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Drawing Designs in Other Programs

If your design is already drawn in another vector graphics program, you can import it into PathTrace as long as the other software can export it to an DXF (Drawing Interchange Format) format. Once you have it in PathTrace, you can continue making your edits and then trace it to cut on your mat cutter.

Vector Versus Raster Format

Vector graphics use geometrical elements such as points, lines, curves, and shapes, which are all based on mathematical equations, to represent images in computer graphics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics

Raster graphic images or bitmaps are a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, such as a photo, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_graphics

So as an example, Illustrator is a vector-based program, and Photoshop is a raster-based program.  Most Vector programs can export their designs as a SVG file which can then be opened in Trace.

Export the Design to DXF

Open the design in your vector graphics program.

Export it as a DXF.

If available, select AutoCad Interchange File (*.DXF) for the Save as Type.

Select AutoCad Version R13/LT95, Number of Colors 8, Raster File Format BMP, and Outline Text.

Click OK.

The file will be exported to the selected file name.

Open the DXF in Trace

Open PathTrace.

Click File > Open File.

Navigate to the directory where the file was saved.

Click on the DXF file and click Open.

The DXF is displayed in PathTrace.

You can now edit and trace the design as desired.

If The Design is Empty Or is Unusable

If no design is displayed or it displays wild arcs or features not part of the original design, return to your vector graphics program. Try a different setting when you re-export it as an SVG.

If it still does not import correctly, make a copy of the original design and try simplifying it.

  • Try ungrouping all objects and converting to curves.

  • Make sure the unit is set to inches.

  • Export text as curves.

  • Export bitmap as jpeg.

Take note that because the DXF format is not an industry wide standard there are a large number of variables.  Each program that supports DXFs has their own set of settings and defaults, so you may have to experiment with the different settings and export selections to see what works best for you.

Saving Your Work

Depending upon the complexity of the design, you may want to save your design periodically as you work on it. Saving a file as a Wizard Path (path) allows the user to save a design in progress without having to trace it first. Saving a design as a CutArt (WCX or WCA), requires that the user trace the design first. 

Paths are limited in that they cannot be applied to projects or resized or any of the other benefits of CutArt; they are simply a storage file type so that the user can save their work as they work on the design. Once your design is completed, trace the design and save it as a CutArt (WCX) and load it into any MatDesigner project, where it can be resized, rotated, mirrored, or a different cartridge selection applied.