Etching Design Resolution

[seedlings]

I don't have access to any cool graphics programs, but would like to make up some simple graphics for etching.  What is the best way to utilize MS Paint for a pedal?  Of course when you make a design the same size as the pedal, all the edges are pixelated.  I suspect the pixelated edges will be blurred through the etching process, and if this is the case I probably don't have anything to worry about.  If I make an image scaled larger than the pedal, of course the resolution looks better, but then what's the best way to print it scaled down?  Also, is it important to be sure every single pixel is either black or white, and there is no greyscale?

Thanks for any advice.

CHAD

*edit: this is what I'm working with at the moment

[Tony Forestiere]

Google "The Gimp". It is a "Graphic Image Manipulation Program" very similar to Adobe Photoshop, but is "Free" under the GPL license. It has been ported to most operating systems to include Widows, Macintosh, and Linux.

http://www.gimp.org/about/introduction.html

JPEGs in MS Paint tend to be "lossy", hence the loss of definition in the curved sections.

Nice graphic BTW.

[seedlings]

Awesome.  Downloading now.

CHAD

[Jorge_S]

If you need a vector graphics editor (similar to Illustrator or Corel) search for "inkscape", it is also Open Source.

[edvard]

Nice Graphic, good work even in MSPaint.

To sort of answer your question, Paint likes to do things at 96 DPI (dots per inch), so something 96 pixels wide should work out to one inch.
Experiment; make a black square 96x96, print it out and see if it comes out to 1 inch square.
If not, then you gotta figure out how it's scaling in the print system and compensate.
If so, then scale in factors; work in your head at 192 DPI and scale it 50% when you print it.
Or work at 384 DPI and scale it 25%.
Any decent printer can print up to 600 DPI at least, so at least you know it's not your printer.

+1 for using the Gimp or Inkscape.

In the Gimp you can set the DPI manually; just go "Image -> Print Size..." and change the resolution to something round.
The default is 72, which is passable for the web, but no good for print work; use at least 100, not more than 300.

Inkscape is a little more quirky; the page ruler (measuring marks around the outside of the page view window) is set at 90 DPI, but that doesn't matter when you go to print it.
Because it's a vector drawing program, it's going to print at the printer's resolution, so as long as your page size matches up, you're gold.
Look in "File -> Document properties -> Page tab" to change the paper size, and just under the menu bar you can change the page ruler to inches (or mm's if you're so inclined) so the pixels measurement won't throw you off.

[deadastronaut]

+1 on inkscape....great vector prog and free... also download fonts from 'dafont.com' for free...

no resolution problems at all...stretch a circle and its still a smooth circle...no break up at all....lots of tutorials on youtube too...

have fun!...

i tend to save a blank sized eddystone 1590b  face template....

[Pablo1234]

I love GIMP, but I hate the GUI I use paintdotnet myself.

[Ripdivot]

If you need a vector graphics editor (similar to Illustrator or Corel) search for "inkscape", it is also Open Source.

What do you mean by "vector graphics"? How is this different from GIMP?

[frank_p]

If you want to browse trough your images, convert to black and white, recrop and resize: try Xnview.  Nothing to make images in that software.  It's a freeware.  It's also good for resizing PCB layouts.

http://www.xnview.com/en/downloadwin32.html

[seedlings]

work in your head at 192 DPI and scale it 50% when you print it.
Or work at 384 DPI and scale it 25%.

I will start doing this until I get a grasp of the more functional programs!  Thank you edvard!

CHAD

[CynicalMan]

Vector graphics describe drawings in terms of geometric paths, not pixels. To give an example, a line in a vector graphic will be described as a path going from one coordinate to another. In bitmap graphics, it will just be described as a set of pixels in the shape of a line. That means that vector graphics aren't fixed at any particular resolution, they can change resolution when scaling, zooming in, etc. You can always have as little aliasing as possible.

GIMP has a steep learning curve and lots of GUI quirks, but it's not that bad once you get used to it. I find it a lot more functional than Inkscape or Paint.net, but for simple drawing those would probably be easier.

[Maik]

Hi Chad
Check out  http://vectormagic.com/home
It´s a online vector progie. Upload the bitmap and start a vectorpicture.When it´s a vector you could make the paint bigger without these stairways.
Your pic will be easy to convert.
Then try corel draw or Inkscape. These are vector orientated "paint" progies.

[Ripdivot]

Vector graphics describe drawings in terms of geometric paths, not pixels. To give an example, a line in a vector graphic will be described as a path going from one coordinate to another. In bitmap graphics, it will just be described as a set of pixels in the shape of a line. That means that vector graphics aren't fixed at any particular resolution, they can change resolution when scaling, zooming in, etc. You can always have as little aliasing as possible.

GIMP has a steep learning curve and lots of GUI quirks, but it's not that bad once you get used to it. I find it a lot more functional than Inkscape or Paint.net, but for simple drawing those would probably be easier.

OK I get it now...thanks for the response.

[Maik]

@Chad
you got an email...

[seedlings]

@Chad
you got an email...

Should be available in my profile Maik.

I found the scale of mspaint for my printer, and it's 82 pixels per inch, so I've doubled the scale of the above image and 'smoothed' a little bit.  Hope to iron and etch tonight.

CHAD

[seedlings]

Attempt 1 = fail 

Wet sand 600 grit, dry, heat iron to 'Cotton', place photo-paper laser-printed reverse image, top with paper folded in half, rest iron on top for 3 minutes, press iron down for 3 minutes, press hard for 2 or 3 more minutes, cool, rinse, 90% adhesion = fail.

So, I'm using acetone to remove the bad transfer and it occurs to me that, perhaps I should have acetone scrubbed the pedal after wet-sanding...?




Try again tomorrow...
CHAD

[deadastronaut]

@chad use a really coarse paper to sand before ironing...like 180 grade...and hottest iron...it'll grip on the box better!...

i put one strip of masking tape on the back f the toner paper to align, and stick to side of box... this will stop it moving/slipping/smudging....

throw in sink under cold water while still hot....let paper bubble up...rub off, use toothbrush to get tiny bits..(sometimes you can get away with peeling the paper off as soon as it gets cold with a little water) ..nail varnish edges..

tape up sides all the way...dip in etchant...agitate.....rinse of when done and then use 600 to sand...

and yes acetone clean after sanding...

[Maik]

place photo-paper laser-printed reverse image

Hey Chad, wrong paper if you use phote paper. Try some other paper, like magacine papers. When I did it with paper I used paper from a magacine called SPIEGEL. Try something smoth (middle part of Hustler...).

[Pettol]

+1 on Inkscape.

I would also like to recommend photo resist spray, for example Postiv 20: http://www.banzaimusic.com/Positiv-20-200ml.html. Not for very deep etches, but gives excellent results.

[deadastronaut]

^ photo paper is ok...i use 150gsm glossy...

but magazine paper will work too...full toner settings on your printer..turn toner saver option off..


@pettol, that looks interesting, so thats for printing on transparencies and uv exposure yes?...