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Software to create custom eps / graphics
Howdy guys 😀
Right I am trying to make a start in the custom vinyl decal business for motorcycle graphics.
My question is, lets say a customer asks me for a particular logo and I cannot find a eps file for it, how do I go about sorting this out ?
My thoughts are find the image in a jpeg format and import it into CoralDraw X3 and try and get as best image from it as poss and export as eps file and cut it in FlexiSign ?
Is that the correct way to do this or can someone tell me if there is another method that people use and what software I need to buy to do the job.
I am a bit confused as to how to make my own eps files and what software to use.
Many thanks.
Matt 🙂
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16 Replies
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Matt, is there not an option to vectorise in flexi?
import jpg (maybe resample first to high res)
then either vector manually or use flexi’s trace option?Peter
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Hi Peter.
Thanks for replying to me 🙂
Ok lets say you wanted to take the jpeg image below and cut this in Vinyl, what would be the steps you would take to do this ?
Would you do as you say and make the jpeg a bmp in some software, then import it into flexi and then use the flexi trace option ?
Is there anything else I am missing ? I wouldnt know how to resample to hi-res, is that simply enlarging ?
Many thanks Pete.
Matt
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1/ bmp and jpg’s are really one of the same, just jpg’s are compressed.
2/ the higher the resolution, the smoother the edges
3/ any photo prog should be able to resample, I suggest trying 400dpi to start
4/ convert the image to black and white (one bit)
5/ import to flexi (you can probably drag and drop)
6/ manually trace, or use the auto trace option and tweak after to get rid of any unwanted nodesWill that do for a start?
it takes practise to perfect, and no trace program will be perfect
Peter
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Perfect Peter, thank you very much for the tips mate, I’ll give it a try 🙂
Matt
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I don`t use flexisign but this might help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwtHypVa … re=related
Cheers
Gary
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VERY good Gary thanks a lot for that 😀
Matt 🙂
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No problem… Its always good to be able to do it manually too. The crescent text would be easy to do manually. 5 mins tops when you are up to speed.
Best way is to have a play around to see what all the tools do.
Cheers
Gary
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Oh guys am so close I can almost taste it 😀
Can you have a look at this please :
I basically did what the video link told me but as ya can see its not right and I tried lots of settings with the auto trace thing.
Obviously I am still missing something, should I have done something to the original crescent image at the top of the page perhaps before auto trace ?
Just the final hurdle to go, I hope lol.
Cheers again for the advice.
Matt 🙂
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I would settle for that as an autotrace, just edit the nodes to tidy the curves and straight lines,
Dont use flexi, but if it was sinlab I would just double click, to show the nodesPeter
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That’s about as good a result as you can expect from any vectorising/tracing program given the low resolution of the image you started with.
You now need to use your vector drawing packages editing tools to smooth the curves and straighten the line.
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If that bitmap is as bad as it looks, then you aint going to get a very good autotrace from it.
Autotrace is OK for some things, but I never use it for text – even if the artwork is of a high quality.
It really is a good idea to learn to digitise manually.
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Right, now I guess I need to learn now how to do this manual tracing side of things.
When I click the image in my Design Central I do have options where I can select loads of little round circles and modify the shapes of lines, I guess these are referred to as the nodes ?
Man it’s gonna take me forever just to do the letter C let alone the rest lol.
It’s gonna be a long evening, Zzzz if I can’t even to text I might as well give up now and I ain’t about to do that, so best crack open the coffee jar.
Thanks again fellas.
Matt 🙂
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stick with it Matt, making stickers is more than just pushing a button,
It is a learning curve, when you master it, you will wonder what all the fuss was about.
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quote Diablo:Man it’s gonna take me forever just to do the letter C let alone the rest lol.It’s gonna be a long evening, Zzzz if I can’t even to text I might as well give up now)
Matt, I think that lettering is the worst thing to digitise. I’d rather do almost anything else.
Bear in mind that, rather than autotrace, it can often be quicker to start drawing from scratch, especially on a sans serif font, but stick at it, it’s good practice.
And, if it’s any consolation, I had lots of late nights when I started.
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hi
the base font is handel gothic bt on a corel disc only the R to dochris
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Blimey chris how did you know that :dance1:
Thanks for all ya help tonight fellas I learned so much already.
Cheers.
Matt 🙂
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