need some help please

[Jan.vanderlinden]

Ok, I think that I finally have the file down to where I can upload it.
Randall,
I tried the profile trick, but I think the V carve will look better once I find out what's causing the "digging" problem

[Adrian]

That is a very poor quality set of vectors. I take it they've been created from an auto trace of a low quality and/or heavily anti-aliased bitmap.

There are overlaps that will be causing the problems you're seeing with a VCarve toolpath. You could do a profile cut as has been suggested but to be honest I think you will be disappointed with the results due to the poor quality of the vectors.

Personally I'd search for a better quality image or an existing vector image. There are so many things wrong with that file that all the usual shortcut tricks to sorting out overlaps etc just don't work.

If you do want to try and sort it out I've highlighted the sort of thing you have to resolve for the VCarve to work properly. You can't have vectors overlapping like that and there are hundreds in that file.

[Leo]

There are some open vectors but the calculate ignores those.

There are places where the little vector boxes overlap other vector boxes. I cleaned up a couple and the DEEP digs went away.

You only have a couple of problem areas so it should be fairly easy to clean up with vector editing.

Zoom in to the problem areas and make sure the vectors do not overlap other vectors.

Having the tool path box checked, to show the toolpath will help to see some of the problem.

I am going out for the day so I will check in later.

This is fixable.

Beautiful bird by the way.

[Jan.vanderlinden]

Thank you gentlemen for the help.
now that I know what the problem is, I'm going to try to fix it.
I did not know about overlapping vectors.
Thank you again.

[MarkJohnston]

I think what Martin told you works pretty good. I use this technique all the time. See pictures below.

Mark

[martin54]

I think what Martin told you works pretty good. I use this technique all the time. See pictures below.


It was actually Randall who suggested a profile cut on the line Mark, my suggestion would have been to put the file in the trash can
As Adrian has said it is such a poor quality vector file to start with it is unlikely to give really good results. I would suggest finding something that is more likely to give good results, sure there must be something more suitable out there

[Mike-S]

If you do a Google image search you can find a hi-res line art of this parrot.
Below is V-carved with a 60 deg bit.
Zipped file is too big to post, sorry. If you want it, send me a PM with your eMail address.

[Jan.vanderlinden]

I have no idea how to PM.
My email is jan.vanderlinden@superior-dietool.com
Thank you for all your help.

[MarkJohnston]

Sorry I didn't look closely and got Martin instead of Randall on the quote. I really have appreciated Randall's post over the years.

I have had a lot of less than perfect vectors on easy jobs that don't show up to bad by using the profile on with a vbit, a lot of the time I use a small 1/8 or 1/16 vbit to get the results I want. Usually it does take a bit of experimenting.

I'm also a great supporter of learning how to edit and fix vectors sometimes it's not that hard and the results are amazing.

Great forum.

Mark