We are just going for the default settings in the demonstration, so I will just click OK. This is where you will need to spend some time perfecting as each image will be different and require different settings. We now have opened the dialog box which has a number of ways it can trace an image. In image above shows the location of the “Trace Bitmap” command that will open a dialog box where we can customize the settings to give us the best results. A bitmap image can be difficult to get an accuracy of a fraction of a millimeter, which is easily achieved with vectors. With a vector we can specify sizes that can be cut and engraved with huge precision. In addition, cutting and engraving has a far greater accuracy if vectors are used. The importance of a vector graphic in laser cutting is to tell the laser what line it needs to follow for the cuts. Image above shows the first step completed, we will use the imported bitmap to convert to a vector ready for cutting. In this step we want to select “embed” and click OK to open it. Navigate to the location of the file you wish to use. To open an image into Inkscape, click on “file” -> “open” (alternatively press ctrl + O on a PC or cmd + O on a Mac). Inkscape recognizes a great variety of file types. What we need to do now is open a bitmap image such as a jpeg or png file. You will see a screen similar to the one below. Once Inkscape is done downloading and you have installed the software go ahead and open it. A simple layout common to most drawing programs. Once open you should see a similar screen as below. For windows it is the same as any installation. For MAC users you will need to install X11/Xquartz to be able to use Inkscape (app not automatically included in the newest versions of OS X, Mavericks at this time). The process of converting the image to vector graphics is the same regardless of your operating system.
It is free to download, available for Mac, PC and Linux systems and is also available in multiple languages. To start off download Inkscape if you have not already done so. Using Inkscape (Open Source Software – Free To Download and Use) In the future, if requested we can add other methods using adobe Illustrator among others.
We included only the inkscape method for now (Inkscape is an amazing free to download and use open source software package). This is a walkthough guide for those that wish to convert their images into vector graphics themselves and save money by going straight to our laser cutting and engraving services.
Converting Bitmap Images into Vector Graphics
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