[sdiy] [semiOT] Schaeffer Frontplatten HP-GL troubles

[Trevor Page]

Hi all,

I'm currently working on a front panel design [for my TR909 clone project]
using Frontplatten Designer 2. I've encountered a problem regaring importing
HP-GL files, and since a good few people on the list also go to Schaeffer
for their panels, I'm wondering if someone here can help me in any way.

Basically I'm attempting to have a small picture engraved onto the panel. I
am drawing the image first as a bitmap (.bmp), and then converting this to
HP-GL vector format using KVEC. (I know that bitmap to vector conversion
isn't the most ideal thing in the world, but the results as viewed in
ViewCompanion are pretty good IMHO). So I have my hp-gl file. The problem is
that when I import this file into Frontplatten, it always shows a solid
border around the image. It's definately not there just to mark the boundary
of the image - when printing out the panel design, the border is still
there. I checked the hp-gl file using ViewCompanion again and that border
doesn't appear to be in the original file. The image looks fine; it's just
this annoying border that appears to be part of the image and shouldn't be
there. Frontplatten appears to be adding it.

So I'm wondering if anyone else has encountered something similar? I'd
probably approach Schaeffer about this anyway, but thought I'd try here
first. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

Secondly, has anyone else attempted to get little vectored images etc. onto
Schaeffer panels? Were the results anything to shout about?

Kind regards,

Trevor.