Scanning white decals to cut with Silhouette

[bossy122]

A number of years ago I bought a Silhouette cutter to scan area decals and cut masks in their place. However, I can't get this hack to work with white markings. I have tried to figure out how to invert the colors so white turns black, but even that I haven't figured out. Anyone have a good trick for scanning white markings so that they can be SEEN by cutter software? Thanking you in advance.....

[steinietrabi]

That will be difficult.
Don't you have a way to convert the scans into vector graphics using software?
There is also a lot of freeware that could help you here.
Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator CS2 (available as a freeware full version)

[bossy122]

None of that. An old Silhoutte and an even older PC......that isnt even plugged into the net.......onto the net?

[steinietrabi]

I can't give you a standard workflow, but maybe inverting your scan will help.

Otherwise I can only offer you to send me a scan and I will help you create a vector file or DXF that you can read and cut with the Silhouette.

[JamesB]

Not sure what silouhette is. Anyway I seem to understand it detects the contours as the Corel tool does.
And I also understand the problem is a lack of contrats on the image.
I recommend to work on it on Photoshop, playing with the contrast, light... even you can draw basic shapes on Photoshop.
You could post the scan that gives you trouble, maybe we can help
BR
James

[steinietrabi]

Silhouette is a software or device for cutting/plotting stencils or similar.

www.silhouetteamerica.com

I think the problem is simply that there is no software for editing or the technology (PC) is missing.
Therefore, the best thing you need is a file that can be read directly into the plotter or a technique that allows you to scan the white decals and recognize them with enough contrast. (But I think this is difficult without post-processing).

[Steffen_T]

I had a similar problem, when I wanted to make masking templates for the Revell Williams FW19:
White decals on white carrier.

I solved the problem by cutting out the white decals along the edge of the decals and placing them on an orange piece of paper for the scan.

Surely not the most elegant way to do it, but it did the trick for me.

[bossy122]

I had a similar problem, when I wanted to make masking templates for the Revell Williams FW19:
White decals on white carrier.

I solved the problem by cutting out the white decals along the edge of the decals and placing them on an orange piece of paper for the scan.

20240408_142950.jpg

Surely not the most elegant way to do it, but it did the trick for me.

The problem I was trying to get around was the uneven cuts that come from either scissors or an xacto and very unsteady hands. Just yesterday I tried drawing around the Shell 962 white decals and then cutting....it just doesn't work with me. And Silhouette picking up white areas to outline, doesn't work for them.

[stubeck]

Is it possible to get some transparent stencils to help with the cutting? This way you're not cutting freehand but against a solid object?

[robdebie]

On a normal scanner, you could backlight the decals, that makes the white decals show up somewhat better.

Rob