Problems with Illustrator

[Jules]

@patrick3

Is there a size limit on the PNG or JPG file when coming from Photoshop? I have a pretty small (less than 1MB) that it’s choking on. Granted it’s complex but isn’t that the point with the GF?

I’m going through the Export As… menu in Photoshop.

In Illustrator does type need to be outlined? What about strokes? Is there a preferred stroke width for setting up cuts?

I’m doing a Save As… and selecting the default uncompressed SVG. Any other settings I should be taking note of?

When setting up a file for multiple sets (engrave, score, cut) and using different colors how do I set those? Is it an upload the single file and then define things? I’m trying this with an SVG but it won’t let me upload the file so can’t test it out. I’ve gone through the Inkscape tutorial but not sure how the various steps end up there as when I add a file it adds the entire file. Native .ai or PDF and layers support would be nice!

Can I embed bitmapped images in my SVG or PDF files? Lets say I am combining a litho style illustration with type in Illustrator and the illustration comes from a scan or photo. I always prefer not having to trace images as the quality is never great.

I’m using a custom material right now for testing. In this case just some cut up cardboard from an amazon box.

I’m on a Mac and have been using both Chrome and Firefox as browsers for the app.

Lots of questions - many of which are answered in this tutorial, so you might want to take a quick gander:

Laser Design Basics

Laser Design Basics.pdf (770.3 KB) dl488 9/6/17

1. Yes, it can hang up on the higher resolution PNGs and JPGs. Try Saving for Web and Devices (the results are going to be pretty much the same) and remove any background to lower the pixel count. (Crop it as small as possible.)

2. In Photoshop, you can just save it as a PNG or JPG, you don’t have to Export it.

3. Type needs to be converted to Path in Illustrator. You only assign a stroke color to it if you want to CUT it out or Score it. If you want to engrave it, just leave it with a fill but no stroke. (You still have to convert it to a path first though.) Type > Create Outlines

4. Yes, use these settings:
   

   

5. Just use a different color (either stroke or fill) for each separate operation you wish to perform.
   If you want to cut everything out, make all cutlines black. If you want to cut one set of lines first, followed by cutting another set of lines, make one set black and one set red, then order them in the interface. Fill colors are treated the same way - they can be engraved in batches if you use different colors to create them.

6. Yes, yes, yes…always embed your images.

7. I’ve found that Chrome works better for the interface.