Tracing Images

You can use an image or clip art as the basis for creating a drawing. For example, you might have a logo in image form and need to laser cut or mill the image in an item you are designing. There are two methods to do this.

You can use a software package such as Corel but we find they don't work so well in many cases as they:

• create numerous line segments which bog down the CAD software and make editing difficult
• can create bumpy lines instead of clean smooth lines.
  

The recommended method is to "trace" the image in the eMachineShop CAD as follows:

1. Obtain the digital image from the web or from a web image database such as from google images or by taking a picture of the item with a digital camera.
2. Download this utility http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/TweakWindow/tweakwindow.html which makes the eMachineShop CAD workspace transparent.
3. Get the image to be traced onto your computer screen, preferably filling most of the screen.
   
4. Open the eMachineShop CAD program on top of the image program. You should now see the eMachineShop CAD interface and the image at the same time.
   
5. Use the eMachineShop CAD drawing features (straight lines, arcs, circles and spline curves) to trace the shape.
6. Turn off the transparency feature.
7. Finish designing your part in the eMachineShop CAD.
   

Another method of getting graphics into eMachineShop CAD is to use a drawing tablet. Although the eMachineShop CAD does not directly support tablets, most tablets can export DXF files which you can then import.