Extrude shapes in PNG, BMP files etc

Hello All,

I'm thinking of buying Xara Designer Pro.

I can't seem to find any info about extruding shapes that are in PNG format etc.

For example, if I have a star shape in a PNG file (or BMP etc) is it possible to extrude it in Designer Pro?
If the image file needs to be converted to another format, could someone please point me in the direction of a good tutorial or offer some guidance.

Thanks in advance

Welcome to TalkGraphics

The shaped to be extruded needs to be in vector, not bitmap.

You can apply a bitmap as a fill to a vector object, such as a star, and then apply a 3D Extrusion. But only the face will bit a bitmap.

You can also apply a Bevel as shown in my second example.

Thanks for your reply.

Your first example is what I'm really after.
I gave a star only as an example. My shapes would be more irregular and not one of the predefined shapes you would get with Xara Designer Pro.

Imagine a silhouette the shape of a violin body in a PNG or BMP file etc.
From what you said, I would need to convert it to vector format file and use that?
Are there any tutorials or info on how I would go about this?

Thanks again for your help.

You would use the bitmap tracer. What settings to use you need to experiment with but I would start with at least 25 passes maybe less it it's not a photo or more if it is. You can get near photographic results with the right settings but most of the time I am not happy with the results.

You could trace the shape you want with the shape tool or the pen tool, when complete select both the shape and the jpg and either use ctrl+4 if you just want the shape or ctrl+3 if you want to retain the image in the shape. Then apply extrude

good point zaphodeist. :D

zaphodiest is correct. The best way to create a vector shape is to use the drawing tools to create an outline of the shape.

The is a web based application that can do a very credible job of tracing a bitmap image or logo and converting it into a vector object http://vectormagic.com/home You can have a small number of free traces but then it gets very expensive.

Here are two tutorials by Paul Soderholm that shows how to do a bitmap trace in Xara http://www.xaraxone.com/guest/guest49/ http://www.xaraxone.com/guest/guest62/

Thank you all very much for your help and advice.

You've all given me plenty of things to look at and think about!

I'll let you know later how I have got on.

Thanks again

Having looked at all the above suggestions, I think that Designer Pro might be overkill for for my needs.

This is the sort of image I want to extrude.
The lighter coloured end of the image is my starting point- a PNG or JPG image.
All I want to do is extrude the shape as shown below. I don't really need any extra features in the software.


Does anyone know of a reasonably priced application that will do this for me.


Attachment 98807

Thanks in advance

Look at Xara 3D Maker http://www.xara.com/us/products/xara3d/

I used it years ago to create this logo for a wood working company in northern California that made decorative moulding.

But you still need to start with a vector shape. :O

Get the cheaper Xara Web Designer 9 Premium or its lesser brother (but do check this has the 3D Extrude).

Xara 3D Maker has an extrude but you would have to import your shape an outline EMF/WMF: http://www.xara.com/us/downloads/xara3d/ for Version 7.
Look for free Xara 3d Maker (version 6, but check they are legitimate offers and not malware or stolen.

You could import a vector from Xara WD9 into Xara 3DM as an alternative.

XDPX9 also allows Blends and the 32-bit version can use Effects as well.

Acorn

Why not Photo & Graphic Designer? It is more suited to drawing. Personally, I find Web Designer Premium too dumbed down to be good for drawing. Photo & Graphic Designer has tools that work more like Designer Pro X9.

Thanks Gary,

Your logo is impressive.

I'll have a look at Xara 3D Maker.

All I need to do now is convert my PNG file to a vector file that is compatible.

Thanks

Sorry, but I still don't get it!

It's the cutting out of the shape from the PNG or JPEG file that is causing me problems.
I understand that the file used by Xara 3D has to be a vector file, but I can't seem to get the actual shape to extrude in Xara 3D, only the rectangular outline of the image gets extruded.

Can someone explain the steps to get from the JPEG image on the left to the image on the right (they aren't exactly the same shape).

Attachment 98858Attachment 98859

I have access to Adobe Illustrator CS4, Xara Designer Pro and Xara 3D Maker 7

Thanks

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthre...-Spinning-Logo PDF from Iamtheblues. Ignore the spinning logo bit, he details the process in XDP to get the image as you want it :) You should be able to extrude the shape in XDP without using Xara 3D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by clipper

Can someone explain the steps to get from the JPEG image on the left to the image on the right (they aren't exactly the same shape).
I have access to Adobe Illustrator CS4, Xara Designer Proand Xara 3D Maker 7
Thanks

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Attachment 98861

clipper, use XPD only:

• Import the JPEG. This sits in a rectangle so is no use for making a vector directly. Lock it.
• With the Shape Tool, click on the edges of the shape, using the Ctrl key to force horizontal and vertical lines where appropriate.
  
  • You need an eye for the curves but it gets quicker and easier with practice. The middle shape is 16 points.
• Change the fill colour to approximate the darkest tone. Set the line colour to brown.
• With the Fill tool pick Fractal Clouds, Repeat inverted and adjust size and two colours to match your original.
• With the Extrude Tool drag to length, rotate to position.
• Tweak with the Selector Tool for skew.
• Place of a bed of green.

Acorn

Thanks to everyone for their help, especially Acorn whose step by step instructions has given me exactly what I wanted.

Just need more practice now to get smooth edges!

Thanks again.