Illustrator or CorelDraw file formats

[sleuth]

I am trying to have some custom engraving done for some gifts I'm working on. I called a place that does this kind of work and they said their machines read either a *.eps format (Adobe Illustrator) or *.cdr (CorelDraw) format.

Basically I need to convert a bmp or jpg logo into a vector image for their machines to engrave it.

Anyone know of any freeware or shareware programs out there that can do this?

 

[Otter]

Getting fancy with the spice racks??

 

[mainman]

:worthless...

 

[sleuth]

Getting fancy with the spice racks??

Nah... wanna do pocket watches for the Groomsmen.
But I don't like any of the pre-designed engraving templates, so I thought I'd do something a little more personal.

 

[2ndAmendment]

A bit map won't convert to a good vector format file. Even if you find a conversion program, it will convert to a bunch of very small vectors instead of the smooth continuous vectors the ingravers want.

 

[sleuth]

A bit map won't convert to a good vector format file. Even if you find a conversion program, it will convert to a bunch of very small vectors instead of the smooth continuous vectors the ingravers want.

 

[vraiblonde]

There's a software package called TraceArt that supposedly converts raster images to vector. I haven't tried it, but I wouldn't get too excited - raster and vector are two very different graphic types and while converting vector to raster is a piece of cake, vice versa is almost impossible because of the way the two file types are recorded.

Is this a printed image you want to use or something you found on the web that's already rasterized?

 

[sleuth]

There's a software package called TraceArt that supposedly converts raster images to vector. I haven't tried it, but I wouldn't get too excited - raster and vector are two very different graphic types and while converting vector to raster is a piece of cake, vice versa is almost impossible because of the way the two file types are recorded.

Is this a printed image you want to use or something you found on the web that's already rasterized?

It's a Photoshop image/logo that I and my groomsmen designed several years ago. We had planned to get it as a tattoo so that we'd all match but we never got around to it.

However, since that time, it's sort of been our 'mark'.

 

[vraiblonde]

It's a Photoshop image/logo that I and my groomsmen designed several years ago.

I just experimented on your behalf.

Try opening the graphic in Photoshop and saving a copy as an EPS file. I have 7.0 and the saved EPS from the JPG was very faithful when enlarged - didn't get pixillated like a scaled JPG does.

Depending on how big they need the graphic to be, this might be all you need to do.

 

[sleuth]

I'll give it a shot. I have Photoshop 6
I just need to install it

 

[Schizo]

Copied from another site. http://www.frontpagewebmaster.com/m-152155/tm.htm

Here's how to make a vector image from a raster or scanned image in PSP 8:

1. Open PSP 8.
2. File, Import, Twain, Aquire
3. Adjust Scanner software to Black and White. (my Cannon scanner automatically adjusts resolution to 300 dpi)
4. Adjust Scanner software scale to desired size. Adjust it here because it will look better than trying to resize the picture in PSP.
5. Scan it.
6. When you have the image in PSP you will have to close the scanner software by File, Exit Twain Session, before you can do the next steps.
7. Click on the blue top border to select your raster image.
8. Smooth the edges this way: Adjust, Add Remove Noise, Edge Preservation Smooth. I cranked the slider to the max. This step takes a minute or so for PSP to complete so be patient. When this step is completed you should notice a distinct improvement in edge sharpness.
9. Copy your image (Ctrl C)
10. Create a vector layer by Layers, New Vestor Layer. (I left all options to the default)
11. Ctrl V to paste your previous copy to the vector layer. Delete the underlying raster layer.
12. VIOLA you now have a vector representation of your scanned picture (Logo)

 

[sleuth]

Update...

I was able to get a trial version of Adobe Illustrator and created a scalable vector image of the logo. I sent it off to the engraver and they said it looked great... if I wanted to do a laser "black-burn" engraving, where the part that is lasered turns black. It's very sharp, but it's not what I want.

I want what they call a "diamond-drag" engraving, which is basically an etching that does not change the color of the surface - it just removes material. They said that to use this, I have to do something called "pinstriping" to my logo, which basically gives the diamond needle a path to follow.

I've googled and yahoo'd for a couple days on what the standards are for doing this and how I can do it in Illustrator. So far I've found nothing.

Any graphics gurus out there that can help me out with this?

I've attached the logo in gif format, though I have it in Adobe Illustrator format. The forum software won't allow me to attach it due to its size.

 

[vraiblonde]

Is that black going to be filled in or will the whole thing be in outline?

 

[sleuth]

Is that black going to be filled in or will the whole thing be in outline?

I want the whole thing to appear as an etching.
Basically, where it is black, I want material to be removed from the metal, making it sort of a "depression".

Right now, if I do black-burn instead of diamond-drag, it's going to look just like the picture: black lettering on a silver background. That's what I want to avoid.

The company doesn't really do any type of tech support, unfortunately. They don't usually do this for their customers - I just called them up and asked them if they could, and they said so long as I provided the proper formatted file, which they said should be a "scalable vector graphic with pinstriping".

 

[Tonio]

Instead of trying to convert the bitmap file to a vector file, it might be easier to create the logo from scratch in Illustrator or CorelDraw. Do you know what font was used for the G and S?

 

[sleuth]

Instead of trying to convert the bitmap file to a vector file, it might be easier to create the logo from scratch in Illustrator or CorelDraw. Do you know what font was used for the G and S?

Tonio, I did that. I used "Arial Black" font to recreate the logo in Illustrator, and got a "scalable vector graphic" format. Problem is, I don't know how or even what exactly to get this "pinstriping" feature that they want.

 

[vraiblonde]

Problem is, I don't know how or even what exactly to get this "pinstriping" feature that they want.

Sleuth, I think what they're looking for is instead of solid, the filled in parts consist of horizontal lines so the laser (or whatever it is) can follow them to fill in the graphic.

I have no idea how you would do this, unless you want an actual pinstriped graphic as opposed to a solid fill.

 

[Tonio]

Problem is, I don't know how or even what exactly to get this "pinstriping" feature that they want.

I've never heard of that feature in Illustrator. When I first read your post, I thought the engraver wanted pinstripes as part of the logo.

 

[Tonio]

Sleuth, I think what they're looking for is instead of solid, the filled in parts consist of horizontal lines so the laser (or whatever it is) can follow them to fill in the graphic.

That didn't occur to me. I think Vrai is right. Try creating a version of the logo with the circle and letters as outlines, and see if that meets the engraver's needs.