creating closed objects from lines - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	rj (RANDYJOYCE)	11 Nov 2006
To:	ALL	1 of 8

5308.1

The attached file was created from a customer supplied pdf in Adobe Illustrator. The PDF is from a cad drawing. The letters are made up of many line strokes. I know I should be able to edit them in Adobe or Coreldraw into closed contours but have had no luck. In Coreldraw the help file indicates it is as simple as choosing the line and going to Arrange close. No luck.

Any suggestions? Please?

Randy Joyce
Joyce Engraving Co., Inc.

From:	gingem	11 Nov 2006
To:	rj (RANDYJOYCE)	2 of 8

5308.2 In reply to 5308.1
Hi Randy Attached is a corrected file Have A Great Day! Bill Meyer Ginny's Gems www.ginnysgems.com
EDITED: 4 Dec 2006 by GINGEM

From:	rj (RANDYJOYCE)	11 Nov 2006
To:	gingem	3 of 8

5308.3 In reply to 5308.2
Thank you Bill. I have got to figure this out. This mold is due out Monday and I can probably make it now. Randy Joyce Joyce Engraving Co., Inc.

From:	Pedaler (ROYBREWER)	13 Nov 2006
To:	gingem	4 of 8

5308.4 In reply to 5308.2
Bill, Could we assume you used the Smart Fill tool? Time about 1 minute? Roy Brewer http://www.engravingconcepts.com Epilog/Xenetech distributor

From:	gingem	13 Nov 2006
To:	Pedaler (ROYBREWER)	5 of 8

5308.5 In reply to 5308.4
Hi Roy No I just traced it using the bezier tool. Have A Great Day! Bill Meyer Ginny's Gems www.ginnysgems.com

From:	Mike (MIKEN)	13 Nov 2006
To:	rj (RANDYJOYCE)	6 of 8

5308.6 In reply to 5308.5
Randy: I was able to do the attached by ungrouping, selecting each character and welding. Version X3. Mike Dist. of Lazer Cutting Grid www.stl-laser.com
EDITED: 22 Dec 2006 by MIKEN

From:	Pedaler (ROYBREWER)	13 Nov 2006
To:	Mike (MIKEN)	7 of 8

5308.7 In reply to 5308.6
Mike, To illustrate what I think the real problem is, with no explanation as to why: Weld just the dash (rectangle). Note that it won't fill; it should! Note that is has 8 nodes; should have 4!!! If, after the weld, you node edit it extensively you'll see you really have duplicate shapes in opposite (clockwise, counterclockwise) direction. To say it a different way, you have a "donut" with the inside and the outside in mathematically the same place; so technically it really does fill between the two. Murder for mechanical engravers trying to hatch fill; and, for vector cutting on lasers, it cuts twice in opposite directions! Again, on a simple drawing like this, it is fixed quickly, but in a drawing with hundreds of components, it is tough to fix. I believe that this is a serious CorelDRAW import bug that because of its abstract nature is very hard to convince Corel corporate that there is a problem. Not only should we be able to open postscript files(Corel getting much better here), we should be able to use them. Roy Brewer http://www.engravingconcepts.com Epilog/Xenetech distributor

From:	Mike (MIKEN)	13 Nov 2006
To:	Pedaler (ROYBREWER)	8 of 8

5308.8 In reply to 5308.7
Roy: I did notice that but couldn't figure out why. I tried several times to fix it then gave up. The rest of the file seemed to be ok. I also had to try to import it three times before I succeeded. Mike Dist. of Lazer Cutting Grid www.stl-laser.com