in this tutorial, bold text represents example file names, which you will replace with your desired file names


create file using inkscape export as png                                                export bitmap size 1000 dpi,
                                                                                                                    mark selection for export
                                                                                                                    put a border around your drawing           

open cmd shell                                                                                          linux command line terminal


fab@fab-desktop:~$ png_path                                                                creates path file from your .png
                                                                                                                    lists slicing options and possible arguments. 


fab@fab-desktop:~$ png_path john.png out.path                              creates path file from your .png
                                                                                                                   here, no arguments are used
                                                                                                                    john.png and out.path are examples
                                  

fab@fab-desktop:~$ path_ps out.path out.ps; evince out.ps             generates a visual representation of your toolpath

fab@fab-desktop:~$  path_camm                                                           will show a list of variables / arguments for you to control,
                                                                                                                    seen in the following line of this tutorial as the italicized numbers

fab@fab-desktop:~$  path_camm out.path out.camm 60 5                   setting for vinyl cutter 

fab@fab-desktop:~$ camm_send out.camm                                           sends file to vinyl cutter



fab@fab-desktop:~$ png_path
command line: png_path in.png out.path [intensity [error [diameter [number [overlap [z [z_number z_max intensity_max [axis]]]]]]]]
   in.png = input PNG file
   out.path = output path file
   intensity = intensity level to slice (optional, 0-1, default 0.5)
   error = allowable vector fit deviation (optional, pixels, default 1.1)
   diameter = diameter to offset (optional, mm, default 0)
   number = number of contours to offset (optional, -1 to fill all, default 1)
   overlap = tool overlap fraction (optional, 0 (no overlap) - 1 (complete overlap, default 0.5))
   z = slice z value (optional, mm, default 0)
   z_number = number of z slices (optional, default 1)
   z_max = maximum z slice height (optional, mm)
   intensity_max = maximum intensity level to slice (optional, 0-1)
   axis = axis to slice (optional, x|-x|y|-y|z|-z, default z)**
fab@fab-desktop:~$ png_path john.png out.png
read john.png
   x pixels: 4603, y pixels: 4730
   x pixels/m: 39370, y pixels/m: 39370
   dx: 116.916435 mm, dy: 120.142242 mm
png_path: intensity 0.500000, z 0.000000
   threshold
   find edges
   find distances
   offset:
      distance 0.000000, 3060045 exterior points remain
write out.png
   degrees of freedom: 3
   units: mm mm mm
   segments: 1, points: 428
   nx: 4603, ny: 4730, nz: 1
   dx: 116.916435, dy: 120.142242, dz: 0.000000
   x0: 0.000000, y0: 0.000000, z0: 0.000000
fab@fab-desktop:~$ path_ps out.path out.ps; evince out.ps
read out.path
   degrees of freedom: 3
   units: mm mm mm
   segments: 1, points: 428
   nx: 4603, ny: 4730, nz: 1
   dx: 116.916435, dy: 120.142242, dz: 0.000000
   x0: 0.000000, y0: 0.000000, z0: 0.000000
write out.ps
   segments: 1, points: 427
fab@fab-desktop:~$ path_camm out.path out.camm 30 5
read out.path
   degrees of freedom: 3
   units: mm mm mm
   segments: 1, points: 428
   nx: 4603, ny: 4730, nz: 1
   dx: 116.916435, dy: 120.142242, dz: 0.000000
   x0: 0.000000, y0: 0.000000, z0: 0.000000
wrote out.camm
   segments: 1, points: 427
fab@fab-desktop:~$ camm_send out.camm
fab@fab-desktop:~$