how do i transfer files from Illustrator to Signlab?

[Peter Normington]

Kieth, I dont use illustrator, but ai files import directly into signlab, or just drag n drop. not sure as to what you mean by the easiest route, though.
Peter

[Keith Nilsen]

That sounds like the easiest route!! Thanks Peter!!

Are there any issues to contend with at all with the imports? There was a recent post that mentioned unwanted lines appearing from one program to another, cured I believe by the weld option. Anything similar happen in the Illustrator to Signlab process?

[Mike Rogers]

Hi

When I have imported illustrator files in to signlab (not sure whether they were created in Corel Draw and exported as an illustrator) I find that the plotter cuts around some lines twice. If you click on these lines and delete it is apparent there were two lines there – just one of those bugs really.

I am sure the same thing happens in Vinyl Master Pro so may be a common thing although not aware it happening in Flexisign

Mike

[Keith Nilsen]

Hi Mike,

I would imagine this occurs if there are lines in the original that have stroke width settings applied. This would be treated as 2 lines, an outer and an inner and would be read as such by the plotter. The way around it obviously is merely to get rid of the one unwanted stroke path.

K

[Mike Rogers]

Keith

Tha would make sense although I am sure I have created lines (hairline) in Corel and it has still done it. Must experiment a little more with it suspect it might be a Corel thing when exporting in to an ai file

Mike

[autosign]

Yes they are stroke lines. Flexi has a convert strokes to outlines option.

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote Nike Mike:

suspect it might be a Corel thing when exporting in to an ai file

i only ever get two cutting outlines when i request an ai. file thats been exported from a mac 😕

nik

[Gordon Forbes]

Thats why you weld it gets rid of the stroke from eps and .ai files.

[Keith Nilsen]

Thanks to you all for all the comments and replies… a huge help as always!

[Frank Droog]

If you are just cutting, i would try to make sure the line thickness in Illustrator is set to 1 or 0 so that it doesnt come in as a thick line.

If you are using Illustrator 9 and up, beware that it saves as a PDF file with an AI extension. Depending on the version of Signlab, you may want to save as or export as Illustrator 8 which is the original ai file format.

frank at cadlink.

[Keith Nilsen]

Thanks Frank, I’ll keep that last bit of information in mind….