Vector Processing

Combine two or more objects into one using the Union tool, regardless of whether the objects overlap. If the objects overlap, the intersecting lines will disappear, and filled objects will turn into outlines. If the objects do not overlap, a group is created that behaves like a single object. To use this tool, draw two designs, select them, and click the Union icon to create a continuous outline.

Use the Intersect tool to create shapes from overlapping areas. Select the source object and press C. The outline will change to a dashed line. Then, select the object you want to intersect with. Clicking the Intersect icon will create a new object based on the overlapping areas. You can remove the source object if needed. Use difference tool

The Difference tool removes the areas overlapped by the source object, cutting away those sections to form a new shape. To apply, select the source object, press C to clip it with the object you want to cut, then click Difference. You can remove the target object if necessary.

The Exclusion tool works similarly to the Union tool but retains the intersecting lines. It removes the overlapping areas but keeps the lines where the objects intersect. Select the first object, press C, then select the second object. Clicking the Exclusion icon creates a single object without removing the intersecting line.

Ruby allows you to convert logos or bitmap images into vector graphics that can be cut. Bitmap tracing is the process of turning a raster graphic (such as a JPEG or PNG) into a vector graphic. This is useful for cutting or engraving, as vector graphics can be more precisely manipulated. The bitmap tracing function detects the edges within an image, making it ideal for creating silhouettes, vector textures, logos, and other designs from raster images.

• Select or import the image you want to process.
  Ideally, remove any unwanted background using the “Remove background” function in Ruby®.
• Click on the tracing icon to convert raster graphics into vector paths. Adjust tracing settings
  1. ​​​​​​Outer contour only: When this option is selected, Ruby will only trace the outermost edge of the image, ignoring any inner details. If this option is unchecked, Ruby will trace all the edges in the image based on the other settings.
  2. Ignore custer size: This setting helps reduce noise by ignoring large groups of pixels with similar shades. Increasing this value makes Ruby disregard bigger clusters of pixels, which can improve the quality of the trace by eliminating unwanted details. If set to zero, Ruby traces every pixel, including noise. Increasing this value cleans up the image.
  3. Black and white threshold: This is a key setting that determines which grayscale values are treated as black and which are treated as white. Adjusting this slider will define the cutoff between light and dark areas in the image.
     For example: Setting it to 50 will treat darker pixels as black and the rest as white. Setting it to 230 will treat almost all pixels as black.If you want to trace only the objects and avoid the background, lower the threshold (e.g., to 70). This helps focus on the key details while ignoring lighter background areas. Be cautious with this setting, as changing it too much can affect the trace quality, especially for complex images.
  4. Smoothen level: This setting helps smooth out the traced lines. If the lines appear jagged or angular, increasing the smoothen level can make them look smoother. However, be careful not to set the smoothen level too high, as it can distort the shapes.

Tips:

• Use high-contrast images. Ensure the image has distinct foreground and background separation. This simplifies tracing and reduces noise.
• Alternatively, use the “remove background” feature in Ruby® to reduce the area to be traced.

When you cut materials with a laser, the beam removes part of the material, making the final cut slightly smaller than your design. Kerf correction compensates for this by adjusting your design. You can adjust the cut to either inside (inset) or outside (outset) of your design. This means you can either reduce the design size slightly (inset) or increase it (outset) to ensure the cut matches your intended dimensions.

• Setting the compensation value: To define how much compensation you want, simply click on the arrow next to the setting and choose the value in millimeters (mm) or inches. This will adjust the cut path accordingly.
• Applying the adjustment: Once you select the desired compensation, click on the object where the adjustment shall be applied to. The contour of your design will either expand (outset) or shrink (inset) based on your setting. This change applies to the selected path or object. Bear in mind Ruby® will replace the original object. To maintain the original shape, make a copy and apply the inset/outset on the copied object.

Tips:

• Kerf correction can be applied to filled or unfilled objects, as well as complex shapes. However, it cannot be applied to single lines or images.
• Keep in mind that kerf correction is calculated based on the current state of your design, so it works immediately when applied. Unlike an undo/redo function, the correction is permanent once applied and cannot be reversed automatically.

• Activate the path tool: Click the Draw Path icon to open the path drawing widget. This allows you to customize snapping options for precise alignment.
• Set Snapping preferences (optional):
  • snap angle to x-axis/y-axis/segment: Align paths with the x-axis, y-axis, or an existing segment for accurate proportions.
  • Snap values (angle/length): Define snapping increments, e.g., 45° or 100 mm. Paths will snap to these values or their multiples (e.g., 90°, 200 mm).
• Start drawing: 
  • Straight lines:
    • Left-click to set the starting point.
    • Left-click again to add additional points and create line segments.
    • Right-click to finish the path.
  • Bézier curves:
    • Left-click to set the starting point.
    • Click-and-drag to bend the curve, then release.
    • Move to the next point or end the curve with a right-click.The drawn nodes are identified by different colors:
• Node Colors and Meanings:
  • Black nodes: Regular path nodes.
  • Orange nodes: Bézier control points.
  • Green node: Start of the path.
  • Red node: End of the path.

Use the Node Editing Tool to move, add, or delete nodes for precise adjustments. The node editing widget opens automatically after drawing or when selecting a vector object.

Important notes: Node editing works only on vector objects. To edit complex shapes, convert them into vectors first clicking on the icon.

Snapping options:

• Enable snapping: Maintains alignment and proportions while moving nodes.
• Show angles and lengths: Displays information about angles and distances between nodes.
• Snap values (angle/length): Snaps node positions to specified increments (e.g., 5° or 5 mm).
• The following combinations are available:
  • x-axis / next node
    • shows an auxiliary x-axis line on the next node
    • shows angle between the current segment and this x-axis line
  • x-axis / previous node
    • shows an auxiliary x-axis line on the previous node
    • shows angle between the current segment and this x-axis line
  • x-axis / previous node
    • shows an auxiliary x-axis line on the previous node
    • shows angle between the current segment and this x-axis line
  • x-axis / previous node
    • shows an auxiliary x-axis line on the previous node
    • shows angle between the current segment and this x-axis line
  • segment / next node
    • shows angle between the current segment and the next segment
  • segment / previous node
    • shows angle between the current segment and the next segment