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 TweakWindow.

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