Tracing an image

[Tech2]

I needed to trace an image (of a logo in my case). There are software packages to automate tracing (e.g. Corel) but they don't work so well in many cases and create numerous line segments which:

1) bog down CAD software
2) make editing more difficult
3) can create bumpy lines instead of clean smooth lines.

I found it worked very well to use the eMachineShop drawing features (including splines if there are curves) with a utility that allows to make a window transparent. The utility allows you to be in the eMachineShop CAD software and trace an image from another program. The utility came from:

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If you don't have the shape as a digital image consider:

1) Searching the Google image database
2) Taking a picture of the part with a digital camera