Add vector path + contour lines for printers

[true_blue1878]

Hi all

I am making my first project to send to the printers. It will be a kiss-cut sticker sheet.

So I apparently need to save the document to a format that saves the vector path. PDF should work right?

What is the best way to draw the vector path around each shape, and can it be done automatically on shapes that have transparent backgrounds or do I have to manually draw each path? Is it made easier with snapping?

And can the file hold multiple vector paths for each shape or will the printer want each shape to be in its own file do you think?

Finally, how can I create contour and bleed lines around each shape? I have noticed that you cannot use stroke around select. Only around vector path right? So I guess my 2nd question answers this one! Or correct me if I'm wrong...

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I have googled, and searched the forum but it feels like I'm not finding easy answers to what seems like simple questions! Feels like this stuff is harder than it needs to be in Affinity.. but please tell me I'm missing something! 

Cheers!

 

[firstdefence]

Using the contour tool to get a cut line is probably the easiest way. Makes it easy if the shapes are vector. 

Single shape

1. Select the shape and duplicate the shape. 
2. Using the duplicated shape; the one above the original, select the Contour Tool and pull out a contour, you may have to alter the colours for the fill and stroke by removing the fill and colouring the stroke to a colour of your choice, or simply flipping the fill/stroke colour. 
3. Once you are satisfied with the contour, Bake Appearance. 

Group of shapes

1. Select the group and duplicate it, you can Press CMD (⌘) + J on Mac, Ctrl + J On Windows) 
2. Using the duplicated group; the one above the original, expand the group in the layers panel and select all of the curves under that group.
3. Select Layer > Create Compound
4. Select the Contour Tool and pull out a contour, you may have to alter the colours for the fill and stroke by removing the fill and colouring the stroke to a colour of your choice, or simply flipping the fill/stroke colour.  
5. Once you are satisfied with the contour, Bake Appearance. 

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/pages/Tools/tools_contour.html

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/pages/CurvesShapes/contouringShapes.html

 

 

[firstdefence]

If you have an image, you will need to draw a curve around the shape and then use the contour tool.

[true_blue1878]

  

On 5/9/2023 at 8:24 AM, firstdefence said:

If you have an image, you will need to draw a curve around the shape and then use the contour tool.

 

Thanks mate, I think I get the contour thing now. But it has put square lines around my shape, so what about mapping out the vector path of a custom shape? Let's say I want the contour lines AND the vector path to follow all around this cartoon woman. I've used 4 duplicate shapes in different colours and resized them just to show you what I want to achieve. The printer requests a bleed line (magenta) and a vector cut path (cyan) and the image to be saved in a document that preserves the vector curves as well as a swatch called "ContourCut" with the contour colours inside. EDIT: Think I may got the two colours mixed up but it doesn't matter. I only made this for an example. Don't know if you have any experience with that sort of thing. but hopefully you know what they mean!

Really appreciate your help! 

 

[true_blue1878]

On 5/9/2023 at 8:18 AM, firstdefence said:

Using the contour tool to get a cut line is probably the easiest way. Makes it easy if the shapes are vector. 

Single shape

1. Select the shape and duplicate the shape. 
2. Using the duplicated shape; the one above the original, select the Contour Tool and pull out a contour, you may have to alter the colours for the fill and stroke by removing the fill and colouring the stroke to a colour of your choice, or simply flipping the fill/stroke colour. 
3. Once you are satisfied with the contour, Bake Appearance. 

Group of shapes

1. Select the group and duplicate it, you can Press CMD (⌘) + J on Mac, Ctrl + J On Windows) 
2. Using the duplicated group; the one above the original, expand the group in the layers panel and select all of the curves under that group.
3. Select Layer > Create Compound
4. Select the Contour Tool and pull out a contour, you may have to alter the colours for the fill and stroke by removing the fill and colouring the stroke to a colour of your choice, or simply flipping the fill/stroke colour.  
5. Once you are satisfied with the contour, Bake Appearance. 

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/pages/Tools/tools_contour.html

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/pages/CurvesShapes/contouringShapes.html

 

 

Not sure if you saw my reply. I forgot to quote you and then I tried to edit in the quote but don't think that has notified you!

This is kind of what I want to do but the video the lovely lady made is over a year old, so I am hoping Affinity can do this now without needing the use of another program? Or have they still not added the ability to vectorise around selection or around shape?? 

Cheers!

[firstdefence]

hi just picked it up, I'll take a peek in a bit 

[firstdefence]

Ok, Affinity cannot trace a raster (pixel) image to vector yet, and, as far as I am aware, it's not on their radar to add this feature for the foreseeable future, so, unfortunately you will have to use a third-party app to vectorise any raster images so that you can contour that image.

Apps that vectorise come in a lot of varieties all with varying degrees of accuracy, the paid for apps generally automate or add GUI controllable parameters to control features of vectorisation but all you need is to be able to block out the outer edge. Personally I don't get wound up because an app doesn't have a feature I want, I simply go and find an app that will do what I want and use that, to that end Inkscape is a perfect free solution, the vectorisation is simple to use and can create a blocked out version of a PNG just like Silhouette Studio can and will export to a variety of vector formats. 

Alternatively, you can use the pen tool to draw a curve around the raster image and use it as a contour line, you can then use the contour tool in conjunction with the curve to make bleed lines and cut lines. 

[firstdefence]

Re the video, at the end of the day she is selling silhouette; an app I'm familiar with, and who can blame her. Silhouette has it's place which is primarily for hobby crafting, but, there is no point in buying that software when Inkscape will do the same feature she demonstrates for free. If you want I'll make a video for you to get from Raster image to inkscape to Affinity and a contour curve. 

[firstdefence]

Ok made a rough video, hope it helps...

 

[true_blue1878]

12 hours ago, firstdefence said:

Ok made a rough video, hope it helps...

You are an absolute godsend, mate!! 

Thanks for going to this much effort for little old me! I really appreciate it and your video was excellent  

I now fully understand what to do (and for no extra cost too thanks to you), only for 2 small questions..

Is it possible to offset the vector path so that the printer cuts some out some blank/transparent space around the sticker? As I am attempting to print transparent vinyl stickers, and I want there to be some clear border to give the sticker strength where the design is thinner, I.E. say a tree logo like this where it would be too thin in the middle if I was just to set the vector/cut path around the graphics themselves. 

I have already thought of a workaround in that I just put a large outline around the logo/text so that I can then vector around the outline, then delete the outline. But that seems like a messy way, and I could end up leaving unnoticed/leftover pixels in the final design. So I'd rather just be able to offset the vector path by X amount of pixels like you can in "transform" with the shape itself

My second question is directly related to the first.. How do I include multiple shapes into the same vector path so that the "company name" is cut WITH the logo and not separately?

Hope you understand what I mean.. If not I can try posting a better example!

Thanks so much!!

 

[firstdefence]

You can enter a numerical size for the contour (Radius) until you feel happy with it's distance from the artwork.

So in the example below, I set the contour Radius 21px away from the artwork, and then baked appearance. You will sometimes get anomalies; see arrowed examples, these are a nuisance but can easily be deleted using the node tool.

 

Contour cleaned up using the node tool to delete the rogue nodes.

 

[true_blue1878]

3 hours ago, firstdefence said:

You can enter a numerical size for the contour (Radius) until you feel happy with it's distance from the artwork.

So in the example below, I set the contour Radius 21px away from the artwork, and then baked appearance. You will sometimes get anomalies; see arrowed examples, these are a nuisance but can easily be deleted using the node tool.

 

Contour cleaned up using the node tool to delete the rogue nodes.

 

Thanks, 

Got it now  

I am all set! 

 

[firstdefence]

That's great, glad you got it sorted 

[true_blue1878]

10 hours ago, firstdefence said:

That's great, glad you got it sorted 

I am over the moon that I now know how to vectorise and offset it! Thanks so much!

It's tedious deleting all the messy nodes, but I am quite happy now that I can finish the project! 

I'll buy you a pint next time I'm in Notts!

Cheers  

[mdesigns]

@firstdefence Your video is fantastic and so helpful! I've been looking for this solution for a while now. THANK YOU.

Question: I am in the Affinity Designer stage at the moment and I noticed 2 things:

1. When I use the Contour Tool to pull out the stroke, it isn't as smooth as seen in your video. The file hangs for about 2-3 seconds with the colored wheel, and then it expands about twice the pull. So, I've now decided to use the better radius setting but the color wheel appears still.

2. After the pull, I noticed my image as seen in the attachments, with many rogue lines. Why are there so many? It's a pain to remove each node click by click. How can I avoid so many rogue lines or delete them in bulk? I have my image drawn in Procreate using a handwriting brush, then imported as PNG, edited in Inkspace as per your video, exported that and imported it in Affinity.

Looking forward to hearing from you eagerly.

Perhaps @true_blue1878 if available may have some tips that can help me as well. I am printing stickers of my artwork and need these cut lines around the image too.