plotter/cutter....importing vector images

[jonbonser]

HI,

I am looking for a quick and effective way to get an image on paper (line drawing) scanned into my computer and vectorised cleanly, so that I can then use the vectorised image on a plotter / cutter for stensils.
I have the image scanned which is easy enough, however I am having problem getting the image vectorised in a way that will alow the image to be drawn or cut cleanly on the plotter cutter.
The software I have available is Illustrator CS3, WinTopo (free), and Art Cut 2005 (Artcut being the software used to commence the cutting)
If somebody knows anything about Illustrator CS3 (preferably), or WinTopo free / ArtCut that will alow me to do this, please reply so that I can have some light shed on this dark hole!

Thanks in advance,
Jon Bonser - Air-brush-art.co.uk

[Whit]

If it's a "Clean" line drawing,, good Black,, high contrast,,
illustrator CS should have an "Auto" trace in there that
should do the trick for ya !!!
I use "Streamline 4" that has since been incorporated into
the illy CS prog,,, 3 I'm thinkin,, still,,, good prog !!!
From there,, save as an "ai." or "eps" file to work in your
cutting progs,, either I'm thinkin will work !!!
Good Luck on it !!!

[Whit]

If you want,, till you get the hang of your progs,,,
you can post your drawing,, someone here can run a quick
vector on it for ya !!!
Should'nt be a big deal if it's a good black/white drawing !!!
Good Luck on it !!!

[jonbonser]

many thanks Whit

[fontgeek]

If you actually want your drawing to be clean and professional, you need to learn to use Illustrator and draw it yourself.
Autotrace programs tend to see very limited curves, so they add a million anchor points to describe the drawing or image. While many programs have a "cleanup" feature, they are a poor substitute at best, and by the time you actually go in and clean up a drawing properly, you will find that it would have taken you less time to draw it yourself from the start.
You can draw stuff out in Corel Draw and other such programs too, but they are just poor knockoffs of Illustrator.

The real problems with the autotrace programs, either solo or built in applications, is that they do not discriminate, they just see items or areas to surround with paths. Whether those paths surround an object that is one pixel by one pixel, or a thousand pixel square. The programs don't see a final purpose or intended goal or object, so their grasp and inclusion are problematic at best.

If you want to be in control on what your cutter does or doesn't have to work with, you need to buy and learn how to use Illustrator, be it in a package deal like the Creative Suite 3 (CS3), or as a solo entity.
You can get spectacular deals if you are a student, a teacher, or, if you have one of those in your family or friends, you can get them to purchase it at a severe discount.
"Borrowed" or blackmarket versions are not cool or acceptable.

If you have an image you would like to have done, post it or email it to me, I will produce it using both methods, the autotrace and manually drawing it out, that way you can see the difference in the results.

Good luck!