Software for Enclosure LAyout

[Kurtai]

Hey all, I'm sure this has been posted plenty of times here, but I'm looking for a decent free software to design and etch my pedal enclosure. I use a Mac. Thanks in advance for your input!

[davent]

Haven't used it on a Mac but maybe Inkscape with the pedal vector pack. I used a CAD software to do the parts and drilling design then import the cad drawing into Inkscape to create the art.

https://metrodcmusic.com/blogs/guitar-kit-builder-pedals-effects/pedal-builders-vector-art-pack

[MikeA]

I use the GNU Image Manipulation Program (unfortunate acronym is GIMP), it's open source, not hard to use the basics but has a world of options as you advance.

[ElectricDruid]

Haven't used it on a Mac but maybe Inkscape with the pedal vector pack. I used a CAD software to do the parts and drilling design then import the cad drawing into Inkscape to create the art.

https://metrodcmusic.com/blogs/guitar-kit-builder-pedals-effects/pedal-builders-vector-art-pack

I use Inkscape on the Mac. It's good software, and excellent given the price It's vector based, so you can scale stuff up and down without it turning all pixellated (like would happen with raster software like Gimp). You can set it up to give you measurements in whatever units you like (mm/inch/whatever) so you can get stuff to come out at actually the right size.

[PRR]

Welcome!

One weird trick:

[Kurtai]

Thanks everyone!

[Kurtai]

Welcome!

One weird trick:

Thanks for the condescending response! Definitely wasn't looking for input from others who have first hand experience with different programs or anything.

[Kurtai]

Haven't used it on a Mac but maybe Inkscape with the pedal vector pack. I used a CAD software to do the parts and drilling design then import the cad drawing into Inkscape to create the art.

https://metrodcmusic.com/blogs/guitar-kit-builder-pedals-effects/pedal-builders-vector-art-pack

Very much appreciated! PDF or EPS version?

[davent]

Haven't used it on a Mac but maybe Inkscape with the pedal vector pack. I used a CAD software to do the parts and drilling design then import the cad drawing into Inkscape to create the art.

https://metrodcmusic.com/blogs/guitar-kit-builder-pedals-effects/pedal-builders-vector-art-pack

Very much appreciated! PDF or EPS version?

I've always used the pdf. My CAD drawing is also imported as a pdf and then further manipulated with Inkscape.

[Kurtai]

Haven't used it on a Mac but maybe Inkscape with the pedal vector pack. I used a CAD software to do the parts and drilling design then import the cad drawing into Inkscape to create the art.

https://metrodcmusic.com/blogs/guitar-kit-builder-pedals-effects/pedal-builders-vector-art-pack

I use Inkscape on the Mac. It's good software, and excellent given the price It's vector based, so you can scale stuff up and down without it turning all pixellated (like would happen with raster software like Gimp). You can set it up to give you measurements in whatever units you like (mm/inch/whatever) so you can get stuff to come out at actually the right size.

Any tips on how to keep the image from getting pixelated when exported to PNG?

[PRR]

Thanks for the condescending response! Definitely wasn't looking for input from others who have first hand experience with different programs or anything.

You are so very welcome! I am glad you said that. If you had foolishly followed my pointing you might have seen many first-hand experiences from people on this very forum!

[FiveseveN]

Any tips on how to keep the image from getting pixelated when exported to PNG?

PNG and other raster formats have pixels, vector graphics do not, so you're asking how to cook a steak without heating it. You can't avoid the quantization, that's what rendering to raster is. You can only set the resolution so that it's not objectionable when viewed on certain media (72 dpi for old timey screens, 220 dpi for iPhones, 300 dpi for up-close print, 30 dpi for banners on the higway, etc.). That being said, why would you need to export to PNG?

[deadastronaut]

+1 for inkscape, and the pedal vector pdf.

cant go wrong.   


(+1 why png?)  keep as svg, or export to pdf at 300dpi. done.

[ElectricDruid]

Any tips on how to keep the image from getting pixelated when exported to PNG?

+1 what FiveseveN said. Good summary of the problem and the fix.

Also agree that the best solution is to use some other output format that avoids the issue.

[Jarno]

Adobe Illustrator, because I already have it on my workpc. Tried Inkscape, but found it too much of a switch since I already know Illustrator.