How can I get this to group as a single item?

[MicahD.]

I am literally banging my head against a wall with this.  All I want is for all the lines in the attached image to be grouped as a single file (no, "grouping" them doesn't work) so that all lines will be recognized as one single image or cut path by my laser printer.

No matter what I try, it always exports the file to SVG with the "eye" of the octopus as a separate part of the image, and the holes that define the legs (despite being single paths that are NOT filled) are considered "filled" by my laser engraver so it tries to engrave them instead of using them as cutting paths.

When I flatten the image it exports as (what looks like) a correct outline, but then when I import it to my laser cutter the laser cutter sees it as a "filled" image and again tries to engrave everything within the outline as if it's solid.

Getting this simple outline to function as a simple outline is driving me INSANE, can anyone explain to me like I'm a 5th grader how to get Designer to export this as exactly what it looks like... a simple outline?  

will_never_work.svg

[v_kyr]

In the layers panel, ungroup all groups (remove the grouping), select all the remaining underneath curve layers and geometrical combine (add) them together as just one layer. - Now you can export the whole one layer as an SVG.

 

Hmm and that should be an octopus?

[MicahD.]

31 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

In the layers panel, ungroup all groups (remove the grouping), select all the remaining underneath curve layers and geometrical combine (add) them together as just one layer. - Now you can export the whole one layer as an SVG.

 

Thank you, that's much closer!  Unfortunately this has turned all the paths except the eye into TWO paths... So the laser engraver does treat it all as a single unit now, but it cuts everything except the eye twice.  I don't know how to combine the two paths into a single path?

 

Yes, an octopus, my company logo.  Thanks again!

[MEB]

Hi @MicahD.
Check this file will_never_work_meb.afdesign

[MicahD.]

Just now, MEB said:

Check this file will_never_work_meb.afdesign

Thank you, following v_kyr I was able to achieve this too.  Now the issue is that the original outline is now two parallel paths (curves?) so my laser engraver cuts everything (except the eye) twice.  I don't know how to "join" the two paths/curves into a single stroke, any ideas?

[MEB]

Hi @MicahD.,
Check if this one works: will_never_work_mebfinal.afdesign

Give it a stroke and remove the red fill i leave there just to make it visible.

[MicahD.]

3 minutes ago, MEB said:

Hi @MicahD.,
Check if this one works: will_never_work_mebfinal.afdesign

Yes, that worked perfectly!  Can you tell me how you got from my original file in this thread to that?  I very much appreciate your help with the file, but I need to learn how to get from A to B myself so I can can overcome this issue in the future, thanks!

[MEB]

I'm recording a small video, one moment. Will explain with one of the smaller objects.
That file needs bit of clean up. Don't use it.

[MicahD.]

6 minutes ago, MEB said:

I'm recording a small video, one moment. Will explain with one of the smaller objects.
That file needs bit of clean up. Don't use it.

Thank you SO much for this.  Yeah, I have wayyyyyy too many nodes in there, I suspect that's not helping make any of this easier for either of us.  Again, really appreciate any instruction you provide, take your time.  It's often hard to tease specifics out of the many generalized tutorials out there.

[MEB]

Here's a short clip explaining the concept. Basically we start with the filled line and separate it in two objects: the outer line defines one shape, the inner line defines the other. Add a centered stroke of 0,5px to the object created by the inner outline (the smaller one) so its stroke ends exactly in the middle of the two original outlines. Then expand that stroke to convert it to a shape and add it to the smaller inner object (green) so they become one. That's it. If you add a new 0.5px stroke to this object and remove its fill it will have the same exact line dimension as the original but its defines by a single path rather than two outlines.

That object i used as an example is part of a compound of three. To separate them go to menu Layer > Geometry > Divide. The result of this operation will give you the outer and inner outlines separated in two objects for all three already.

There may be other ways to get there (Contour Tool) but this one seems to be the most reliable/precise.

[MicahD.]

Wonderful info, thank you so much, this will help me a lot moving forward!