Engravers Network-Converting CorelDRAW X3 Clipart to PLT (HPGL) format For Use in Vision Windows Engraving Software

CorelDRAW Image to a PLT File

Before you Start CorelDRAW is one of the most popular graphics programs used in the engraving industry. It offers many useful tools and options for creating vector logos and artwork used by the Vision owner. I am using CorelDRAW X3. This procedure will work in most other CorelDRAW versions. CorelDRAW can support both vector and bitmap images. Vision Windows software only supports vector images. For bitmap images to be used by Vision, they must first be converted a to vector format using the Trace function in CorelDRAW, or using the various vector tools to outline the image. Once you have imported, loaded, or created a vector image into CorelDRAW, you can easily use the export functions and save the image as a HPGL file. These files are often referred to as PLT files, as their file extension is PLT. Quick Start Here are the Quick Start steps in exporting my bowl001 file to the HPGL format. (A more detailed overview of this process is show after the Quick Start). Exporting the file from CorelDRAW From the CorelDRAW File menu, select Export. In the Export dialog enter the data for the following fields Save In: C:\VisWin\ Filename: bowl001, or the filename of you choose. Save as Type: PLT – HPGL Plotter File Press [Enter]. At the HPGL Export dialog, press [Enter] To use the ‘bowl001 vector file in Vision’s Windows software: Create a layout. Place the cursor on the text line of the logo and type in an upper case A. From the Vision’s Text menu, select Load Logo. In the Load Logo File dialog, under directory, you should see C:\viswin\logos The file list on the left, displays the name of your logos Scroll down to the bowl001 logo Either double click on the bowl001, or click on the filename and click [OK]. Press F8 to view the layout.

	For this example, I am using a CorelDRAW image from the CorelDRAW clipart CD.

	Most stock artwork is created for print media, not the engraving environment. Often when using artwork, you may have hidden, or overlapping lines. To make sure you don’t have overlapping lines, go to the menu option VIEW - > WIREFRAME. Note the hidden line that shows up in this view (red arrow). This view will show all the lines that will engrave. Also note that when the artwork is Selected, you can see that the UNGROUP and UNGROUP ALL icons are active. This means that the artwork is Grouped. Click on the UNGROUP ALL; you see why below.

	Here’s a little know command that gets rid of all the hidden lines – SIMPLIFY. Just open the Shaping Docker. Select the bowling ball and pin with the PICK TOOL.

	Click on Apply in the Simplify Docker. The results are show. This works the same way with very complex drawings imported from other sources. Note: the SIMPLIFY command will not work with artwork that is grouped. If you click on APPLY and nothing happens, see if the artwork is GROUPED.

	Next, in CorelDRAW, go to FILE -> EXPORT.

	. At the Export dialog, you can see that the filename is bowling pins, Save as type: is PLT – HPGL Plotter File, and I am saving in Custom Logos from CorelDRAW. I created this directory in the VisWin -> LOGOS. (Note: when I go to load this logo in VisWin at the end of this tutorial, you will see the benefit). Press OK.

	At the HPGL Format dialog, press OK

	Open the Vision Windows Engraving software, and create you layout. Place an A in the Text line of the logo.

	Go to Text -> Logo Load. In the LOAD LOGO FILE dialog, you can see that the default place the program searches is c:\viswin\logos. You can see my Custom Logos from Corel.

	Double-click on the Custom Logos from Corel folder and you should see the bowling pins.PLT file. Click on this file, and OK to load the logo.

	After the logo is loaded, press the F8 key to view you layout.

Notes If you are ever transferring a logo from a floppy disk or a USB drive, always copy it to your computer's hard drive (i.e. c:\viswin\logos) before using it. Here’s a few CorelDRAW Help Notes for some of the changes that occur to your drawing file when exporting HPGL files Only the outlines of objects are exported to the PLT file format. Dotted lines, dashed lines, and arrowheads are mapped to standard line types of the PLT file format. Bézier curves are converted to line segments. Outline thickness and calligraphic settings are lost.

Before you Start CorelDRAW is one of the most popular graphics programs used in the engraving industry. It offers many useful tools and options for creating vector logos and artwork used by the Vision owner. I am using CorelDRAW X3. This procedure will work in most other CorelDRAW versions.

Quick Start Here are the Quick Start steps in exporting my bowl001 file to the HPGL format. (A more detailed overview of this process is show after the Quick Start).

Notes If you are ever transferring a logo from a floppy disk or a USB drive, always copy it to your computer's hard drive (i.e. c:\viswin\logos) before using it.

Before you Start
CorelDRAW is one of the most popular graphics programs used in the engraving industry. It offers many useful tools and options for creating vector logos and artwork used by the Vision owner. I am using CorelDRAW X3. This procedure will work in most other CorelDRAW versions.

Quick Start
Here are the Quick Start steps in exporting my bowl001 file to the HPGL format. (A more detailed overview of this process is show after the Quick Start).

Notes
If you are ever transferring a logo from a floppy disk or a USB drive, always copy it to your computer's hard drive (i.e. c:\viswin\logos) before using it.