Engraving Problems

[George Makrakis]

Hello all and thank you for your time.
I am a new user of a 80Wlaser from Greece and i have some issues with RDworks engraving.
I prepare my vector file in Corel and then i export in DXF file for RDwork.The vector file is converted from jpeg to vector fine (Trace bitmap).
What i get is some kind of opposite engraving (i want to engrave the black colour as it shows in corel image but the Rdworks do the opposite)
I know that its my fault but i dont know what i am doing wrong.
I would appreciate if somone can help me.
Thank you all

corel image.jpg

Rdworks.jpg

[Pete Cyr]

try this

negative engrave.png

[George Makrakis]

Thank you very much for your reply. My layer is a vector file and this option is grey. I will try to import the file as bitmap and now as a vector. Thank you.

[Mike Tuppen]

better to export image from editor as PNG or bmp image with resolution of 300dpi + (I use 600dpi) this will import to rdworks then simply set the image to etch. Only the black will etch. Remember if you up-scale a vector image in RDwoks you may get pixilation hence choose your DPI wisely!

Marking vector graphics as etch will for some projects work. But rdworks infills internal vector spaces and will etch those as well as any lines.

Inverting the black white /etch will simply make any whites etch, including background.

[George Makrakis]

Thank you very much. I will try to export as Png file.

[Martín Lázaro]

George, to me, the problem is the automatic tracing in corel (i work with corel)
The automatic tracing in corel x7 or newer is good but not failsafe. And is not programmed to laser cutter, is programed to get a result that LOOK like the original image.
You need to put a NO fill, and a color to the line (thinner possible), and then you discover that in a low resolution images vectorized, that the inside and the outside lines are conected. Then rdworks cant separate borders to understand what to fill
In the vector, select no fill, thinner line, and be shure that the exterior parameter are separate from interior lines. In other hand all the perimeters, exterior and interiors, need to be a closed line.
And, in my experience, tracing used to put a doble lines in a lot of parts. I check this selecting lines and moving it apart. If apper other line, just delet it. The other way is import all to rdworks and use the tool from rdworks "delete overlap" (you need to controll it too, because too often this tool delet too much lines)
Put the original image here and i try to see what happend
But do a simple test : in coreldraw draw a circle, with other inner circle, sent to rdworks, and will see that rdworks understand what to fill. The problem is the automatic tracing. good tool, not so automatic

Note : With fonts, the newer rdworks have a new surprise, select no fill before sent to rdworks

Martín.-

[George Makrakis]

Martin, thank you for your time,
indeed the problem is the auto tracing. The file is a simple jpg image that i try to engrave on wood. After i Trace it and export to dxf it creates many layers that i dont need. I delete them but the result isnt very good and the preview time for engraving is about 1 hour . So maybe the best way is to import it as a bmp format and then engrave it.
The test file is a jpeg and i want to engrave for a birthday party on wood for my son.

[Pete Cyr]

Martin, thank you for your time,
indeed the problem is the auto tracing. The file is a simple jpg image that i try to engrave on wood. After i Trace it and export to dxf it creates many layers that i dont need. I delete them but the result isnt very good and the preview time for engraving is about 1 hour :roll: . So maybe the best way is to import it as a bmp format and then engrave it.
The test file is a jpeg and i want to engrave for a birthday party on wood for my son. :)

Post your jpg and let me see what I can do please.

[Hank Morgan]

I took your jpg and opened it in Inkscape and used the Trace Bitmap tool to convert it to a vector image.
I saved that as a dxf file and it seemed to open and scan just fine in RDworks.

Try this and see if it works for you:
http://www.weirdstuffwemake.com/hanks-s ... _clown.dxf

[George Makrakis]

Thank you Hank
I imported your Dxf file in Rdworks and i have this result.As you can see the scaning isnt the one i wanted to be. If you import the dxf file in Rdworks you see this image?