How to import a drawing into VCarve Pro

Following the video describing the building of my workshop stool I have been asked to explain the process of taking a drawing and sending it to the CNC in order to create the design on the seat.
I use Vectric's brilliant VCarve Pro and the process is really quite simple.

[@charlieboythe1st]

Superb clear and very helpful video......BIG thanks for taking the time!!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tommytbonescramer3908]

Your video has helped me take that final step to understanding VCarve. I've watched inlay, 2 1/2D, 3D and countless other videos and your videos. I'm looking at the 3D view and see 2 versions of the same JPEG I imported with your help. The first version was a single Rose full bloom, a Rosebud and 9 leafs. I removed 3 leafs and a bit of stem on the original JPEG and added a second full bloom Rose on the second cut. Thank you for your effort

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Tommy, I am delighted to have been able to help you. I am shortly to start the build of the latest X-Carve machine and so there will be more V-Carve Pro stuff in due course. Peter

[@truth7416]

Nice thank you so much. Giving me ideas.

[@truth7416]

Great. I was over thinking scanners when all I had to do was use my iphone! Thanks

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Glad I could help!

[@jameshgoodwin3544]

Very helpfull

[@bux49]

Wonderful. I am just starting VCarve ( 4th day ). I wish there was a textbook to follow along with.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

It took me about a week to really get into the program. VCarve is very easy to master and you will be making some great pieces in no tie at all. Remember to look at the tool editing menu to adjust the profile of your cutters (rate of cut etc) and to create new profiles for cutters not in the database. Peter

[@SouthernOregonCoast]

In Photoshop try: Filter > Stylize > Trace Contour to make a line drawing You can further refine that if needed Also, Camtasia Studio will create a high quality screen capture video and allow basic edits

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jim, I will try that. Many thanks. Peter

[@jasonwebster8027]

good job. very interesting.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jason, Many thanks. Peter

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Hi Peter, Do you have photoshop cc version 6, if so you can load the picture in and use sketch in the effects menu to do the work for you. you can then save to picture as a line art and it is ready to use. If you don't have photoshop you can use "Gimp" that is free and has very similar drawing aids.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi John, I am on CC5. Many thanks for the advice. Peter

[@sgorillagoat]

Great video. Just starting out with the program so I'm still in the 'trial' phase. It appears that the trace bitmap function is not present when you go to edit, hopefully that's just because its the trial and not an update..

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Levi, Not sure about that but it is likely. Peter

[@rupertp.rutzki4868]

I have the full paid version VCarve Pro 11, and the option isn't there. Did you ever figure it out? *Edit* I found it. It's a picture of a chicken under Create Vectors.

[@cristianroca3052]

Nice work! How you have defined the depth of cut? Thank you!

[@jsboening]

Hello Peter, Thanks very much for the walk through. I’m just getting started with vcarve and found your video extremely helpful. Sub’d Jeff

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jeff, I am pleased to be able to help. Cheers. Peter

[@MrRight-ue7oq]

How to resume the project when the power out shorted....thanks

[@lesbrown51]

Hi Peter. Great video, but can you elaborate how you converted the jpeg to lines on photoshop? Thanks

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Les, Put your picture in Photoshop and it will be in what is known as the Background Layer. In order to see the layers go to "Window" then "Layers". Create a new layer with a transparent background. With this layer selected use the Brush Tool to draw the lines that you want for you creation. You can check your progress by making the background layer invisible from time to time. When you are happy with your creation leave the background layer hidden and save your creation as a jpg file. Use this in VCarve Pro. Good luck. Peter

[@husienalwi9579]

@@NewBritWorkshop that's will takes a lot of time.. Is there are any better way to do it? Like auto line

[@NewBritWorkshop]

@@husienalwi9579 Hi Husien, Not to my knowledge but there must be other ways of doing it. Peter

[@MRMANTLE427]

Cool

[@johnchapman1231]

ok I see how you did it thanks

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Oops - just saw this. Peter

[@foxtrot1787]

how do i do a tool change? If i want to engrave then cut after can vcarve create a pause or a time delay?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

You can organise this yourself or more precisely VCarve Pro does it for you. For each Toolpath you have to select a cutter. This then leads to a Toolpath file which you send to the X-Carve. Once the file has been executed the X-Carve returns to the job home position. You can then change cutters ensuring that you do not move the gantry, redo the depth (Z axis) home position and away you go. Peter

[@haitanaomi]

hi Peter,please you tell me what photoshop you use,thanks,have a nice day

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Diddy, CS5 Cheers. Peter

[@haitanaomi]

thanks you!!!

[@johnchapman1231]

how did you get the lines in photoshop please

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi John, I drew them using my Wacom tablet. You could try and use a mouse but it is very difficult. Take a look at my Wacom videos. Peter

[@GNU_Linux_for_good]

Interesting - but [unfortunately] there seems to be no free alternative to VCarvePro. This is proprietary software :-( I'm such a big fan of FOSS. Thanks, Peter.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

For my drawing I use Draftsight which is one of the best free bits of software I have ever used. I am not disturbed by advertising or popups of any kind yet the functionality if well up to that of my (very old) version of AutoCAD. Vectric do have a cut down version of VCarve Pro but it is not free. Perhaps the CNC market is just too small to allow the software development overheads to be recovered by companies that offer both commercial and free software. Cheers. Peter

[@Pitterpatter169]

There are free alternatives to any software, the free programs I use most often are: Free Image Editing: GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Free Vector Creation/Editor: Inkscape Free CAM: Fusion 360 || F-Engrave (For V carving) Free 3D CAD: Tinker CAD || Fusion 360 || Sketchup

[@x3dominator28]

These software companies provide VALUE, you should expect to pay for said value. Expecting a company to create software for free is ludicrous. I had no problem paying nearly $700 for a licensed copy of VCarve Pro. I think you’ll find even the “free” software you are using has a license agreement that would require you pay for the software if you sell anything you make with their software. Quite reasonable.

[@whschroder]

Thank you; please send the VCarve Pro file and drawing.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Yes. In order to get the plans to you I need your email address. KZbin no longer has a private messaging service and so in order to get in touch you need to place a comment on this video with your email address. The KZbin software should identify and send it to the spam folder for The New Brit Workshop. Nobody will be able to see your email address except me. I will then send you the plans by email and delete your comment so that it does not end up in the public domain. Were we to do this the other way around then my comment, with my email address, would appear for all the world to see. Peter

[@lillwolff2353]

I am an Aspire owner and I am more interested in how you created the line drawing, something that I have never been able to do properly :-( Cheers

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Put your picture in Photoshop and it will be in what is known as the Background Layer. In order to see the layers go to "Window" then "Layers". Create a new layer with a transparent background. With this layer selected use the Brush Tool to draw the lines that you want for you creation. You can check your progress by making the background layer invisible from time to time. When you are happy with your creation leave the background layer hidden and save your creation as a jpg file. Peter

[@lillwolff2353]

Thank you Peter. I do not have Photoshop but I do have PaintShopPro and Corel. I would love to see how you did it, I cannot work it out.

[@jameshgoodwin3544]

Sorry Peter, That comment was a copy and paste from someone else. It isnt what I meant to post..lol

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi James, You are lucky that I saw this one first ! Peter

[@flish6264]

please record your screen next time

[@jeffp9522]

You are NOT showing how to import using vcarve. You are showing how to import a picture FROM photoshop into vcarve. Totally misleading if you only have vcarve.

[@onlyychevys]

Don't buy this over priced software! Use Fusion 360, it is much better and free for most!

[@knuckles1280]

onlychevys Williams I don't think it's free anymore. Trial versions are available but that is all I could find for free.