Fire Truck Help

[don watson]

I don't know if this is the place for this but here goes anyway.

I have been asked if I can create a piece for the local heritage trust. It should be around A4 size (US Letter ?) It is the Shield of the brigade and they want a pic of the Dennis fire engine inserted in the shield in place of the central logo. I have Gimp and Inkscape but I can't seem to get a round crop with them so I wondered if anyone here could give me some ideas ?? I will attach the pics and see what you all can advise.

take care and stay safe

Don W

[xocd]

Don,

I am not sure if this is what you mean, FWIW here we go. You can use the ellipse selection tool (Tools>Selection Tools>Ellipse).  Hold SHIFT to select a circle.  Select the center zone and then cut.   To include the fire truck you would select again with the ellipse tool, copy and then paste in the previous image and then play with the size.   I am including a quick and dirty version.

 

[Travis]

Note:  This post has been split out from another post in Help and Feedback.

[Dan]

I did similar to Isidro, but I did it in Inkscape, mostly. I'm unclear if you plan to make a pattern out of the firetruck to incorporate into the the shield or just use a photo of the firetruck. Making the patter of the firetruck looks like a chore, but is doable. It looks like a great idea for a layered project. The back (the gray parts), then over that the gray outer circle of the center piece. Over that the red part with the words. Then glue the picture to the center, which would be the second level (gray circle). 

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by Dan

[don watson]

@Dan, thanks for the explanation. It does look as if it will be a problem to get it the way my friend wants it but I think xocd maybe has the answer I need.

@xocd, I think that is what he wants. The writing around the circle can be kept or erased, he isn't too bothered, so I will try with both options following your advice.

[don watson]

@xocd, I have tried (all day yesterday) but can't get the effect you describe. I will pick it up again this afternoon and see what happens.

@Dan, I will have a look at Inkscape this morning and see what I can achieve. I am hoping I can do this in 2 goes, engrave the shield leaving the centre circle blank, and then engraving the fire engine in the empty centre circle, if that makes sense. I am hoping to make the overall shield about 300mm square (about a foot) 

[don watson]

Hi all, I'm back with some success.

I have the shield in 2 versions at the size I want. I have a shield with a 127 mm blank centre and a shield with a 172 mm blank centre, I have attached the pics. My problem now is that I need the fire engine in a round design. I need one round at 127 mm diameter and one at 172 mm diameter. I can't seem to make that in Inkscape. ??

I believe my laser engraving programme (T2Laser) will convert the picture to a laserable image, I just need a round image with no background. Any ideas ?? 

shield_290mm_127mm.svg shield_290mm_172mm.svg

[Dan]

I hope this works. I had to refigure how to do it. Here's how I did it. Open Inkscape. In the File tab select Import and import the image. Make a circle the size you want it (127mm  or 172mm). The align the two images center to center. Select just the firetruck, hold the CTRL key and drag the arrow above the firetruck image to resize. It should remain centered side-to-side. Mover the image center where you like it. Once you have it centered the magic begins. Select both the firetruck and the circle, click the Object tab, click Clip then Set. If I didn't miss any steps that should get you there. I have included my files if you care to use them.

127mm.pdf 172mm.pdf 127mm.svg 172mm.svg

[don watson]

Hi Dan,

Many thanks for that boost, you have done a grand job. I will download what you have here and keep it safe until needed again. I keep saving all these instructions and then forget where I have put the things. When I have this lot saved and printed out I will try and see what I have been missing.

take care and stay safe

Don W

PS I will be back

[Dan]

To be honest, it took me about 20 minutes to figure out the Clip function. I was trying to use some path functions that didn't work. Duh! Hope it works for you.

[don watson]

Thanks for this Dan. I have come back to it after a bad weekend. I have shown my friend this and he didn't like the fact there are no wheels showing ??. I told him there are none showing in the original picture but was asked if I could put some in ??. I have attached the latest pic that I have and he has said he needed wheels, another wiper on the  left hand window (in the picture), another line around the right hand window (in the picture), and another defining line below the bell. I have spent a bit of time with this and was wondering if I should laser 'as is' and add the details he quotes by hand using my pyrography machine ?? or could the pic be altered easily ??  This is becoming a bit of a nightmare.

[Dan]

Added a wiper, outlined window, added bell with line under it, and added wheels. That was fun. See if this will work. I can send the svg if you want.

I added some edits since it looks like you are using a laser to etch it. Black bumper with lights, edited turn signal light on left, and made the outline of the grill more symmetric.

Edited November 29, 2021 by Dan

[don watson]

Dan you are a genius. I have been puzzling over this for a while now and no closer to what I want. Yes indeed I am using a laser to engrave it, that is what was asked for by my friend. He also wanted wheels but there are none on the original picture but he didn't think that a problem.

What you have produced is what I want, could you post an svg and I will try and re-create it in my laser programme ??

I feel so much better now with this but was wondering how hard would it be to park the wipers ? I know this a bit of a drag as I wanted, originally, to do this myself but it looks as if you have come up with I want and for that I am exceedingly grateful, so Thanks Again for your work.

Don W

 

[Dan]

Here's the svg. If you work with it you may come across some areas that I just whited a piece out and drew over top of it. I did several grouping also. And just for fun, I parked the wipers.

firetruck.svg

[don watson]

Thanks Dan you really are the best. I will see if this is what he wants and let you know.

Don W

 

[don watson]

Sorry I have been off for a bit, I am trying to gather all sorts of bits and pieces and keep forgetting where I am at.

I have some time to get back to this project and will make a start later today. I think he is satisfied with what Dan has come up with but I will give it a while before I show the proposal (just in case).

Don W