Inspired by the last episode a viewer asked a question. Is is possible to create your own Wood stocks in Vectric software as the the options available don't really match the wood he was using. Not only is it possible but it is easy as well.
The process couldn't be simpler. Just photograph the material you want to use and then drop the photo into the Vectric software directory containing the Stock images.
Depending on the photograph you took you might need to edit it in photo software. This may include color correcting, framing the image to remove anything that you don't want or anything else you might want to do to it. Save the image as a JPG image and you are ready to add it to your vectric software.
Sizing requirements
there doesn't arrear to be any as all images I have uploaded have worked fine.
Which software can you do this on?
From my testing it looks like you can do it on all Vectric software though the option to visit the application folder from within the software was only added recently to VCarve Pro and Aspire. Before this you had to locate the textures folder manually to add the photo's.
In Cut 3D I found my materials Under
C:\Program files (x86)\Cut3D\Textures\Materials
PhotoVCarve
C:\Program files (x86)\PhotoVCarve\Textures\
This then offered a list of material folders like wood, metals,Stone and Misc so put your photo into the appropiate folder.
Special application
If you were to take a photo of the entire piece of material you were going to machine and orentated it correctly I think you would get an exact replica of the finished item down to the grain. This might be handy if you want to show someone what to expect. Just enter the job dimensions to match the stock size and it should work.
I haven't tried it myself but I see no reason why it won't.
I hope you found this interesting and will have a go at creating some stock for your version of Vectric software. Very handy for the native woods you ave in your own country.
Until next time.
Cheers
Peter
Sometimes it good to have a small bedside lamp beside your bed that only puts out a little light. I personally don't see the need for a small portable sun when you wake up in the middle of the night and want a light. In fact a bright light is the last thing you want and in my experience it is worse than no light at all. Your eyes clamp shut while your pupils try and adjust. I'm sure an infomercial would have the subject stumble out of bed, tahe a wrong turn and plummet out a third story window.
That's why I decided to look for a small rechargeable LED light that has a warm color and easily adjustible. I hunted around and after eliminating the ones that didn't have batteries, gave out multi colored light like a night club I finally found one that suited my requirements.
I have to say that while it isn't very bright as such it really up a room enough to see and because these days I read from a phone or Tablet I don't really need a bedside reading lamp.
The only problem with my light is that it is a really light, light. Stretch out your hand and you are just as likely to push it aside as you are to turn it on. It really needs a heavier base and it needs to look a lot less cheap. Adding the wooden base fixes both problems.
Where did I get the light?
I found it on AliExpress and it is the only light that I could find that matched my requirements. At least the only one that I was confident from the description would do the job. The link below will take you too it but I don't know how long it will be available for.
http://bit.ly/2LNTjyt
So far I've had the light do a month and other than charging it when it arrived I haven't had to charge it since. The battery is meant to last 2.5 hours of contineous use at full brightness and it will be interesting to see when it next needs to be charged.
Want to make one?
For those who want to make one you can download the drawings using the links below.
Drawings are provided in Aspire, VCarve Pro and DXF formats
http://bit.ly/2LLmpys
I hope you enjoyed this episode and I will see you next time.
Cheers
Peter
