Vectorworks/Inkscape DXF/SVG Fails to Import

[philiphack]

Hi All,

I’ve created a very simple oval in Vectorworks (it would be nice if CC could do this!). I’ve exported it as a jpg into Inkscape (if anyone knows how to import a DXF into Inkscape, I’m all ears. I’ve tried it several times using the 2004 DXF Export function in VW, but Inkscape never imports it. Just get a blank screen). Anyway, after I’ve imported this jpg into Inkscape and exported it as an SVG file, CC does nothing upon import. I’ve reset my view as some have suggested the file might be too large to see, but that doesn’t seem to help either.

Does anyone have any direct experience getting things from Vectorworks to CC?

Thanks,

Philip

[fenrus (Arjan van de Ven)]

did you actually trace the bitmap into a vector in inkscape?
(but eh you’re going from vector to bitmap to vector… there ought to be a better way)

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

Carbide Create can either make, or resize to ovals just fine:

Let's draw an "ellipse" with new users

(the title of this post hearkens back to a small book / card which Warren Chappell created, “Let’s make a “B” for Bennet” — I was fortunate to meet Mr. Chappell when he was Artist-in-Residence at UVA on a school field trip when I was young, and he was the author, along with his cousin Oscar Ogg, of a number of books I remember from my youth.) Note that the below is obsoleted in current versions of Carbide Create by the ability to asymmetrically scale a circle into an oval/ellipse. Okay, step-b…

or, draw a circle and then asymmetrically resize it using the drag handles:

For the DXF from Vectorworks, please post the file or send it in to us at support@carbide3d.com and we’ll do our best to work through this with you.

[gdon_2003 (Guy Donham Regular)]

When I first started to use Inkscape to create SVG files from pixel files someone on the forum sent me these instructions:

How to create SVG in Inscape

Open your image in Inkscape – SELECT IT (I was not selecting the image and got no export)
Click Path – Trace Bitmap – this will open a Trace Bitmap window
Click ‘Update’ to be sure image looks OK – then click OK and close window
You will now have 2 images - the top one is the traced image, move that one aside, select the bottom one and delete (I never get two images only one)
Be sure your new image is selected – click File – Save As - Choose type as Plain SVG – hit Save

You will now have an SVG file that “should” open just fine in Carbide Create

[MadHatter]

Try this:

Select the oval in Inkscape
Click Path - Object to Path

This will turn the “Oval” object into a vector.

Then save and open in CC.

[philiphack]

I figured out how to do it. In the export functions menu in Vectorworks, I chose DXF (Binary) 2005 as the export method. This allowed inkscape to see the file and import it. Once there, I exported it as an SVG and got it into CC. There is a dizzying array of DXF export functions in Vectorworks.

Thanks for all your suggestions!