use illustrator to turn it into a cut able image and then export a AI or EPS file into WinPCsign to cut it.
I have some experience using design programs such as Fireworks and photoshop so I am not a complete novice on that front, I just need to know what are the basic steps in converting it in to something cut able.
Please be gentle with your replies.
Thanks
Matt
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11 Replies
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MattS
If you haven’t already, could you take a look at the threads in the cutter section to see if this has been covered already?
You may even find something else you weren’t particularly looking for as a bonus!
Hope this helps (probably not)
Happy hunting!
Gareth
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Hi Matt
You will have to trace the jpeg images. How many colours are you thinking? You will not be able to do colour photographs, just simple 2 or 3 colours, best just black and white. You do that in Live Trace to get a Vector file.
If you can give us some more information on the images you want to use. Some other programs can trace better.
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It’s not a cutter problem though Gareth, it’s converting a bitmap to a vector file thing. (I think) 😀
Matt, Illustrator has the Live Trace function and you need to learn to use that. Be warned though that, depending on the image, results can vary from iffy to diabolical.
All these things work best on images with largish areas of solid colours. If you’re trying to convert a photo, forget it.
Sorry. I’m not feeling very positive tonight. 😀
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Just a small note if using Illustrator – be careful what version of .ai or .eps file you export – most cut programs barf on straight Illustrator files unless its sent out in v8 with no preview etc.
Oo
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Ah! Now, err, you see, um, yes, ahem.
I didn’t read illustrator as Illustrator and then just scanned the rest quickly, made an assumption based on nothing in particular and went from there to dishing out some pretty hopeless advice and then sat back in my comfy chair tapping my big belly, grinning away and feeling pretty pleased with myself….
…….until now. :doh:
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It will just be very basic one colour stuff initially and then if I am feeling brave then move on to two colours. There are no particular projects I am working on, just really want to get a feel for the software I have before I take on global signwriting domination 🙄
I do have a version of Corel on there as well is that, better for tracing?
Thanks for all of of the help so far.
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quote MattS Dawson:It will just be very basic one colour stuff initially and then if I am feeling brave then move on to two colours.
You’ll be fine with that Matt.
As David said, black and white originals if possible but, if not, as high a contrast as you can get.
Good luck.
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quote MattS Dawson:Thanks for all of of the help so far.
Hey, no problem MattS, don’t mention it. 😳
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Ok, time for a play then, I will keep you posted…ha keep you posted,
I ll get my coat 😮
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In photoshop you can select the color range and make a path from your current selection. Then from photoshop export the paths to illustrator and save in what ever format you cutting software requires.
It can be better then live trace if your graphics are larger.
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If this is the first time your doing this sort of thing and need to do it ASAP why not give vector magic a go….Search it in google and checkout the website.
Its not a free service but does allow a certain amount of go for nothing….I found it to be great.
But as pointed out earlier your image needs to be of a good quality.
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