Best practices - file set up?

[nfredenburg]

I’m still learning were to find the some of the great info on the forum. Could some kind soul please point me to any information on best practices / limitations for setting up my files. Specifically information on file sizes, complexity, resolution, etc. Set up for cutting seems pretty straight forward, but GFUI seems to choke easily on engraves.

Thanks in advance!

[Jules]

This one might help:

Glowforge Interface - Vector Files Made Easy

It’s soooooo easy to create files easily in programs like Illustrator, Inkscape, CorelDraw and Affinity Designer if you understand what the Glowforge interface sees when it looks at your file. (Think of this as a last batch of Tips and Tricks, then I’ll quit bugging you.) I’m going to demo in Illustrator again, but the same things will be done in whatever program you choose to use for your designs. If you have questions about specifics for other kinds of drawing and modeling software, …

[nfredenburg]

Thanks @Jules. What about for bitmaps/engraves? Seems to me there are two main factors - the size/resolution of your bitmap file and then what the GFUI does with it. The first part I get, the second is a little mysterious. I’m guessing that the GFUI is taking your bitmap and converting it to a pattern. The LPI dictates how much information it is sending back to the GF (and seems to be where it errors out)

Does anyone have a ball-park-rule-of-thumb for size of image vs. LPI tolerances? currently the only thing I know to do is keep dropping the LPI until it successfully processes the file.

[Jules]

This one too…just put it up:

Glowforge Interface - Splitting a Large Image for the GFUI - No Lines Method

I am thrilled to report that this tutorial is no longer necessary. If you use the default Draft Photo engrave setting for large sized engraves, the image should process without needing to be split. (I guess I’ll leave the rest of this up in case anyone wants to know how we used to have to do it.) _________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ One of the owners wanted to eng…

[nfredenburg]

Hmmm, not the kind of workaround I like, but I’ll try it in a pinch. Thanks again @Jules for the pointers

[palmercr]

@nfredenburg

Does anyone have a ball-park-rule-of-thumb for size of image vs. LPI tolerances?

The total time for the job needs to be less than a little over 3 hours. So it depends on the area of the engrave, the LPI and the speed.