In this article we will look at how to take a customer supplied artwork in a Doc file and import it into CorelDraw. Once we have imported it in we will vector the artwork. Because this name badge is going to be done on reverse material and be done in 2 painted colours we will need to separate the logo into colours, which is why I am vectoring the artwork, and than laser each colour and paint each colour.
I will be using Google Docs to open the word doc for those that do not have Word on their computers.
Click on View
I have emailed the customer file to my gmail account. If you have word open the file in word. Click on View (1).
Here is the Image in Google Docs
Here is the image in Google Docs
Right Click on the Image
Right Click on the image in Google Docs or Word and select Copy Image (1).
Select Paste In CorelDraw
Right click on the workspace and select Paste (1).
Crop the Image
The whole page came in so I cropped the page to just include the logo.
Convert to Black and White
On a logo like this I like to convert it first to black and white. Select BITMAPS (1) MODE (2) BLACK AND WHITE (3)
Select Line Art
I have selected Line Art from the pull down menu (1). Notice that there is some issues in the blue box where the lines are not straight
Adjust the Threshold
I have increased the Threshold (made the image bolder) to 166. You can do this by moving the slider from left (1) to right. The number is now 166. Notice how the image has cleared up in the blue box. Click OK
Select the Pick Tool
Select the Pick tool so we can select the logo (1). Select the logo.
Open up the Trace Command
To trace a bitmap make sure that it is selected and select TRACE BITMAP (1) | OUTLINE TRACE(2) | LINE ART (3)
Trace the Image
Above is the resulting trace. You can see that the results are pretty good. It is now easier for me to laser this image in sections.
Our Image is a Vector Image
With the logo selected you can see from the status bar that it is an object which means it has been vectored. We can now ungroup it to paint it.
Layout the Logo
I am doing the name tag in reverse material. The multiple is going to be on a 12 by 12 and the name badge is going to be 1 by 3. The logo has been laid out and placed in the 1 by 3 area so that it is in the middle of the tag (1). We are measuring from the middle of the logo (2).
Position Your Text
I have placed the text in the middle of the plate and located it left to right where I want it. Step 1 shows I am measuring from the middle and step 2 shows me the actual values. Notice I have mirrored both the text and the logo.
Mirror
To horizontal mirror (1) make sure the image is selected. Next click the icon in the property bar. To vertical mirror click the second icon (2).
Save the File
Save the File.
Delete Only What You Want to Engrave
Delete only what you want to engrave.
Start to Duplicate the Plate
Select Relative Position (1). Next you want to duplicate the logo every 3 inches as this is the size of the plate (2) on the horizontal. Do 1 copy at a time (3). Click apply (4).
Duplicate Vertically
Select the whole row of duplicated plates. Now we are going to duplicate downwards. Make your Vertical value (-1). Do one copy at a time (2). Click Apply (3) to fill up the plate.
Here is the Logo Duplicated
I have duplicated the image 4 times across and 5 rows down. Now I will send the job to the engraver. Than I will spray paint the material with my colour.
Note: You could do this faster if you placed each part of the logo on its own layer and than printed each layer individually.
Repeat for each part of the logo and the text. Make sure you always place the plastic sheet against the ruler so your registration is always the same.
