How to import vector files from Adobe Illustrator.[Tutorial]

[Alan Fraser]

You can export dwg files directly from Illustrator and import them into SU, but you need to break down the bezier curves into a reasonable number of straight line segments before you do so. If you don't, you will have thousands of line segments, all of which will turn into faces if the shape is extruded.

Convert any text to outlines then use the Object > Path menu to add enough anchor points to maintain a reasonable looking curve when it is turned into straight lines....use your judgement to balance smoothness against the number of faces that are going to result. Each time "Add Anchor Point" is chosen it will place one midway between all the existing ones. Usually once or twice is sufficient.

When you are happy with the number of anchor points, Do Object > Path > Simplify and check the box that says straight lines. Export as dwg.

Import into SU, explode...then finally apply Todd Burch's Makefaces ruby script to fill-in the shapes....or just trace along the edges, green dot to green dot.

You can do exactly the same thing in CorelDraw; just convert the text into curves first, then for "Anchor points" read "Nodes" (use the plus sign top left in Node Edit to add the extra ones). Then with them all selected, click the Straight Line icon. This will then facet all the curves, after which you can export as dwg.

In both programs, you will end up with unnecessary nodes along lines that were straight to begin with. You can either delete these before export or heal such lines after import into SU.