Re: [mfg-smartcam] JPG immage file

[Mark]

Gary,

I do a lot of plasma programming from scanned images.  There is no truly clean way that I know of to convert bitmap images to vector format, but I have a proven way to get close, if you have the software.

1.      Load your JPG into your favorite image editing software.  (I use Migrografix Picture Publisher)

2.       Scale image down to about 3" if it is large.  Note what scale factor you are using.  (this compresses and tightens up the graphics nicely)

3.      Convert the image to line art.  (May have to convert to grayscale first) Save the file as a TIF image.

4.      Read image into Corel Trace.  Do a 'centerline' trace.  Save as a corel Trace EPS file.

5.      Read 'EPS' image into Corel Draw.  Export to (Autocad) DXF.

6.      Import DXF file into SmartCAM or whatever you are programming with.  Scale image back up to actual size if needed.

Note that these initial steps can be done in about a minute........ and the Corel Programs I am running were purchased in '93, so any version will work , and the new stuff may do it better...

This produces very clean vector data for me.  However, the geometry is not machinable, as it consists of thousand of tiny lines.  I zoom up on the "profile" and snap in arcs and lines over the image.  Results are awesome, and, not that time consuming once you get the routine down.  I have down many, many programs from hand drawn sketches this way (scanning the sketches).

Good luck,

Mark Chambers



At 01:26 PM 5/24/02 , you wrote:

A customer sent me logos in JPG file format for engraving.
 
Is there a shareware utility available to convert a few images to line files for engraving ?
 
 
Any help is appreciated.
 
 
Regards,
Gary