Random Lines

so why would that cause the line to be in random locations, on the same image?

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You might have more than one open path given that this file is quite busy and seemingly disorganized. Try rasterizing it for a quick solution, or reading through some of what has worked for others with this problem.

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Here are 3 examples of this issue. I do not believe, and could be wrong, but does not seem to be with the file. It seems very random. . I used the same image, did not update anything in inkscape, 3 different results.

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I stopped the one print when i saw the error

Where did this file originate? Did you create it? Do other files print normally?

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yes, I created it in photoshop. Pulled the image from google, formatted in, moved it to inkscape. Sent through bitmap and exported it to Glowforge. This issue seems to show up randomly as well. I have done hundreds of print with no issues, then it shows up with no rhyme or reason.

Do other files print normally?

the motion planner will try to close open paths, but it won’t always try to close the same paths in the same way.

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yes, but I had this same issue with other files, prints a few times fine, then random get a line with same file

If it is a vector image, you can try rasterizing it. (If there are any open points in the image, the motion plan can pick them up and try to join them when engraving. Rasterizing it would be the quickest way to stop the problem.)

Use a high PPI and you probably won’t be able to tell a difference.

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is raster and bitmap tracing the same?

Yep! :slightly_smiling_face:

(If you’re using Inkscape to Make a Bitmap Copy, remember to shift the originals from underneath the trace results.)

ok, so makes me a little more confused because I use bitmap on inkscape for all my images

again, this is very random when this error occurs.

Yes, it can be confusing. That particular file is a vector image, not a raster (bitmap) image.

The difference is that a vector image consists of lines and fill colors, but a raster (bitmap) image consists of individual pixels of color. You can trace a bitmap (raster) image to turn it into lines with fills, and that creates a vector image.

Or you can take a vector image, “take a picture of it”, and turn it into a raster image that consists of individual dots of color (pixels).

What you need to do with that image is turn it into dots of color. So in Inkscape, you would select it and go to Edit > Make a Bitmap Copy. Then shift the overlay bitmap to the side so you can delete the original vector file underneath.

Very quick way to avoid having to go through and find all the open points in the vector image.

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is this not correct? when i load the image, I use bitmap, then delete the original

Not sure what it is? :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

See all the individual points/nodes? That’s the vector image. Is it possible that you deleted the Bitmap copy instead?

This might help, or might not…it’s a couple of quickie tutorials on rasters and vectors, and how the Glowforge uses them.

Meh…you might not need the second one.

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Since you’re engraving there’s really no reason to go through all these steps in Inkscape, especially as the process is causing you these open path errors.
Just send a JPG or PNG to the GF.

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Definitely this, if you aren’t adding a cut line to the image anywhere.

I’m sorry that you’ve been getting unexpected results in your prints. It’s great to see that you’ve already received some excellent information from our other community members. Thanks folks!

What they shared about the unexpected lines possible resulting from certain vector objects in the design is correct. In case it helps, we have a detailed guide on our support site which shows how to Rasterize Objects in Inkscape including screenshots of the process. Please let us know if this solves the issue with unexpected lines!

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