I’m trying to import a JPG design that I have scanned on my computer into easel that has cutouts in it that looks great from the scan and the file on computer but when I import the image it gets all destorted. The shapes aren’t as they are supposed to be. Instead the cutouts for the locking peices being square they are rounded. Anyone have any idea what’s going on here and is there any solution to this problem?
Hi Larry. If you could post up the jpg image that you are trying to work with, I can try to help you.
Importing jpg images into Easel is finicky. The more detailed the image, the harder it is. If you are going to try to use the jpg import tool, it is best to convert an image to black & white, and get it as close to a ‘line art’ style as possible. Many different graphics programs can do this. I use PhotoShop because I have used it for decades, but I have also done it using Gimp, which is free.
It’s really hard to give advice without seeing what you are working with. I and others on this forum can help you to find a solution, I’m sure.
This is the scanned object from computer. Not the best but I hope someone can help me with this
I think the easiest thing I would do is redraw the parts, as many of them are multiples of the same thing.
Hi Larry, thanks for posting this up.
Please don’t be offended by anything that I say. I’m not trying to be mean, it is just simple criticism. Your image appears to have been scanned in grayscale, or perhaps color - there is a lot of artifacting that will interfere with trying to convert the file. Try scanning it at at least 150dpi and black & white. That should help clean it up a bit.
I did try importing the jpg as is using the Image Trace app in Easel with smoothing at 0, and a threshold around 72 got me the best results, but I can definitely see the rounding that you are talking about, and that just won’t do. I find Image Trace to be pretty disappointing most of the time, and your project doesn’t trace nicely either.
I edited your jpg in PhotoShop, although there are many graphic programs out there than can do the same thing or better. For example, CorelDraw might do a better job. I first converted the file to black & white (it does still keep a lot of artifacting), and did a Sharpen Edges filter on it a couple of times. I output as a jpg image, and then using convertio.co to convert from the jpg to an SVG (under CAD), and import that SVG into Easel. It is better, but still a lot of junk to clean up.
I experimented with a couple other programs as well. I can edit the file in Inkscape and output to SVG, with varying results. Better, but still not great. I did Filters, Image Effects, Sharpen. Filters, Image Paint and Draw, Blueprint.
I honestly can’t remember everything I tried.
I will share with you what I came up with here:
https://easel.inventables.com/projects/cmoRK0KCX5htHTUQA9b3QQ#
I don’t know if this will help you or not. @MartinW.Mcclary has a good suggestion in redrawing each individual shape to the dimensions that you want, and then copy and paste for how many you need. You can possibly use the file I have created to get you started on doing just that.
I would definitely be curious to see if doing another scan in black & white at 150dpi or higher would yeild a better result. If you could do that, I could try again?
Hope this helps… I know it can get complicated and seem overwhelming, and editing takes a LOT of time. Sometimes there is not a simple solution.
Where did you get this image from? It looks like a screenshot of a pattern that someone has done, so can’t you just purchase the original design files? Sometimes it is definitely worth looking up the design that you want on Etsy and paying a few bucks to avoid all the headaches of hours and hours of editing.