I’m doing multicolor epoxy inlays. I create the image in Illustrator and break each layer into each pour. Is there a way to maintain layer separations automatically when I import to carbide create. I do subtractive pouring so that there are no gaps. What I mean is, imagine a bullseye. I pocket the entire thing and make a solid white pour then pocket in the white epoxy the red rings. This makes absolute perfect transitions between colors. However, it gets really confusing if everything is on one layer and not filled in color in the software. Very difficult to pick the colors, move them into a CC layer then turn off visibility of layer.
My current project is 17 colors. I am thinking of making a separate carbide create file for each color, but I’m worried about alignment. Theoretically everything should line up, but reality has a way of messing up theoretically.
I would do it all in one file, even though there would be some duplication of layer colours.
If using separate files, put a rectangle around everything which is the same size as the stock.
So, with some experimenting I made this work around.
- Make sure your file in Illustrator is exactly how you want it.
- Use “Asset Export” in illustrator, you can select the layers one at a time.
- Export “Asset” as SVG
- Import each asset SVG one at a time
- Once imported select all, group and assign to a layer
- You can move but do not resize
- Once all layers are imported and placed in the appropriate location (I used registration marks that will not be cut)
- Unhide all layers, select all (don’t group) and resize as needed. Not sure why but size doesn’t transfer from Illustrator to Carbide.
- Hide all layer
- One by one, unhide layer, create tool path for layer re-hide layer.
- I find it helpful to disable toolpaths as I go to remove clutter.
The reason I needed to do this is that I am making cuts on top of cuts. In total I have 17 colors created in 10 separate cuts.
This is because Adobe Illustrator when saving doesn’t set to the same de facto 96ppi which Inkscape and most other SVG apps do.
If you export as an SVG and uncheck the “Responsive” checkbox, it’s supposed to work to set the dpi to the value which other apps use as a default.
If your toolpaths are associated w/ layers you can just disable the group they are in while working, then enable once done.
Illustrator SVG output is set to 72 DPI . So the ratio is 1.333
There is a note from the Google search for a work around.
Workarounds and Solutions:
. 1. Use Artboard:
When saving as an SVG, select the “Use Artboard” option in the SVG dialog. This will ensure the artboard dimensions are used for the SVG file.
You should get 96 dpi if you export the SVG and uncheck the Responsive checkbox — at least that used to work in earlier versions.