Autocad 2000 to Illustrator 10

[VTXHOGG]

I'm not an Illustrator user, so please bare with me.

I'm working with a vendor that uses Illustrator 10 (Vector version) to produce T-shirts, he digitally burns the screen for the T shirt. Our club logo in is in DWG and DFX format. Vendor is able to open DWG and DFX drawings.

Problem: Illustrator for some reason see's the cad drawing a series of unconnected lines even tough the lines are connected in Autocad (endpoint to endpoint). The screen machine requires that the various line that apear to be a continous line be solid.

If I save the lines as Autocad blocks will Illustrator except the blocks as solid lines?

Or what to do??

 

[carlow]

Hi,

it is not an Illustrator problem, the problem is Autocad. In Autocad every line exists on its own, also the fills will disappear.

The only way is to import the cad file and start from there to create it again, and be sure to get rid of all the fills (illustrator doesn't understand them)

good luck
carlow

 

[itchybug]

Hogg:

There are several ways to make those part paths into longer continuous paths. Here's the original pathfinder method:

1. Select all your paths, then copy them;

2. Start a new layer (a). Lock and hide the original layer, we are keeping it for reference (b);

3. Ctrl-F (Paste in Front), now your paths are all on the new layer. Remove strokes and fills;
4. Draw a rectangle that's large enough to cover the entire collection of paths. Give it a nice blue fill;

5. Select the paths and the rectangle, now go to the Pathfinder palette (Shift-F9), and look for the tool called "Divide". In CS it's the left tool in the second row, unsure about other versions. Hit it!

6. Now, you have a large rectangle that's been cut wherever there was a path. Now ungroup the result, click on the outermost path with the group-select tool (white arrow with +) and delete it. You should now have a filled version of a combined path or multiple paths. It will require minor cleanup.

Here's a continuous path after the initial operation, with another one enclosed in the middle. Using compound paths, you can easily knock that portion out later;

Is the B/W logo below your message the logo you need? If you care to email it to me I'd be glad to do it for you, it would take about 2 minutes... bert (at) itchybug (dot) com.

HTH

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[VTXHOGG]

Thank, for your replys. Autocad is tough enough trying to work between different versions Autocad.

 

[ClammyLammy]

Have you tried converting all those lines with common end points into AutoCAD polylines?

A closed polyline will come through into Illustrator just fine, if you use a solid fill this will be preserved and any line thickness applied to the polyline will also come through.

In CAD type PEDIT <enter>, choose M for multiple, select all the lines you want to be a continuous line, answer Y to convert to polys, J to join, C to close (if you want it closed rather than as a path).

You may have to do this on a 'per shape' basis in CAD to get the polys you actually want (rather than the whole DWG in one go). But this will give you the continuous lines you need.