Vector for Engraving
A lot of our vector drawings are for engravers who use the vector files for relief engraving, laser engraving, sandblasting or dry abrasive blasting ,diamond engraving, scratch engraving, etching, or cutting. These processes require vector art, and each process may have specific requirements. Although I have never actually used an engraving machine or tool, I have been preparing vector graphics since 2000 for many different purposes including engraving.
For engraving, the vector image must be line art or a single-color image (not black and white but rather black only, everything else should be transparent), should never include very small pieces or objects that are too close to each other. Different engraving types have different minimum size and space requirements. No overlapping vector paths. No placed bitmap / raster images. No raster effects (such as gradients and drop shadows). All objects must be connected: No open-ended lines. Here are other samples of photo to vector line art (not necessarily for engraving).
Below are example images for an engraving project, from beginning to end product, including errors and corrections that needed to be done before the vector drawing was appropriate for the particular process.
