Homebrew PCBs

On Nov 23, 2006, at 8:01 AM, Lez wrote:

> So I set that up for hpgl, plotter tries to draw something then  
> goes mad.
>
> I set it for universal, and I have a cutout ouf a cow........
>
> (yes that was my test image, it was the only *.wmf I could find on my
> pc to import, seems to not like bmp(?))



I was sure someone would have mentioned this:   plotters draw  
lines.    Bitmaps don't have lines to draw, they have bits.


It's the essential difference between vector art and bitmaps:    
vector art is made up of lines, so if you save in hpgl it will go  
through your plotter well.

Bitmaps, like photos, will look to the plotter as if they're made up  
of millions of very short squiggly lines.   Not good.

You can produce vector art with Freehand, Illustrator, FlexiSign Pro,  
dozens of apps.



If you want to convert a bitmap to vector, you'd need to either  
import the bitmap and draw over it in vector, or use an automated  
converter.

I've used a couple and they're not, um perfect.

Of course if you're using a PCB layout app it might have a vector  
output option.

William Carr












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