Laser Engraving for images Feature Integration

[giro-dev]

Description

I'm interested in implementing an image import feature for the laser engraver, which would allow users to load images, display them in the design window, and then generate laser output for engraving.

My plan is to add an image reader in the import tool, display the image in the design window, and introduce a "Laser - Image Engrave" option in the settings panel .to be able to tune it.
Other option is to add a new tool like the "Import depth map" but i think it get more integrated with the first option.

Before starting, I wanted to ask if you have any insights or preferences on where this functionality should be integrated within the project structure. Any advice on best practices or existing patterns to follow would be greatly appreciated.

[breiler]

This is something that I've wanted to implement for some time now, nice that I am not alone!

Your plan sounds good, you can call it "Import image..." or something since this doesn't have to be limited to just laser engravers in the future (think halftoning using a cnc spindle)

Import it to a new type of cuttable. When saving this to a .ugsd, you could maybe save the raster data as PNG encoded with base64?

Add a cut type that is only available for this new cuttable type.

You might need some new entity settings, these are unfortunately painful to work with. If you need any specific help with those, feel free to ask. If you have ideas on how to improve those, please create one PR for that first.

[atrabit]

If I may suggest, it would be nice to have two or three modes of laser engraving. First is a regular scanning line one by one horizontally in offset of laser spot size (0.01-0.02) as it is today. Second mode would be "fill the shapes", similar to pocket milling. It will speed up the engaving process and also provide better results of engraving of letters or other "black and white" graphics. Third mode would be just "follow the contour" as today "Laser-On Path". The picture attached shows 1st mode on the left (which exists today), second mode on the right (not available yet).

[giro-dev]

Your plan sounds good, you can call it "Import image..." or something since this doesn't have to be limited to just laser engravers in the future (think halftoning using a cnc spindle)

have a first approach importing the image in a Image Cuttable object that handle the full color image and could be tuned to get a better grayscale representation. (at the moment is not saving and not arrived to the CutType for it)

You might need some new entity settings, these are unfortunately painful to work with. If you need any specific help with those, feel free to ask. If you have ideas on how to improve those, please create one PR for that first.

I've seen what you mention about the "painfull" custom settings for entities i have made a refactor to handle it better but i like the idea of put more attention before. I'll try to make a solution with the focus on a more extensible and modular point of view.

[breiler]

Really cool, nice job.

I am guessing that you get the image upside down because the coordinate system is inverted in the editor?