Creating an Oval Vignette

Here is the sample image that we will be working with. Note: when you are choosing an image make sure that you have good space around the image. This photo has this. If it was a close up image I would not be able to create the vignette as I would not have enough space around the image.

From the toolbox select the Ellipse tool or press the F7 key (1)

Draw an oval that is somewhat what you want.

The next step is to place the oval over your photo. As you can see from the photo I have ample room to place the oval because of the space around the person. I have used a wider line and one that is yellow so that you can see what I am doing.

Select your picture (1). You know it is selected as the status bar indicates that you have an RGB photo selected (2)

Select EFFECTS (1) | POWERCLIP (2) | PLACE INSIDE CONTAINER (3)

With the photo selected your cursor will change into a black arrow (1). Click inside the oval with the arrow

You may get an error message. This is typically because you do not have the photo selected or you are not clicking inside the oval or the oval is not a valid vector.

Here is my powerclipped image. We will need to get rid of the yellow line.

Select the pen tool in the toolbox (1). Next select the “X” to remove the outline (2)

Here is the photo with no outline

It is good practice to resize your image before you convert to a bitmap. Make sure you have your scale lock on (1). Than change your horizontal (2) or vertical value (3). Becasue the lock button is on entering in one value automatically scales the object in the other direction.

To be able to apply our vignette i you need to convert your powerclipped photo to a bitmap. Go to BITMAP (1) | CONVERT TO BITMAP (2)

Here is the setup for converting your powerclip to a bitmap. Resolution should be 150 dpi (1). Convert your image to grayscale (2). Make it Transparent (3). Note: resize your image in terms of size you want to engrave the image at before you convert the image

If you are doing this for sublimation than it is best to setup your conversion to bitmap as per the figure. Set your DPI to 300 (1). Your colour model should be RGB (2) for ink jet and cmyk for laser printers. Use the transparent background so that you get rid of the white box that surrounds the photo (3).

When you select the transparent image you can place a coloured background on your image.

Go to BITMAP (1) | CREATIVE (2) | VIGNETTE (3).

In the Vignette window we need to do a few things. First of all we need to see the preview windows. Click on the dual window preview (1). Click on the lock icon so that you can see any changes (2). Select the Ellipse shape (3). Adjust your Offset (4) and you fade (5) accordingly to what you want.

Here is the finished image. Notice the fading from the inside out.

If your image is going to lasered engraved on a product where the core is lighter than the top material than you will probably have to invert the image (create a negative). To do this select EFFECTS (1) | TRANSFORM (2) | INVERT (3).

Notice in the finished image that my background is white. This is because I made the image transparent.