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bens11037400
Participant
October 13, 2022
Question

Is it possible to turn repeating patterns into paths?

  • October 13, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 230 views

Hiya

I have created a repeating pattern in Illustrator, using - Pattern - Make - then saving it as a swatch, I create a square and fill the pattern in the square. I am trying to export this to use it in my laser engraving software called lightburn so I can laser the pattern onto some square coasters.

Here is the pattern:-

 

Once I import it into Lightburn I only get the square outline with no pattern inside, it looks like this:-

 

I have tried exporting it as an illustrator file and also as an SVG and get the same result. My knowledge of Illustrator is very limited, so I don't know if what I am trying to achieve is possible or not.

 

If there is a way to turn the repeating pattern into paths so I can export it and use it in the Lightburn software to engrave that would be great. I would be be very greatful for any help or advice.

 

Thank you

 

Ben

 

 

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1 reply

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 13, 2022

Object > Expand.

Make sure you check the outline view afterwards, because you need to clean it up. Get rid of clipping masks and maybe unite shapes

bens11037400
Participant
October 13, 2022

Hiya Monika,

Thank you very much for your reply.

I just tried Object - Expand 

I clicked Clipping Mask - Release and I save it and in lightburn it comes out like this:

I then went back tried unite shapes in the pathfinder and it came out like this in illustrator 

 

Kind Regards

Ben

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 13, 2022

You first have to analyze what you get after expanding. Looks like there black shapes and white shapes overlapping. So you cannot just unite them blindly.

 

Try Merge instead.

Afterwards you have to analyze your artwork again and then delete the parts you don't need: the white ones. And maybe Illustrator has also generated invisible paths. You have to delete those as well after searching for them.