Changes

## PIC HERE OF GENERAL INKSCAPE WITH GFU LOGO

## PIC HERE OF GENERAL INKSCAPE WITH GFU LOGO

## Once you have your design, we need to alter the colors a little bit so the Laser Cutter can understand what you want it to do. It goes like this: a red stroke will cut, and anything that is black will engrave. A stroke is merely an option that outlines the object you select.

## Once you have your design, we need to alter the colors a little bit so the Laser Cutter can understand what you want it to do. It goes like this: a red stroke will cut, and anything that is black will engrave. A stroke is merely an option that outlines the object you select.

## In order to do this, we need to split up the image into different pieces. This is called Bitmapping, where it will divide the image into different pieces based on the color. Just select the logo, right click, and select Trace Bitmap. You will be given options shown in the picture below. For this application,we want to separate the colors from each other, so we select the Colors option. The number of scans you have selected will define how closely the bitmap will replicate the actual photo. Since this is a simple logo and we do not want to have to separate many different colors/shades, 2 scans will be enough. Once this process is finished, the bitmap will appear directly on top of the original image, so make sure to drag it off and separate the two before beginning.

## In order to do this, we need to split up the image into different pieces. This is called Bitmapping, where it will divide the image into different pieces based on the color. Just select the logo, right click, and select Trace Bitmap. You will be given options shown in the picture below. For this application,we want to separate the colors from each other, so we select the Colors option. The number of scans you have selected will define how closely the bitmap will replicate the actual photo. Since this is a simple logo and we do not want to have to separate many different colors/shades, 2 scans will be enough. If the detail is not good enough, try the other options and have some fun. Once this process is finished, the bitmap will appear directly on top of the original image, so make sure to drag it off and separate the two before beginning.

## Now we can manipulate the colors. Select the bitmap, go to [Object] > [Fill and Stroke]. This is where you will be able to change the Fill color and the Stroke (the outline). You will see Fill, Stroke Paint, and Stroke Style. Fill changes the color of a piece, Stroke Paint changes the color of a stroke, and Stroke Style changes the thickness and style of a stroke.

## Adjust the RGB colors so that the G becomes black (0,0,0).

## Now we can manipulate the colors. Select the bitmap, go to [Object] > [Fill and Stroke]. You will see Fill, Stroke Paint, and Stroke Style on the top right. Fill changes the color of a piece, Stroke Paint changes the color of a stroke, and Stroke Style changes the thickness and style of a stroke. You will see values for R, G, and B, where all colors can be made using these. When each color has a 0 next to it, it will be fully black. When the red has a 255 next to it and the others have 0, it will be fully red. Make sure you check these bit values before continuing, since the machine is set to cutting material ONLY when it sees 255, 0, 0, and it will engrave material ONLY when it sees 0, 0, 0. Everything else, make it white, which is 255, 255, 255.

## Since there are 2 separate parts to this bitmap, it is possible to break apart these and alter the image however you want. You don't have to do this, but if you want to, select the image, go to [Path] > [Break Apart]. Now you can mess with each individual part!

## Once you have finished your design, it’s time to send it to the Laser Cutter! Hit print, make sure it is sending to Trotec Engraver but do not click [OK] yet. 

##  

## Select [Preferences] to open the engraver properties. You will want to make sure the [Minimize to Job size] option is NOT selected and that the [Height] - [Width] values match the page size selected in Inkscape. DO NOT have [Enhanced Geometries} selected because it causes the curved parts of your design to be unrecognized once it is uploaded to the Laser Cutter.

## click and select Outline Trace → Logo. This works for the vast majority of things. If the detail is not good enough, try the other options and have some fun. If the file is already a vector format, such as a pdf, you DO NOT need to do this and can skip steps 4-5.

## Then you can save these settings by selecting the button that shows the JC logo near the bottom of the window.

## Select OK to send the design to Job Control.

Setting up a Cut:

Setting up a Cut: