Converting gsd files to svg--detailed instructions

[rocor1993]

For this tut, I used robo master, adobe photoshop and inkscape.

1. open robo master and look in "my library" and select the file you want to convert. do this by double clicking on it.
2. click to drop it on the page. I resized my image to fit it completely on the screen.
3. go to edit, then ungroup
4. click anywhere away from image.
5. then click on outside edge of image.
6. go to draw, then fill settings. change fill type to solid, then click on button to modify color and select black. click OK, then OK again.
7. hover cursor on outside edge until you see a "hand" and then click and drag off the page.
8. next, click and drag to draw a square around all of the remaining parts of the image.
9. then go to draw, then fill settings and change to solid and modify color to white.
10. now click on the outside edge of the part of the image you moved, and drag it back into place.
11. Here is where you do a screen shot. Be sure you have your photoshop program open before you do this. I have to make sure I hold down my "function key"(because i have a laptop) and press "print screen".
12. open a new document in photoshop and go to edit, then paste (or control "v")
13. use marquee tool to draw a square around the image only.
14. then go to image, then crop
15. go to file, then save as, change format to bmp.
16 Open inkscape and go to file open and find the file you just saved.
17. once open, click on the image so it have arrows around it
18. then go to path, then trace bitmap. This will bring up a box-use default settings and click OK. You should see your image in the pop up box now in outlined form. You can close this window now.
19. Now save your image as a svg file. go to file, then save as. this will bring up a box, you can rename your image and then choose where to save it. then click save.
20. Now you are ready to use this file in SCAL. Open the program and go to file, then import SVG and click to place it on the mat.
VIOLA! now you can cut your image.

[firstcut]

If you have a Mac or Vista you don't need a photo editing program to save the screen shot. (shift command 3 0r 4 on a mac, snipping tool on Vista)
Also, there is a way to print to pdf so that you can keep the vector from the gsd and then open and ungroup in Inkscape without having to trace. Have seen the instrux online somewhere but didn't pay attention since I am on a Mac. Basically, if you can print from robomaster and can specify a pdf print driver, then you can print to pdf and proceed per the directions in this post http://forums.surecutsalot.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5013. Seems like there was an extra driver required in there somewhere, though.
Also, has anyone tried svgfactory with robomaster to see if copy and paste works? Might get lucky.

[firstcut]

I have a tutorial on my blog for a Print to svg technique. It's worth a try to see if it works with robomaster.
http://cleversomeday.wordpress.com/2010 ... -cutfiles/

[Care_911]

Thank you all! Wonder if the same will work for the gst files...