Hey guys,
I can’t find the thread where I first read this, but someone said that when you save to a PDF from AKU Shaper that the PDF is vector based, and will scale up without the lines getting thick and fuzzy. How do I get this to work? I opened the PDF in Photoshop, and when I resize it, the lines get about 1/4" thick. I guess it’s not the end of the world, but I’d like to have some nice thin lines to get it more exact.
You can just print it out using the Print function in the main menu, if that’s what youre after…
HTH
greg
I scale mine up in Illustrator… also vector based… gives a nice thin line.
I am looking to print it out full size one one piece of paper (at Kinkos, or Staples, or something). I just did this earlier today, and thats where I came up with the 1/4 inch thick lines. I don’t have Adobe Illustrator, but I have a pretty recent version of Photoshop. Basically what I did was open the PDF in Adobe, crop the image down to just the outline, then resize to my board’s length. So, anyone know if there is any way to prevent Photoshop from turning my vector PDF into a raster image?
have you tried using a “Print-to-PDF” program to take the full-size outline directly to .PDF by setting the page size large enough to accommodate the entire outline?
In the time you’ve spent fiddling with your computer, driving to Kinko’s, attaching the piece of paper to
your template material (hope you included a reference line so you’re sure it’s straight), I could make three
templates. And you’d still have to cut and fair yours.
If you must use the software, get a picture you like, take some interval measures, plot them on your template material.
and use a batten or other templates to fair the line roughly. Then cut outside that line and fair it for real. You’re still
going to have to do the last step even if you glue your paper on there. I’m hard pressed to see how you’re really
gaining anything using the computer for anything other than looking at the pictures.
Using tools is part of shaping, you’ll get a lot more practice (and save time and gas) doing templates the normal way.
Now if you want to get a machine cut template off your file, that will save time. But it costs $'s. Might as well just get
the blank cut.
Just my 2 cents, enjoy doing it, however you choose…
Mike
Sure, I could have done it the old fashioned way. But I have my reasons. I’ll be working in a shaping room set up at my college, so I am trying to get everything as ready to go as I can before I drive out there and started. I can’t just walk out to the garage and dive in. I have enough basic tools at my house to take a printed out template, glue it to some masonite, trace it, cut it out, and bring the edges up to my printed template (by sanding, or hwever else). Sure I have spent a bit of time fiddling around on the computer, but I’ve had fun doing it.
Once I finish my MS and move into my own place, I’m sure I’ll be setting up a shaping bay for myself. And of course it will be stocked with a nice flexible something which I’ll be using to connect the dots for a template. I don’t think the shaping rooms at school even have anything like that (at least the didn’t when I shaped my last board there?).
When I was in college, I shaped (and glassed) in my dorm room, once. After I got out of trouble for that,
I shaped and glassed in a stairwell of the dorm. Once the fuss from that died down, I found a basement
workshop in a vacant building on campus that the authorities were OK with. So I know what you’re dealing
with.
Mike
Photshop is a rester based application, so there is no way to not rasterise the image.
What you can do is to select the ‘Print outline or profile full sized’; in the Aku app.
If you create a custom paper size before hand large enough to hold your template, then you will get a pdf with one big page and your template on it.
note On my Mac, I have to also remove my printer from the list in the print and fax preferences, other wise it prints out to many 8.5" x 11" sheets.
After that it is off to have your page printed.
Someone mentioned the trouble with cutting it out with scissors… use a very sharp xacto or razor blade and just follow the line.
Johan,
Thanks for the reply. I’m a little lost on how I will be getting a pdf file from those steps you listed? Are you talking about “printing” to an application like CutePDF or something like that where you select it instead of your printer from the drop down menu?
Before I had a lot of templates, I’d tape-off my planshapes directly on the blank: plot out the relevant widths and use masking tape just like taping off an airbrush or pinline, and then either use a pencil or a light dusting of spraypaint. Then, after cutting it out and cleaning it up, I’d trace it onto a sheet of masonite, to “save” it.
There’s definitely something about seeing the planshape in 3-d, with rocker and everything else.
Hey surfer805, check ur PM
The print full size outline is a function in the AKu shaper software. The drop down menu is this:
You just have a custom paper size so it goes as one piece.
…hhmmmmm… I am forgeting something here though. Mac OSX has the ability to ‘print’ to a PDF file built in. If you are on Windows, or Linux; yes you will need an app that will do that for you; such as CutePDF. At my last job we had a plugin that we used to print to pdf… I forget what it was called.
Sorry 'bout the confusion.
I live in a one OS world now. 
Ahh. That makes much more sense now. Thanks for clearing that up. I use the CutePDF program at work from time to time, pretty simple.
Well, I just downloaded CutePDF, and gave it a shot. For some reason, even if I make CutePDF’s paper size enormous, it gives me 16 enormous PDF’s with little pieces of my template in the corner… This is just getting annoying…
Hi,
the different pdf virtual printer programs like cutePDF seems to somehow manages to report the wrong size of paper to java (atleast that’s my experience, but I might have been doing something wrong). Quite annoying. If it doesn’t work with one try another… there are a few out there, like BullZip PDF Printer, pdf995, virtual pdf printer, pdf creator, etc. If you need more try searching for “pdf printer” or “pdf creator” in your favorite search engine.
To me it’s easier to design a template on the computer, hit print and stick those sheets to some wood than to make a bunch of measurements and try to connect the dots with a batten. Comes out much smoother too. But then again I’m no craftsman.
regards,
Håvard
Different programs for different purposes and Shape3D has by far the best template print options. You can download the free version at www.shape3d.com. The printout also includes nice paper separation marks and I can use banner paper function on my cheap Canon printer and print out the lot on one sheet.
If you use the APS3000 program, you can open those files direct into Shape3D, if you use the Aku program you have to remove the encryption first.
To do that you find a program (just look for it here on Swaylocks), I think it is called “Hula the Aku”. Works a treat.
The result is stunning, perfectly thin lines, paper marks for easy and perfect assembly and full use of your printers options. Give it a go. Only downside, it will not work on OSX.
My templating headache has finally gone away. I downloaded the trial version of Illustrator, opened the PDF spit out by AKU, deleted everything but the outline and centerline, scaled it up (really easy once I figured it out), and stuck it on a CD. Staples printed it for me for $5. Went over to Home Depot and got a sheet of masonite and a can of 3M 77 adhesive. Then I cut down the stringer on the outline, stuck it to the board, then cut the paper along the line. Tomorrow I’ll saw it out and use a sanding block or something to match it up really clean to my paper template. Maybe I’ll even have time to get my blank skinned tomorrow? Who knows?
All right or is it right on ! yep thats what I cant believe the new modern shaper does nt even want to rub off the machine marks
what the ---- is that all about ? how the hell are you supposed to learn to see what they are looking at .eg. bottom curve and deck line what is it computer says yes
I ve worked on many computer shapes in time gone by, and it seems to me that you’re passing your control over to some blow in machine shaper .
so the new generation of so called shapers can drive around and say look at what Ive made I GOT TO ASK WHAT PART!!!.
GOD will we ever see shapers the masters ever again? too many to name sorry.
So in finishing my blar support free style shapers and if he or her shapes you a dunger , take it back and give the guy some feed back
and if both partys agree its a real shocker fill in a new order form and pick up your new board in a few weeks.
this then gives the shaper something to look at and he shouldn’t go there again. MILCH.
how the hell are you supposed to learn to see what they are looking at .eg. bottom curve and deck line
Well said. Fairing the curve on a fresh template is on-the-job training for aspiring shapers. Developing a
‘‘shaper’s eye’’ takes decades of experience, you want all the practice you can get as soon as you can get it.
Mike