I had a question that must arise quite often at least it does here.
I run Gerber GA 6.0 and have Signlab Colormaster 5 although I work mainly with my GA as its always been here or nearly and the switch or learning time with Signlab has not been availale, even having bought Rob Ivers CD's...there aren't enough hours in the day just now.
That said I have Photoshop 6.0 and Illustrator 9.0, I have them really just for making it easier to import thru Gerber's limited import filters. I get Photoshop files and wonder if there is an easy way to vectorise them like converting text " create outlines" in Illustrator. Or cleaning up so called vector artwork that arrive like spagetti, as its all vector lines that are made up of "layers" or masks that are hard to figure out once in the sign programs.
I could maybe dig out a couple of old job files if its of interest?
I am home here for a few days now and then return to the UK next thursday for a summer break....I can't wait!
happy midsummer....
------------------ Henry Barker #1924 akaKaftan SignCraft AB Stockholm, Sweden. A little bit of England in a corner of Stockholm www.signcraft.se info@signcraft.se
Posts: 1552 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Nov 1998
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Adobe makes a vectorizing program called Streamline, that turns bitmap (pixel files) into vectors, that can then be used in photoshop or imported into corel, as well as signlab. Corel Trace always does the same thing, but I'm told not as well as Steamline. And to be frank with you, Streamline doesn't do the job well either, in my opinion. I only use it to vectorize photos, making my own clipart. As far as vectorizing a logo or any type of lettering, it's pretty rough.
I usually end up biting the bullet and trace over a scan to get the cleanest cuttable art.
Sorry I couldn't give you happier news.
Enjoy your holiday!
------------------ Don Coplen aka "SaintPete" Coplen Designs St.Petersburg, FL dcoplen@mindspring.com
Co-Leader (with Bill Modzel and Dave Sherby) of the Letterville Adobe Illustrator Support Group
If any Letterville Adobe Illustrators need any help, feel free to email any of the three of us and we will help out as best we can.
posted
Or you might try Eurovector. It scans colors, although not always good.
Another feature is that it digitizes either with actual tablet or mouse. Just trace, makes straight lines (is that redundant?) & curve segments. Haven't used it in a while but at times is faster than scanning.
------------------ Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com
Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Yep, tracing the artwork by hand is the only real way to get good looking art.
I use Streamline as well, and yes it is much better than CorelTRACE, but works best on black and white art.
Streamline outputs AI files which is handy.
If I need to vectorize a photo and make it a close representation of the photo, I'll trace a printed image by hand using ink, scan it into Streamline and trace the line art, then use Illustrator to add gradients and color.
Like Don said, I wish there were an easier way but there really isnt.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Henry, you should do it with Signlab. It won't take long to learn just that portion of it, it will do the job pretty well and should save you quite a bit of time in the long run.
------------------ Artworks Olympia WA
Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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This page, while not clear to read, includes some great tutorials about the Adobe products. I invite you to read the one related to " Photo to line conversion". It explains how to proceed to obtain vectors using Photoshop only.
But sure, it does not eliminate the need for Adobe Streamline.
------------------ Philippe JACQUES info@magisign.com
Want to produce signs in 4 steps directly from Adobe Illustrator ? Take a look at www.magisign.com…
• "Object-Path->Outline stroke" replaces any stroke by the two parallel lines needed to cut a path. A third line is added whenever an path is filled using any color
• "Object-> Expand appearance" extracts the paths which are at the origin of any style or effect, including the brush effects
• Window ->show PathFinder->Trim" is useful while you have overlap of some paths producing "spaghettis". In few second, if removes any overlap between all the selected items (to be used after the 2 previous ones)
I keep at your disposal for any further info.
Philippe JACQUES
------------------ Philippe JACQUES info@magisign.com
Want to produce signs in 4 steps directly from Adobe Illustrator ? Take a look at www.magisign.com…
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