Illustrator Pass through help

[WelcomeHomeCustom]

I need illustrator help. How the heck do I setup a file for the passthrough on illustrator? I know enough on illustrator to be dangerous. I tried searching and found the tutorials very confusing and convoluted…

I just need a bullet point precise step by step explanation. The use of simple words is a bonus.

[Jules]

There are two tutorials for using Illustrator with the Passthrough, and due to the fact that they were written in parts as the need arose, they can be a little confusing.

@johnse’s tutorial is the most “chronologically correct” version:

Passthrough Alignment Tutorial with Manual Indexing

I wanted to test some theories about pass-through use and to create a tutorial about how we can work around the camera alignment inaccuracies in the current state of the Glowforge software. To spoil the ending, here’s the final product: [final] I’ll be using Adobe Illustrator CC 22.0.1 (current version) primarily because I have a subscription via work. However, I am a total newbie with AI, so please feel free to point out other/better ways to do things if I end up doing them the hard way. I w…

[WelcomeHomeCustom]

This is the tutorial I found to be quite confusing!

[Jules]

Hmmm…I wrote one too, but it comes out kind of disjointed. Hang on…

[Jules]

Read this first:

How to correctly use the pass through slots

Okay @kyle.miller87, I put some screen shots together that might help. @caribis2 is right about the clipping path - you can delete that, it doesn’t translate into the Glowforge interface. In addition when I broke your file apart, you actually had two instances of the same paths in the file, one with fill color and no stroke, the other with stroke but no fill color. you don’t need both for cutting, all you need is the stroke with no fill colors, so you can delete one of them with the clippi…

Then read this:

Pro Only - Passthrough Alignment Jig Templates

Okay Bullet Points: (going to demo in Illustrator again, but it should work the same in any drawing program): Everything starts in the file…say I want to cut a 12 inch oval frame Draw a 12 inch high oval in Illustrator and use Offset Path to create a smaller center oval. Cut the ovals exactly in half, using the scissors tool on the side nodes. Make the top two halves one color, and the bottom two halves another color. [PT test c] Group the top two halves together, and the botto…

Then last read this one:

Pro Only - Passthrough Alignment Jig Templates

Okay Bullet Points: (going to demo in Illustrator again, but it should work the same in any drawing program): Everything starts in the file…say I want to cut a 12 inch oval frame Draw a 12 inch high oval in Illustrator and use Offset Path to create a smaller center oval. Cut the ovals exactly in half, using the scissors tool on the side nodes. Make the top two halves one color, and the bottom two halves another color. [PT test c] Group the top two halves together, and the botto…

[WelcomeHomeCustom]

I think its because I am still learning illustrator… so some of their terms are throwing me a little…
“score spanning guide”?

[WelcomeHomeCustom]

OK. I will read what you just posted. Thanks for your insight. I will advise!

[caribis2]

Not AI specific, but a detailed description of what you’re trying to do when using the pass through.

Near perfect alignment passthrough projects

I was so excited when first got my glowforge pro, to then realize that there was no program or feature to use the passthrough correctly. It was a big let down from where I had to figure out a way to properly use it. After trying different approaches I was able to achieve almost the perfect alignment and as a plus I end up with different jigs to use based on the work that needs to get done. Also I don’t have to worry about how I slide my material. It can be on an angle or even being able to take…

[WelcomeHomeCustom]

Thanks! Once I get to that point I will read the article!! I am currently in a losing battle with illustrator

[WelcomeHomeCustom]

Thanks again! once I figured out the magic of guides in illustrator everything fell into place I am cutting out the jig templates now and my illustrator file is ready to go.

[Jules]

Glad to hear it!