Hey all, Is there a command in Corel8 to convert to vectors? I tried the convert to curves command but it still dosent let me edit the graphic. I use Corel at home to do some designs in spare time, and e-mail them to my shop. I am still learning the program. Any tips would be great. Thanks
[This message has been edited by AZBrad (edited June 24, 2000).]
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Brad,
Are you trying to vectorize a bitmap image or just trying to edit a line or curve that you drew with one of the tools like Bezier?
To edit a curve (move the nodes around and adjust the curve) you need to select the tool in the image below with the arrow next to it. This tool allows you to edit each point individually. If you doubleclick on the path, it adds another node wherever you clicked.
Hope that clears something up for you!
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Hi Brad,
Your question is abit vague, so allow me to offer some info; maybe even stuff you aren't looking for.
Working with bitmaps One can only vectorize a bitmap by drawing on top of it. Once your drawing is finished, you delete the bitmap and you have your vectorized drawing. If you wish to do this automatically, Coreldraw calls it coreltrace. There is no other automatic way to do this.
Working with fonts Now if you're talking about converting FONTS to vectors, a font is already a vector image. One just needs to remove the font value, which is by selecting Convert To Curves.
Working with nothing to start with Whatever you draw with corels tools is automatically a vector image. If you have some things combined or grouped, you may have to undo those in order to node edit them.
I hope I didn't misunderstand your question.
------------------ Graphic Impact located in BC Canada gisigns@sprint.ca
[This message has been edited by Donna in BC (edited June 24, 2000).]
Posted by Jack Davis (Member # 1408) on :
What they said Brad...Their explanation pretty much sums it up. I would add that when you are trying to vectorize a bitmap (digital photo) you must have clear and concise lines for tracing or auto tracing, such as black and white. If their are a lot of subtones the tracer gets lost very easily. Sometimes you can take the photo or bitmat to corel paint and work on it alot to make it a more graphic appearing bitmap before you "vectorize" it. If you ever get a completely satifying experience from this let the rest of us know. It seems to be the weakest point of corel draw and most other drawing programs, but then think about what you are asking it to do. Good luck, Bronzeo.
------------------ Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com bronzeo@prodigy.net http://www.imagemakerart.com
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
You can also use the POSTERIZE command on bitmaps before tracing. This will help to further define the separation of colors so you can eventually cut the colors in vinyl.
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs LETTERCRAFT SIGN SYSTEMS www.lettercraft.com 1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-877-778-5879
Posted by Sarah Clark (Member # 413) on :
°
[This message has been edited by Sarah (edited August 12, 2000).]
Posted by Brad Funk (Member # 1351) on :
Thanks for the replies, i guess i should have been more clear about what im trying to do. I saved a black & white clipart image off the net and wanted to vectorize it so i could change it a bit. I would like to use this image on a sign, but dont want an exact copy.Thanks Guys
Get Adobe Streamline if you do alot of vectorizing. It's absolutely awesome at autotracing and it saves the art in Illustrator format which you can import into CorelDRAW.
It can even vectorize your photographs.. yep, that's right. scan a photo and Streamline will give you a vectorized photograph.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
It sure seems simpler to have a sign program that does it all, and fast, without needing to copy-paste-import-export from one program to another. I'd like to learn alot more about Corel,but wonder why folks put up with this level of hassle?
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Rick: I wholehartedly agree with you. I think the problem is, that we all have that WalMart mentality way down deep, that getting things cheeper is #1. The reasoning is that even the GOOD STUFF isn't very good, so why not spend less and put up with the "lower end" merchandise, since it isn't that much worse than the "good" stuff. There are lots of reasonable arguments, PRO & CON, about Corel compared to SIGN PROGRAMS. I use Corel AND Inspire, along with Casmate and Photoshop, and I'll take INSPIRE (or any other sign program)way over the rest. They're not just BETTER, but W-W-A-A-A-Y-Y-Y better if you want to "produce". Yeah, they're expensive all right, but I'll take a Lexus over a GEO anyday. I know they'll both "get you there", but so will a #10 quill and a can of 1-shot! Whatever makes you happy, I guess!
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs LETTERCRAFT SIGN SYSTEMS www.lettercraft.com 1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-877-778-5879
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
I personally have a sign program that 'does it all'. Yet somehow, Corel has different features that I can't live without, different than the do all program. I'm tired of waiting for these what are considered standard options in other programs to appear in my do all program. And with a new price tag no doubt. You know how it is.
I agree, import, export, somewhat frustrating, yet more freedom in other areas. There's always a trade it seems.
------------------ Graphic Impact located in BC Canada gisigns@sprint.ca
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
I wouldnt call CorelDRAW a "low end" program.
CorelDRAW is the creme of the crop as far as publishing software goes, and it's used in more printshops than Illustrator and Quark combined.
"But signs aren't publishing.." yada yada yada.. Well, I use CorelDRAW in my business, I also use Illustrator. I couldn't live without either one because neither does everything I need it to, and from the complaints I hear about dedicated sign software, they do even less as far as design and vinyl cutting goes.
When I do a logo design for someone from scratch, I've charged as much as $500 for the design solely because thanks to my publishing software (CorelDRAW) I can market the design as a sign, business card, invoice logo, flyer, brochure or any other item that can be made or printed.
The FACT is that CorelDRAW is compatible with every other software package known to man on the planet, and all the other software needs to play catch-up. If a customer needs to have business cards printed and they want the logo I designed on the cards, I just drop off a disk copy at the print shop and it's pretty much guaranteed they wont have a problem opening the file.
I can also accept any file format that a customer may have on disk already, whether it's an EPS, PSD, TIF, or any bitmap or vector art file on the planet INCLUDING AutoCAD files.. I get so many autocad files it's not even funny.. Well, no problem.. I just put the disk in, go to corel and hit "OPEN" and it does it.
No muss, no fuss... take 5 minutes to load the art and send it to the plotter and still charge a $35 setup fee.
As far as driving Routers and other tools, I'm sure that's where a dedicated sign program comes in handy, but when it comes to cutting vinyl, CorelDRAW and Illustrator are where it's at when it comes down to the design process.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
I don't know where all this stuff about copy,paste,import,export stuff comes from? All I know is I can "import" a bitmap into Corel (I assume ANY program needs that to be done in order for the user to be able to do anything with it?) I can then "trace" it in Corel, if I wish, "draw over it" in Corel, if I wish, or do anything I want to do with it in Corel. Heck I can even "manipulate/docter up" the bitmap in Corel, if I wish. All that on top of being able to do all the outlining/inlining/shadowing/arcing/text manipulation/ad infinitum that I want to do in vector format. All in one program without any copy/paste/import/export. I guess that is why it is a little less "user friendly" than some other programs. It has too many features to be able to make it an automated "click here to do this" program. That is also why even the most devoted users of the program have to ask questions about it sometimes and usually learn some new feature of it almost every day! I have seen the "dedicated" sign programs in action, and yes, they are easy to use but their ease of use comes at the "cost" of either lack of flexibility or an outrageous price. Corel IS relatively inexpensive but even if it was ten times the price, I would still use it as a signmaking program. As, I am sure, would the Illustrater folks do too.
That's my opinion and as someone usually says..."It's worth what I chrged for it!!!"
BUT..I have to reitterate..no "COPY-PASTE-IMPORT-EXPORT" needed to work with Corel!!!!! (at least not for me!)
------------------ Dave Grundy shop#340 AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley "A PROUD $ supporter of the website"
Posted by Jerry Smith (Member # 688) on :
Corel is a program that is drastically underused and underrated by a lot of people. Its trace program and node editing capabilities are awesome. These capabilities are somewhat intimidating at first, and people tend to try in once and then decide it doesn't work. It's kind of like buying a new piano and then being disappointed that you can't immediately play it at a concert level. Corel 9 has a new "interactive node editing capability" that lets you see what is happening to the object as you move a slide switch back and forth. It's great. The biggest thing most people do wrong is to bite off too much of the design at once. The trick is to marquee small sections at a time, and watch what the computer is doing. If it messes up, just "undo" and take a smaller bite. A little time spent messing around with the trace and node editing tools will be time well spent.
------------------ Jerry Smith Graphics Now Mt.Clemens, Michigan
Posted by Bill Biggs (Member # 18) on :
The best thing I got with my first comupter aided gerber software was a copy of corel 1.1 they called it gerber print. And print it did. It Led me to corel 2, 3, 5, 8, and now 9. I have gerber edge, signlab, and now vinylmaster pro. but I get more use out of corel as far as other folks files, than all the other programs combined. However, I need them all to have a well rounded shop. I gripe about gerbers software all the time, but their auto numbering and color handling is unsurpassed. And, most programs dont have it.If corel has auto numbering I haven't found it. (Dave?) Vinyl Master pro has an extremely good tracing program, but the ai format you import into gerber is not a good transfer, however I can import it into sign lab, make a gad file, then gerber handles it nicely. I Don't have Adobe, though I use ai files all the time, they come from corel. Also Corel imports more files than anyother software I know of. And does it well. WMF files are easy to export to most any windows program too, from corel.The more Digital work I do the more I use corel photopaint. you can actually change colors on bitmaps clone spots that need touching up and numerous other tricks. I once printed a logo I got off the net in 72dpi format 4ft tall after modifying it in corel photopaint. Bill
------------------ Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud second year Supporter of the Letterheads Website MailTo:twobeesusa@netscape.net
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Bill,
4ft? FANTASTIC! How was the image quality up close?
I cant imagine any other program on the planet having the flexibility that CorelDRAW does, except for AutoCAD.
CorelDRAW and AutoCAD are similar in that they are SO powerful and have SOOOOO many features that the writers didnt make any "automatic" tools, which throws alot of people off.
Corel IS a program that you learn new features in every day. When you stop learning something new about CorelDRAW on a regular basis, it's because you have quit utilizing the additional power of the software, not because you know everything about it. =)
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by Ian Wilson (Member # 177) on :
brad i find it easy to use corelle trace on this type of drawing or I print it out and scan it straight in then modify it with the nodes to suit what I want
------------------ Ian Wilson Signmaker Toowoomba City Council Cnr Anzac Ave & Stephen st Toowoomba Queensland Australia may all your toubles be little ones The man that never make a mistake never makes anything
