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Brian Knuckles
08-25-2010, 3:35 PM
Has anyone tried converting photos to DXF files?
If so, can anyone give me some pointers.

Thx
Chris DeGerolamo
08-25-2010, 3:47 PM
What exactly are you trying to achieve? You're not trying to go to a drawing file, are you? I am not familiar with any other DXF extension.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD_DXF
Dallas Traina
08-25-2010, 4:00 PM
Chris,
The image will need to be vectorized first then saved as or exported as a DXF file.

Dallas
Chris DeGerolamo
08-25-2010, 4:13 PM
Chris,
The image will need to be vectorized first then saved as or exported as a DXF file.

Dallas

I'm just confused why one would want take a photograph and convert it to a DXF.
Dallas Traina
08-25-2010, 4:16 PM
For vector outlining or rotary engraving.
Brian Knuckles
08-25-2010, 4:36 PM
I have a laser that engraves DXF files super fast....so I try and convert all my files to DXF files.
Chris DeGerolamo
08-25-2010, 4:41 PM
Brian- is this something that you would be able to just trace over the details you need, either on the computer or on tracing paper? and convert/export that line art to a DXF?
Garry Foster
08-25-2010, 5:05 PM
Actually there are several options. They all have their limitations.. But some amazing work comes from them.

Microcarve Latest version is 4 and you can buy it for the same price as version 2.


Mach 3 the cnc program will make a go at importing art.

http://www.vectric.com/ has some great stuff.


http://www.inkscape.org/ inkscape is powerful and free. Steep learning curve.

Coral draw will do this.

These are just the tip of the iceberg there are probably a few hundred programs out there that attempt this.

Several cad programs have this built in..

Good luck