21
Hidden Vector Lines in Artwork
The ULS Windows printer driver does not automatically filter out outlines that are overlapped by
engraved objects such as fills. If there are filled objects with some hidden outlines underneath the filled
area, the laser system will then engrave out the fill and cut the hidden outline on top of the fill. This is a
common occurrence when using pre-drawn ClipArt designed for laser printers. To prevent this from
happening, turn on the B/W raster feature in the ULS Windows printer driver. This feature disables the
cutting mode and converts all visible outlines to engraved objects and ignores all hidden outlines.
Optimizing Speed
It is advantageous to engrave an object in its longest direction because total engraving time will be
reduced when the motion system has to make fewer stops and starts. If the engraving object is longer
than it is tall, a greater engraving speed can be achieved by rotating the graphic 90 degrees and placing
the material in the laser system sideways. Be aware that some graphics programs do not allow the
rotation of bitmaps. In this case, it may be necessary to use bitmap image processing software to first
rotate the bitmap before importing the bitmap into the graphics program.
If the artwork contains engraved objects of the same color with a great deal of space between them in
the engraving direction, processing time can be longer since the laser must make long strokes to
engrave both objects at the same time. To reduce engraving time in cases like these, use different
colors for each of the objects but assign the same power setting to both colors. This will cause the laser
to engrave one object at a time, skipping over all blank space, which in many cases will reduce
engraving time.
Bitmaps
A Bitmap is a pattern of dots blended to form pictures much like the pictures in a newspaper. Most
bitmaps are created by scanning artwork into a computer through a scanner. Others are created by
drawing them in a bitmap image processing program. There are essentially two types of bitmaps that
the laser system can utilize, monochrome and grayscale bitmaps. Monochrome bitmaps are one bit
black and white images and grayscale bitmaps are 8 bit images. There is no advantage to scanning in or
using color bitmaps because the ULS Windows Printer Driver converts color bitmaps into grayscale
halftone patterns when printing. Color bitmaps consume a large amount of memory and are therefore
NOT
recommended. Monochrome bitmaps are used when scanning and engraving line art or camera
ready black and white images. Grayscale bitmaps are used for scanning and engraving photographs.
Summary of Contents for ULS-25
Page 3: ...3 APPENDIX E SOFTWARE ANOMALIES E...
Page 14: ...14 Sample Exhaust System Layouts...
Page 62: ...62...
Page 82: ...A APPENDIX A WARRANTY...
