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Thread: PhotoVCarve!

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    116

    PhotoVCarve!

    Has anyone been to Vectric's new page? They have a fantastic new product called PhotoVCarve! All I can say is WOW!!!
    Just like VCarve they have a free-trial version of the new software at www.vectric.com.

    Bill Schober

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    3634
    The quality on the websites photo gallery, wasn't all that.

    They should change the step over or something. One or two photos looked ok, but most had lines, that just kept me focused on the lines, not the photo subject.

    I'm not knocking the software, they should just put their best photos up, to show what the software can do

    http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectr...vc_gallery.htm


    .

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    405
    Quote Originally Posted by Switcher
    They should change the step over or something. One or two photos looked ok, but most had lines, that just kept me focused on the lines, not the photo subject.

    .
    Think you have missed the function of the software.
    It is not 3D image software. Its designed to give a good replication of a photo. Its 2D in presentation. It is producing lines of varing widths dependant on shade. It will always have lines but I assume you can change the spacing to suite your requirements. An interesting idea. May have some application in memorial work.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    253
    The software’s pretty cool, you can change the line spacing and the cut depth to get different effects. I'll attach two screen shots. One is using a 60-degree Vbit with a line spacing of .05 inches. It gives a pretty cool effect and I've actually cut this one and it comes out really nice. The smaller the bit and the more lines you can get the sharper the image seems to get. It seems part of the trick is making sure you have enough contrast between the cuts, so painting or staining your cuts something darker then the surface is the way to get the best looking piece. The second image is using a 1/8-ball nose bit with a line spacing of .013 (so it overlaps). You can see you can get some cool 3d effects too.

    It takes a little playing around with the software to find the settings you like. But compared to some of the other photo to gcode programs I've tried this one actually creates something that looks like your photo and without much work at all.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails pvc_vbit.jpg   pvc_ballnose.jpg  
    Take it easy.
    Jay (www.cncjay.com)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    3634
    I think the type of cut, I like best is the one with 674 lines, and 4 steps in "Z", Looks way better to me.

    I noticed you can adjust the angle of toolpath, can that be a different angle in each "Z" pass?

    What kind of limit is on the trial version?

    .

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    116
    Nice Jay,
    As I understand it, if your varnish your wood first then cut it and stain it the stain is only applied to the cut areas. I think this would work nicely on your first one. My CNC machine is down at the moment, so I can only play with PhotoVCarve and imagine what might work... :violin:
    Bill

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    597
    Thanks for the positive response!

    Hi Switcher,

    The Trial version of PhotoVCarve will allow you to cut the 4 samples shown below, at any size on your own CNC machine. It will also open your own photographs, calculate and preview the toolpaths, but not save the cnc code.

    The key factor about PhotoVCarve is that it machines very realistic results using lines much quicker than any of the grayscale height map products that typically have cutting times of many hours+, with results that are very dependant on the lighting and shading in the original photograph.

    The technique used in PhotoVCarve works regardless of what the photograph looks like. Having said that, high contrast photographs / images will give better results, and the software includes an option to increase the contrast and instantly preview the results so you can see what the finished piece will look like.

    We have a web page that explains how the process works,

    See > How PhotoVCarve works

    Hope this answers your questions,

    Tony Mac
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Cute_Puppies.jpg   Big_Ben.jpg   Baby_Boy.jpg   Woman.jpg  


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    3215
    Can someone do a tutorial, or demo from start to finish, not of the actual program workings those are clear on the program website, but of material setup, preperation and how to get the proper shading. (materials and applying the effects) that is what i'm inclear about. pictures would help alot.

    Thanks, Joe

    Edit: i just looked at the link Tony provided and it explains some of it, but like to see pictures of the proccess and all steps.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    597
    Joe,

    The general procedures are outlined on our web site.

    See the link > How It Works

    Things to remember are,

    Material / Machine Table must be Flat

    The machined grooved must be a different colour to the material surface

    Typically fairly shallow grooves,
    0.020" for small designs around 3" high
    0.080" for designs around 12"

    Experiment with different depths in the software to see how a deeper cut produces fewer lines and less detail.

    You must use a V-Bit / Conical Cutter otherwise the width on the lines will not vary

    When cutting wood the Line Spacing needs to be 120%+ to leave a small flat region between each line / groove, stopping the wood from going fuzzy.

    Engraving Brass, machine the part, paint the grooves / piece black and polish the surface to remove the excess paint. Altenatively, use a 'Blacking Fluid' to etch the brass to black, then polish the surface clean leaving the balck in the grooves.

    Hope this helps,

    Tony

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    3215
    I believe i will be purchasing the software this weekend. Looks really good.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    3634
    Just curious, how do you enter a License Code?

    When you click on "Help | Enter License Code" Nothing happens.





    .

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    597
    The Trial Version cannot be turned into a working version.

    Customers receive a new download link to the Full version + license code.

    Regards,
    Tony

  13. #13
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    Apr 2005
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    Thanks, Tony

  14. #14
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    Apr 2005
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    3634
    Tony,

    How can I add multiple "Z" passes?

    And:

    I noticed you can adjust the angle of toolpath, can that be a different angle in each "Z" pass?
    Thanks.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    597
    Hi again,

    Good question.

    The maximum depth a tool can cut is specified in the Tool Database.

    For example, entering a Carving Max Depth = 0.080"

    Selecting a cutter that has a Pass Depth = 0.040" = 2 passes

    Editing the parameters for the cutter to have a Pass Depth = 0.020" = 4 passes

    The Tool Database is fully editable and yo ucan setup your own tooling list.

    Hope this makes sense?

    Let me know if you need more guidance,

    Tony

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    597
    Hi again,

    Just realized that I made a mistake when stating that the Trial version will only let you cut the 4 sample files - NOT TRUE

    The Trial Version will let you CUT ANY Photographs but the results will be watermarked.

    So you can actually cut yor own pictures!

    Sorry about that,

    Tony

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    3634
    Thanks, I was adjusting the wrong form. For anyone that needs to know how to add multiple "Z" passes try this.

    (1) When you get to number 3 (Set Cutting Parameters), click on "Edit..."

    (2) Go down to "Cutting Parameters"

    (3) Then make your numbers smaller, like Tony said in Post #15




    .

  18. #18
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    Apr 2005
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    3634
    Still playing with this software, kinda embossed:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 001.JPG  

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    597
    What you have shown is exactly why PhotoVCarve is different to the many other grayscale > emboss products (which as you can see PhotoVCarve can also do).

    Cutting the picture of the puppies as an embossed toolpath would probably take at least 2 hours and the results would look very different to what you are expecting to see. For example, the eye's and nose will be sunken into the head and the higher the relief the more pronounced this type of problem becomes.

    Trying to cut faces will often fail with the embossed approach becuase the eye's stay low, the teeth jump out (if smiling), the hair stays low and maybe the cheeks are high. If you are an expert photoshop user it is sometimes possible to 'fix' the photograph to make it work with the embossed technique, but this is not something many people have the skills to do.

    Using PhotoVCarve the picture can be machined in minutes and although created by lines, the results will look as expected. Also, when you look at signage, memorials, pictures etc from a distance you can't actually see the lines!

    Tony

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    3634
    Yeah, the photo in Post #18 was over 8.0mb

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