I'm looking for a software that can take the sketch art work in put into very nice clean artwork.... I have corel draw and import to corel trace but it doesn't come clean... If you have a cursive writting it turns to box... Please help... I'm looking into to get a good software so I wouldn't have to spent time on the artwork...
Thanks
-------------------- Jaime Doyle Doyle Sign & Web Design RR1 Box 351-C Grampian, PA Posts: 79 | From: Grampian, PA | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted May 15, 2002 06:55 PM
Jaime...If you are looking for a "simple/easy/automatic" way to turn scanned artwork into a vector format you won't find it. The trace programs available are good and getting better but you wioll still have to manually "clean it up". In most cases I just import the scn into Corel and then manually "draw" over top of the scanned image..I find that faster and easier than trying to clean up a "trace".
I haven't heard of an easy way out, and I actually enjoy the challenge of "digitizing".
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted May 15, 2002 08:07 PM
I got a HP scanner. Forget what the number is, it's downstairs and I am upstairs and brain dead. The scanner came with a program as they all do, but this one has the option to scan as vector. So I tried it, it works great. Very very clean,m I guess because you are not tracing it just scanning it. If your interested, I will post the model and name of the program.
-------------------- Roy H.Somers Signs Of Distinction 609-652-6507 Oceanville, New Jersey Posts: 107 | From: USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted May 15, 2002 08:18 PM
I've been experimenting with photoshop, taking pics of people, scanning at 256 shades of gray, adjusting the contrast and brightness, then saving as a tiff image. I use Adobe Streamline for vectoring, and its a great program for doing this. You wouldn't believe how good the pics come out. It makes them into a vector image, which I then can take into illustrator and work with. I just recently did this for a t shirt design and they turned out great. But Dave is right about one thing, if you scan only a sketch, itll be hard to get a clean line when you vector. I use felt tip pens for inking, and they seem to do very well.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted May 16, 2002 03:53 PM
I use have corel and have used trace but purchased a program called EuroVector from Digital Art Solutions (www.smartdesigns.com) which I think does a little bit better job than CorelTrace. I agree it is a total pain in the rear. I sometimes just scan and redraw right over it like Dave Grundy posted above. Ya do what ya gotta do.
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
posted May 16, 2002 04:16 PM
Yep, nothing beats drawing with a sharpie pen and scanning into Adobe Streamline.
You'll always have some clean-up work to do, unless the desired result is actually a rough look.
Adobe Illustrator has a cool tool for cleaning up the lines though. It's a pencil tool and basically you just use it to draw over a small section at a time and it replaces the section with the new path you just drew, then you can use the smooth tool and it will clean it up a bit more.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted May 16, 2002 05:04 PM
if your doing a "sketch" you need to start thinkin in "vector" as you draw.....ok..will make sence when you do it....no crossing lines, lines not to close together, and if you can find the "fineline sharpie" there good, better yet is PENSTIX by ALVIN. comes in a pack of 3 .07, .05, and .03 width.office depot etc.... these are india ink(black black) and the trace program really sees it!(even on onionskin paper.)and adobe streamline is about the best out there....some sign programs lay claim to the best....but adobe steamline is only $69-89 bucks..
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted May 16, 2002 09:17 PM
Sounds like a challenge Jamie, why not post your sketch (or forward it to me, and I'll post it) and we can all have a go at vectorizing it using our favorite tools. As a fair test we should specify, tools only - no redraws. When scanning for vectorizing I prefer a compressed .tif (200 dpi is sufficient), 24 bit color, and fairly high contrast. If anyone prefers b/w or grayscale they can easily change mode from the 24 bit scan.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted May 16, 2002 09:22 PM
The scanner is an HP Scanjet 5370C The program is the HP program that came with it. It is HP PrecisionScan Pro 2.5 It has options to output as B&W Bitmap (raster), B&W Scalable (vector) and Spot Color (16 color image) as well as others. I used to use Streamline but this is much faster and easier, just scan and it's there to do what you want with. The program sends the scanned file to whatever program you chose from a dropdown list. I still use Streamline but try this first if I am scanning. The file is cleaner most of the time. I guess because it is an original and not a copy of a copy like if you traced a scan. And as Dave says, most of the time it is faster and easier to just recreate it using the scan as a template. There is no easy way to just scan and have a great file to cut. Sometimes you do and but most of the time you have to work on it first.Trick is figuring out how to do it fastest with the least amount of work and how good it has to be to do the job at hand.
PS A note here about resolution. Do not scan at the highest resolution you have. I have a 1200 dpi (optical) scanner and I scan most stuff under 300 dpi. Never use the interpolate option. The higher resolution you scan at the more imperfections you pick up. If you scan at a lower resolution, there is usually less cleaning up to do because there are less nodes. The lower resolution will not pick up the unevenness of the line, it will think it is straight making less nodes. Try different setting and find out what works for you with the equipment and software you have. Not all scans will be at the same resolution. Eventually you will know what to try first. (or second and third ect.)
[ May 16, 2002, 10:31 PM: Message edited by: Roy Somers ]
-------------------- Roy H.Somers Signs Of Distinction 609-652-6507 Oceanville, New Jersey Posts: 107 | From: USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted May 16, 2002 09:38 PM
Get an old HP 2c grayscale scanner, and CASMATE. In Casmate you have the option of DIRECT scanning and TWAIN. Compared to DIRECT, TWAIN sucks. Casmate 6.52 has been discontinued, so you can pick up a copy cheap (try signtrader.com). This is the best vectorizing EVER MADE!!!!!
posted May 17, 2002 12:16 PM
I use a Speedball artist pen, india ink on smooth glossy white paper. I think I paid less than $15 for everything at Michaels. I found the india ink leaves crisper lines than Sharpies so clean up after it's been vectorized is quicker. I scan in CASmate btw.
Mark
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
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