Lightobject.com Support Forum

I design my work in Illustrator and import into Lasercad. I have trouble engraving text however.

Say for example I have a square. I want to cut this square out and engrave text. I can transfer the file to the X7 if I select both the text and square as "cut" but obviously I just get the outlines of text. If I send the square as "cut" and the text as "engrave" either the text wont send to the X7 or it will only send certain letters.

I've tried a number of solutions that I can think of but I'm a little stuck.

Can anyone shed any light?

Cheers

Files created by AI is in "Vector" format so it will be assigned for cutting.

For engraving, you need to use "Raster" format like .jpg, .bmp, .gif,..etc

Marco

Is there any reliable way to combine both so i can make a cut and engrave in one job?

Use IMPORT function and you can attach multiple graphics in different format on the LaserCad .

Marco

Doh! I have no idea why i didnt try that

Thanks Marco

Ha..Ha.....
No problem, let me send you a 'hammer'



Marco

It seems to be a common misconception that to engrave (head sweeping back and forth like an inkjet printer) that you can only engrave raster formats like .bmp ot .jpg.

90% or more of the engraving I do is vector based. Either graphics or text.

Lasercad/AWC708 or 608 will happily engrave any enclosed vector.

I am not sure where the idea comes from that to engrave it must be a raster file.

It is a common practice that raster is for engraving while vector is used for cutting
You can do solid line engraving by vector like text , square, or any continuous line. But it come to the grayscale like picture like a picture, I don't think that you can handle it by vector because of so much 'dot ... dot'
When the programmer design the control software, regardless LaserCad, LaserCut, or whatever, only vector got power control when turning corner. For the raster image, it is driving in constant speed and constant power. So, if somehow you can use Vector for engraving, the image should look more 'flat' or 'solid' rather than warm feeling from a raster engraving.


Marco

When it comes to text or many types of graphics, "flat" or "solid" is exactly what is wanted.

My point is that to say engraving can only be raster, is not correct.

You can say so. Or one can do cutting by using "engraving" as well simply doing engrave the line 100 passes instead of 1 pass, one still can do the job. But what is fact behind it.

Most software designed the way that once it detected .bmp, jpg,.gif ... all raster format graphics it will 'configure' itself to the engraving mode. Same thing to vector format graphics like .dxf, .ai, .plt the software will switch to cutting mode.

While most software is doing that and majority folks is doing this in common, then I think I will follow this trend except for an advance user like you, who can do similar thing in different way. To avoid any confuse to user with less experience, I'll go by the common way even though you are not agreed with me.


Marco