File Conversions

[Tex_Lawrence]

Been looking around (and searching the forum) for places to download graphics files.

Have found a lot of free graphics files, but many are Adobe Illustrator format.

What do you use to convert those to EPS or equivalent?

[JoeM]

There are a couple of websites where you can upload an AI and download the converted EPS. If you want to do it offline you need Adobe Illustrator.

[Tex_Lawrence]

Thanks, Joe. I did find a couple of online sites, and I'm not going to buy AI. Thanks!

[Tex_Lawrence]

It's been a long day of reading and studying for me. That's my excuse.

The file format that I think I have a problem with is not AI, but SVG.

However, I think I've found the answer just the same. Thanks!

[martin54]

Vcarve will already import ai files so your problem is probably with bitmap data contained in the files. You will probably find you are still downloading a lot of bitmap images from sites that claim to provide free vector graphics. Just because it is ai, eps, pdf, etc etc format doesn't mean that it is a vector file at all

[Tex_Lawrence]

Yeah, I was smart enough to test some files all the way through and found out that those "free" things aren't necessarily free. Go figger!

Thanks!

[martin54]

Yeah, I was smart enough to test some files all the way through and found out that those "free" things aren't necessarily free. Go figger!

Thanks!

It's a bit more complicated than that Tex, even if you buy graphics some of them contain a mixture or vector & bitmap data but the files are marked as vector images. I know a number of signmakers who have been caught out by that over the years. Even some of the bigger companies like shutterstock had mixed files which meant the artwork wasn't ready to cut. I don't know if that is still the case with them but will be with others.

I don't know if its something to do with the import filters on vcarve but you couldn't import a vector file that contained bitmap data at one point, you had to open in another program, remove the bitmap parts & resave before vcarve would import it. Not a problem if you have other software as I do but not possible for some people. I don't know if that is still the case with the latest version.

[Adrian]

The latest versions will import bitmaps and vectors from PDF/AI files.

[Tex_Lawrence]

Now that you mention that, I ran across one that was like that. It looked like someone converted a bitmap to vector format, but the resulting (after removing stuff) vectors did not come close to approximating the original object.

However, now they could honestly say it was a vector file. Sigh.

PS. Good thing it was FREE!