posted
I saw a post here a while ago covering file type transfers but thought perhaps it might be time to add our collective experience to the subject. Because there are so many designers using so many programs on different operating systems, and because we are usually the last ones in the chain to have to make something usable out of the whole shamozel (sp?) I reckon we should be able to cover it pretty comprehensively. I'll kick off with my thoughts, please feel free to add your tips/tricks/experience with your particular software
.ai 1.1 Adobe Illustrator (almost) Bulletproof and is an available file type on every program I've had experience with but have to make sure that text is exported as curves.
.wmf Windows Metafile A close second to ai if ai isnt an option for whatever reason.
.dxf AutoCAD Direct File Xfer Files usually import into programs other than AutoCAD as (expletive deleted)'s of layers and the curves become segmented straight lines, if anyone has a workaround for this problem I'd appreciate it. I dont see dxf as viable for anything beside AutoCAD. Mike, got a system variable for curve resolution to dxf?
.dwg AutoCAD Drawing If you are receiving a file from a designer in this format, ask them to explode all blocks within the dwg and turn of or delete hatched/rendered layers. This should help lower the file size as well as lessening the likelihood of conflicts when importing. Oh yeah, ask them to purge the dwg several times too.
.doc MS Word Document- I've had times when I've taken a document from Word 97 on one machine to Word 97 on another machine loaded from the same install disk and not been able to open it. I lean towards rtf again for document files.
.pdf Adobe Portable Document File yuck, I usually ask for an .rtf instead
.tif(f) Tagged Image (File) Format There are at least two compression methods available when exporting as a tiff that I havent been able to open in Photoshop. MSPaint came to the rescue in one instance, the second instance Dave Grundy got them open in Corel (9?) when I couldnt open them in Corel 7. A case for looking for import/export filter upgrades and not underestimating some of your more humble software.
.cmx Corel somethingorother eXchange Seems to work well for vector files if its available, but thats a big if.
.rtf Rich Text Format In my estimation .rtf is the document equivalent of ai1.1 I find this an excellent alternative if you have trouble transferring text files. Most if not all formatting is retained.
Files received on disk from a designer using Mac usually really are there! Sometimes the file with the right name at the first level of the disk directory structure wont work and you need to explore the disk to find the usable file further down the directory tree of the disk.
When importing/exporting, dont just use the one program. If at first you dont succeed try using Illustrator/Word/Corel/Your sign program/Paint/Windows Imaging/cut and paste... whatever you have. I've found files that wouldnt open in the latest version of program X that are no worries in humble old Windows Paint.
Dont forget Cut and Paste or Cut and Paste Special. This has worked for me in Sign Lab and Word when all the program hopping and has failed.
I have a little utility which I havent had to use for a while called MacOpen for opening Mac files. I can recommend it if all else fails, it has served me well in the past.
When exporting from corel, ungroup and if necessary break apart and/or separate pieces before exporting.
How about hearing from you now? I've never used or only had a tiny bit of experience with Flexi, GA & Signwizard and theres probably a bunch of programs I dont even know about. Want to tell me where I've gone wrong or what check box I've missed thats put me off a file type? Lets do some lernin, this is part of our industry like it or not. Enjoy, David
------------------ D.A. & P.M. Fisher Signwriting Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com
Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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David, I think you did well. I have a vast experience in file imports, as I work for several major companies that use auto cad to windows paintbrush. LOL Microsoft Power Point files used to give me a problem till I found I could export them as wmf files. Also the utility windows clipboard is a valuable Import export file from other peoples programs, if they make a clp file of it, many times you can pull up your clip board, open the clp file and then go to your program and paste it in. I hate eps files from mac users, as they can contain bitmap files and vector files, but corel will import them correctly if you import into corel as postscript interpreted. Corel is a very good program for import and export. The main reason I have it in my system. Signlab will import dxf files, then you can select and click on convert to curves, give a .025 tolerance, and it will make them much smoother sometimes autocad files have fill, forget that LOL I don't have autocad so I don't know what to tell them to eliminate the problem. I've had pretty good luck with PDF files in corel 8. More later if I think of anything. Bill
------------------ Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud Third year Supporter of the Letterheads Website MailTo:twobeesusa@netscape.net
Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
When exporting AutoCAD drawings into DXF for the purpose of importing into design software, there's a variable within AutoCAD that controls how many segments curves get broken into. The variable VIEWRES normally just affects the way that curves are displayed. A lower number increases the number of facets but increases display speed. A higher number makes smaller facets and a smooth curve but slows display speed. When Exporting DXF's though, the export filter is dependent upon the WHIP display driver included in AutoCAD therefore VIEWRES actually has an affect on the DXF output. NOTE: you cannot eliminate the straight segments however you can control them.
When I import DXF into Corel, the segments must be welded together, then I use the node editing tool to marquee select the nodes, click on the "Curve" button in the node toolbar (just under the menus), click on "Smooth" then "AutoReduce". Corel gets rid of all the extra nodes and smooths out the curve for you. Sometimes you need to select only some of the nodes at a time to get this to work right.
I also flip between Illustrator 8 and Corel 8 quite a bit. In order for the files to work right, I export Corel files as AI version 6.0 files and I save Illustrator files as version 6.0 AI files so they import into Corel right. Gradient fills are not compatible when going from Illustrator to Corel but they work fine going from Corel exported into Illustrator.
Corel to Photoshop: I usually export Corel files into Illustrator 6.0 to do this, then open the AI file directly within Photoshop and specify the resolution and size I want the image. Since I normally do black and white vectors, I can use Photoshop to break the objects within the image onto their own layers and add color as I see fit. This Corel->Photoshop method is what I normally use for Vector-to-Web transition for my pattern samples.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Whoops.. I goofed.. ---------------------- The variable VIEWRES normally just affects the way that curves are displayed. A lower number increases the number of facets but increases display speed. A higher number makes smaller facets and a smooth curve but slows display speed. ----------------------
I meant to say a lower number increases the size of the facets (decreases the number of facets) and a higher number decreases the size and increases the number. Low=faster, High=slower. The actual number you use for the variable is dependent upon the project and takes a little experimenting. I think the last time I exported a DXF I had VIEWRES set at 500 which really slows things down but I got a nice smooth curve in Corel. =)
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
I was just about to post a new topic but I think that the answer might be here. The only problem is there isn't any pictures so I am lost.
I have a few big clipart programs from my pre-sign shop graphic experience. So when I use them, he images come in as bits and pieces of lines, curves and corners. The same with a "auto library" software that I recently bought for $350. All the vehicles come in in so many pieces that when I want to get down to the bare bones of a door or tailgate, I spend too much time higlighting and deleting.
------------------ Laura Butler Vision Graphics and Sign 560 Oak St. Lapeer, Mi 48446 810-664-3812 visiongraphics@tir.com
"Anything thats comes from my shop, comes from the right brain."
Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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