Vector Editing

This lesson will oultine the vector editing tools in ArtCAM Premium.

Note: All files can be found at the bottom of each lesson. Feel free to save the files to your own directory.

• New Model
  • Width = 150mm (6”), Height = 200mm (8”).
  • Origin to centre of model and resolution = 1056x1408 points

Now we can create the boundary and balloons.

• Create Rectangle
  • Width = 130mm (5”), Height = 185mm (7.25”)

• Create Ellipse
  • Start Point X -5 (-0.2”) Y -5 (-0.2”), Width = 30mm (1.2”), Height = 40mm (1.55”)

• Ctrl copy to create 2 other balloons

With our border and balloons created, now we can create the text for our card.

• Create Polyline – curve for text
  
  • Draw smooth polylines
  • Repeat for 2^nd line

• Create Vector Text
  • Font = Snap ITC, Size = 10mm (0.375”) and Character Spacing 50%.
  • Select top Polyline - On a Curve - Select Curve
  • Type the word Happy

• Repeat for word Birthday! On the second Polyline

• Delete curved polylines

Now let's create the cake.

• Create Ellipse
  • Start Point X 30 (1.2”) Y -60 (-2.36”), Width = 45mm (1.75”), Height = 6mm (0.25”)

• Node Editing - Cut vector ellipse to split it top and bottom

• Block and Rotate Copy – lower ellipse half
  • Distances are offsets
  • X Offset = 0mm, Y Offset = -7mm (-0.275”)
  • Columns = 1, Rows = 4

• Polyline – snap from cake to balloon x3

• Trim Vectors - trim overlapping vectors on ballons

• Rectangle - draw in empty are to left of cake
  • Width = 10mm (0.375”), Height 30mm (1.2”)

• Circle - draw above rectangle
  • radius = 4mm (0.15”)

• Snap bottom of circle to mid top of rectangle

• Node Editing – make flame
  
  • Drag top node up
  • Drag upper control point of right node, into flame

• Transform - rectangle and ‘flame’
  • Scale to 25%

• Move candle into cake top

• Ctrl copy 5 candles

• Trim Vectors - - trim overlapping vectors of candles and cake

With our five candles created, let's add a number five to the card as well.

• Create Vector Text
  • Font = Ravie
  • Size = 25mm (1”)
  • Type the number 5 in lower left empty area

• Create Circle
  • Snap to center of 5
  • Radius approximately 25mm (1”)

• Create Star – small star
  • No of points 5, Radius of 1st points 5mm (0.2”) and 2nd points 2mm (0.075”)

• Paste along Curve – Select star and large circle

• Specify Number, Number of Copies = 5

• Delete original Star vector and large circle and original border rectangle

• Import Vectors
  
  • border feature.eps

• Open base.jpg

• Width of 1220mm (48”), Origin to lower left corner

• Bitmap to Vector
  • Reduce Colours - 3
  • dark blue as the primary colour.
  • Create Vectors

• Click on lightbulb to hide Bitmap Layers.

• New Vector Layer

• change name in lower panel to border then Apply

• Select border vector and right click, Move Vectors To… border

• Delete outer rectangle vector and small cluster of vectors.

• Node Editing - Cut Vector

• delete large vector to leave only bottom left vector.

• Mirror Vectors
  
  • Check Copy and Join
  • Mirror Right
  • Mirror Top
• F9

• Bitmaps Layers - Import Image - scroll single.jpeg

• New Vector Layer
  • Rename - scroll

• Bitmap to Vector
  • Reduce Colours - 2
  • dark blue as primary colour.
  • Create Vectors

• Hide Bitmap Layers

• Transform Vectors - scroll
  • scale 150% and Apply.

• Spline Vectors
  • Tolerance 1 (0.05”)

• Mirror vectors

• Copy - Right

• Use arrow key to nudge until they slightly overlap

• Weld Vectors

• F9

• Alt and drag it down towards bottom

• Mirror Vectors - Over Model

• Bitmap Layers - Import - welcome bird.jpeg.

• New Vector Layers and Rename it to design

• Bitmap to Vector
  • Reduce Colours - 2
  • black as the primary colour.
  • Create Vectors

• Hide the Bitmap Layers

• Transform Vectors
  • scale to 120% and Apply
  • Unlock Maintain aspect ratio
  • New Width to 900mm (35.5”)

• New Vector Layers - Rename it to text

• Create Vector Text.
  • Font Showcard Gothic, Size 90mm (3.5”) and Character Spacing of 160%.
  • Type WELCOME

• Drag to position

• Activate the border Vector Layer

• Offset Vectors - border
  • distance 20mm (0.75”) Outwards with Sharp corners.

• Change Vector Layer colours