tips on converting from bitmap to vector in Webster

[LeiChat]

I'd like to get this file into Xara3D via Webster.

I've read topics on here covering various methods of tracing etc.

The image I'd like to import is this one

http://staging.globalgold.co.uk/leic...handshake1.gif

is there a way to keep the black and white in Xara3d ?

thanks for any assistance.

original source image (all one colour), stolen from google image search for "handshake" http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
http://www.gbod.org/education/cew03/.../handshake.gif

[LeiChat]

I'd like to get this file into Xara3D via Webster.

I've read topics on here covering various methods of tracing etc.

The image I'd like to import is this one

http://staging.globalgold.co.uk/leic...handshake1.gif

is there a way to keep the black and white in Xara3d ?

thanks for any assistance.

original source image (all one colour), stolen from google image search for "handshake" http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
http://www.gbod.org/education/cew03/.../handshake.gif

[fencepost]

Try the method I described here:

Tracing link

When you finish tracing the image, you will save the object as a web file and also export it as a gif, jpg, png. Then import the web file into Xara3D and use the gif, jpg, or png file as a texture. I recommend the texture on the front and back only, as texturing the side with this image will complicate things.

I would also recommend adding your text, "Connected through Christ" in Xara3D, I wouldn't try to trace or add the text in Webster.

If you need additional help, just give us a call.

As a side note: You could trace the black objects (2 objects: hand/wrist and sleeve) and the white pieces (2 objects thumb/wrist and fingers) and save each piece as a web file and import each of them into Xara3D. Then color each one individually and bevel/animate it as you wanted, but that might be a little bit more difficult(aligning them would be a chore)

My example took a total of 15 minutes to create in Webster/Xara3d

Art

[LeiChat]

that's great thanks.

the text at the bottom isn't needed,
that was just on the image on the site I'm stealing it from. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I just wanted to get the hands into Xara3D to get them at an angle and add some depth

[fencepost]

If you have any questions, feel free to drop back in.

One thing you will want to keep in mind is that the image you're using is pretty small and can't be enlarged too much without getting "grainy".

If you want something larger, you should consider making your own image by tracing the hands and filling them in with the colors you want. Copy the new hands to a new document, resize, save as a web file and export to a bitmap. Shouldn't take too long.

Art

[LeiChat]

if I create it in webster,
do I do it as an outline or solid ?

how do I then make part of it white and part black in xara3d

in your example you traced the entire outline ?
then applied a bitmap of the entire pictue ?

[fencepost]

Make it solid. If you don't, it will import into xara as an outline.

The black and white images need to be treated/traced separately. Select all the objects that you want to be black and left click on the black diamond color at the bottom of the screen. Left click sets the fill color, right click sets the outline color.

Then, do the same for the white objects. If you want the white objects to be outlined in black, right click on the black color diamond.

Additionally, you can set the outline width in the "line width" pulldown menu at the top. (Boy, how about that? Naming a menu after the function it actually performs! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)

Drag the image to the size you want.
Save it as a web file by using the "save as" function.
Next, export to a bitmap.

The web file is what you will import into xara. The bitmap will be the texture.

That's it!