Just trying to place an outine of some lettering in vinyl. For example, I am trying to get blue letters with white outline but I want the white to go under the blue. I have figured out to make a copy of the lettering the put an outline on it but how do I get rid of the lines inside. I know this sounds confusing but for example on the letter a, the blue is half inch thick lettering, so I made a duplicate of the a and put it under the original. Then I put an outline on it, in flexi 7, but then if i cut it makes the original letter cut inside and the larger outline. I tried to weld but it didn't weld the entire letter, only pieces.
Please Help Richard Image_one
Posted by Dave Cox - That Sign Guy (Member # 3517) on :
in flexi 7 you need to select your image after it's outlined then choose Group > Convert to Path, then while it's still highlighted choose Group > Uncompound... this will break apart all pieces of your image... all you need to do is select and delete what you don't want...
apparently anytime you use the outline tool it puts you in this lurch...
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I'm not using my Flexi 7 yet, but after you "break-apart as Dave said, you may want to try the weld command at this point while all your lettering is still selected. If you have a lot of text it would be worth finding a way to eliminate the chore of selecting contours to discard one click at a time.
Posted by Fred Weiss (Member # 3662) on :
The ability to keep, or not keep, an original vector when outlining used to be a capability of Flexi in their selection boxes. For whatever the reason, they dropped that capability.
I have had discussions with their product development manager about it and have been told that they will be bringing back the feature with the next release.
To do what you want to do efficiently:
1. Copy the part to be outlined to a new window if it is part of a larger layout.
2. Outline and inline as needed for the effect you want.
3. Use the Selecting feature to select the color to be deleted and delete it.
4. Copy the remaining vectors back into your original layout and position them.
As an alternative to inlining, you may want to explore the Color Trapping command, which will do the same thing. In your example, make sure the blue is on top for the correct result.
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
........... or buy a Gerber.
k31
Posted by Richard Girard (Member # 371) on :
I may be reading this all wrong but the way I am reading what your trying to do it is very simple.
Posted by Richard Girard (Member # 371) on :
I may be reading this all wrong but the way I am reading what your trying to do it is very simple. 1. highlight the item you want to outline. 2. go to effects and press outline. 3. in Design Central there are 2 boxs on the right side. If you highlite the red box on the bottum 2 options appear. 1 with backing and 1 without backing. If you use the one with backing it will outline what you have without having any opening in the outline. To check this after you have outlined just go back to effects and select seperate outline move it to the side and see what you have. then you can simply undo until you are back to the solid outline. Hope this makes sense.
Posted by Richard Leigh (Member # 3939) on :
I knew this would be confusing I would try to post a pic but I know it won't work so I will make some cheap excuse for a picture. Lets just say I try to make a line thicker without having the original in the inside. Here's my attempt. Original: | | outlined original: || || what I want: | |
see I want the original inside gone. Thanks Richard
Posted by Richard Leigh (Member # 3939) on :
hey it changed my picture!!!
original:| | outlined:|| || what I want:|..| disregard the periods, I have to put them there.
Posted by Fred Weiss (Member # 3662) on :
Richard, as I previously posted ....
This ability used to exist in FlexiSign and they did not carry it forward. The only workaround is to group you selection that you are outlining, then outline it, then go back and reselect the original group and delete it.
The "Keep Original/Don't Keep Original" check box will supposedly be back in the Outlining Module with the release of Flexi Version 7.5 which is in beta testing right now.
To lodge your complaint at this useful but missing feature, I would recommend that you send an email to Matthew Scher:
I may be still not understanding but... Create your outline (with or without backing as the case may be). Under the Effects menu, separate the out line. Deselect the object then select the "inside" of the letter and move it aside or delete.
Like I said, sorry if I don't understand.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I would try to post a pic but I know it won't work so I will make some cheap excuse for a picture. Lets just say I try to make a line thicker without having the original in the inside. 
Richard, as I previously posted ....