[Dr. Smith]

DW & I are working on respective crazy quilt projects. This can involve a lot of embroidery, and since embroidery designs (for machine) can add up ($), we're digitizing a lot of our own. Most graphic formats (.jpg .png .gif .bmp) can get quite labor-intensive—prepping them for digitizing, however vector graphics (in .cdr format only) usually digitize in a snap, and the results are far superior to digitizing other formats.

So... We've done some extensive searching of Goggle Images without much luck, so we're looking for (perhaps) some off-the-beaten-path sources anyone might know of for free vector graphics in .cdr format. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Doc & Mrs. Doc

[mrsD]

I am on my iPhone so limited in search
ability now .. But I did look up a bit on Google.

It appears that some of the older versions
of Corel Draw might be available "free".

Also free Paint might work. A version of
Paint should be in your accessories in Windows.
There used to be an extended free version
Of adobe older version on the net but I don't
Know if it still is.

I have an older version of Paint Shop
Pro by Jasc and it might be free now too.

Oh, or are you looking for free art designs/images
Only or the programs to make your own?

[mrsD]

Now that I am back on my regular computer...
I did find some "vector" images on Google

https://www.google.com/search?q=vect...=isch&imgdii=_

Corel Draw and Jasc programs have .cdr capability. I've never tried it for final saving ...but seems you could save to .cdr after you scan something in. Vector work is usually only saved as .cdr when it is still being worked on, and then it will be more easily available when saved to .jpeg etc. (layers are then blended by the program).

And this looks promising: How to convert any image to a quilt pattern:
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2...t-pattern.html

[tnthomas]

See this post.

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Oh, or are you looking for free art designs/images
Only

That one—free designs/images. As I said in the OP, we've pretty much done an exhaustive google image search. But as you know, not everything always shows up on google, subject to algorithms, priorities, meta tags, etc.)

We have Bernina DesignerPlus, which includes an older stripped-down version of CorelDRAW as its drawing/graphics editor module. We can load most any bitmap format (.jpg .png .gif .bmp, etc.) into it, which are then converted (if not already) into bmps, edited (cleaned up, tweaked, etc., which can take many hours in some cases) and then digitized into embroidery design files. In some cases the cleanup/tweaking process can take many many iterations.

The much easier & faster way (which also yields better looking results) is to load vector graphic images which the software can digitize directly with no/very little messing around. The vector graphics files MUST be Corel format (.cdr) because CorelDRAW is the drawing/editor module. (I'm guessing that was part of the deal between Bernina and Corel.)

I did find some "vector" images on Google

The images you see in that google search are actually .jpgs, .gifs, or .pngs. The actual vector formats must be downloaded, and many/most (like the ones in that search) are in formats other than .cdr (like .eps, .svg, etc.) Sometimes the vector graphics are free, but with most it's a come-on to get you to buy/subscribe to something. Commercial vector format images typically cost anywhere from $6 to $20 EACH. The ones that really ARE free are usually not ones anyone would want for a particular project (unless I wanted a crazy quilt of corporate logos...

We're getting a lot of good stuff in jpg/png/gif formats; it's just incredibly time consuming, and the results are never as good as they are from vector sources.

I'm attaching an example. I digitized the same image from a raster graphic .jpg (left) and from the original vector graphic .cdr (right). Some of the information from the raster graphic is missing—parts of the letters and borders (SW & NE). There is also some "noise" added—pixels used to smoothe out curves & such, which isn't too bad in this image, and it actually appears in both (if you magnify them) because both had to be converted to jpg format to upload here. Raster graphics are also subject to problems like compression artifacts, posterizing, moiré, etc.

Doc

[mrsD]

Do you have a clip art book with your program? Corel Draw comes with a huge clip art...and I think those are vectors, since designers use them to make logos.

I've only used .cdr a little bit. I find graphic programs very difficult in general. They are "beyond" me. I am a hands on old fashioned artist...and do things free hand. Then scan them in.

I do in pencil, then scan it, then go over it with the vector draw tools, to create a .cdr. Without training in it, and/or practice (you tend to forget it all with time), computer graphic work is very difficult IMO.

My Corel Draw 4.0 clip art book, (CD roms too), says many images in it are vectors, and some tifs.
You might be able to find a used one.... the book is over an inch thick...and my eyes just glaze over with it!

Ebay has some:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-2-Cor...item1c396c5f8d

And this looks promising:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/107000-Subje...item232e7953b2

This seller sells all sorts of vector clip art :
http://www.ebay.com/sch/grafxuwant/m...p2047675.l2562

Perhaps this is the fastest way to go for you?

This company has a CD on just about everything... even if you don't find what you want today, you might find this link useful for something else!
http://www.vintageliterature.ca/

All free cdr clip art:
http://all-free-download.com/free-ve...coreldraw.html

[Dr. Smith]

The last one you listed is one of the come-ons. Most of what you see (that you'd actually want) is actually from a pay service; the ones that say they are for corel—you have to read the fine print. Many are in eps format—which won't work. The few that actualy are cdr and free... seem to be the exact same collection of ancient files available on many of the "free" sites.

TIF files are... not all created equal, but are not vector.

I'll take a look at the other links. We don't have a lot left in the budget to spend on reams of graphics for just a few images that may be useful.

Doc

[mrsD]

I was shopping on Ebay today looking at art pencils. When I clicked on the seller to see more art supplies it turns out she
sells quilting templates...

Even though you don't want to spend $$... some of these look
very reasonable:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quick-Strip-...item3a88a62053

So I thought of you. You can disregard this link but I thought to send it anyway.

[Dr. Smith]

Ah, quilt designs are something else (different). I've been designing those for several years now, and was active on & off on the Google/Usenet newsgroup rec.crafts.textiles.quilting for a few years. I design; DW constructs.

Doc