09-11-2025 Q&A: Vista Sculpt Fixes, Logo Cleanup, and 3D Carving Efficiency

Note: You must be a member of the Learn Your CNC Academy Community to watch this replay. Benefits include weekly Q&A Meetups, weekly project lessons, monthly CNC challenges, an active community of Vectric users, past replay lessons & project files, and so much more!

In this Q&A session, we explored troubleshooting 3D photo-to-model generation with Vista Sculpt, strategies for cleaning up complex logo files for carving, and tips for improving carve time and toolpath efficiency in 3D projects. The call also touched on working with multi-depth slabs and differences between Aspire, Vista Sculpt, and other AI-based modeling tools.

Key Tips Learned in this Q&A:

• Vista Sculpt Background Removal: Always remove the background and expand the image on all sides before generating a model. Use settings like depth scale = 7, detail = 90, and Z-limit = 6 to avoid issues with “crater noses.”

• Handling Illustrator Logos in VCarve: Graphic design files often have overlapping vectors. Use Vector Validator, trim overlaps, and simplify vectors before applying toolpaths. This prevents open/duplicate vector errors.

• Multi-Depth Carving: For live edge or uneven slabs, either set up separate sheets with adjusted material setup or lower model base heights in Aspire for smooth transitions.

• 3D Carve Time Optimization: Skip unnecessary rest machining passes and use efficient bit choices (e.g., 1/8" tapered ball nose). Increase feed/plunge rates to dramatically reduce carve times.

• Comparing AI Tools: Vista Sculpt generally produces more detailed and accurate 3D results than SculptOK or Depth-R, though experimenting with multiple tools can be worthwhile.

Questions Answered in this Q&A:

• 00:06:22 – Dave’s Question: Issues with dog noses turning into craters in Vista Sculpt. How to fix settings and process.

• 00:31:20 – Scott’s Question: Toolpath window became oversized with a slider after update – bug in latest Vectric update.

• 00:33:26 – Eric’s Question: Cleaning up a detailed logo made in Illustrator for CNC carving and options for making it 3D.

• 00:50:53 – Dwight’s Question: How to carve a pig farm scene into a walnut slab with a 1” lower center depth than the ends.

• 00:56:02 – Jim’s Question: How to clean up and speed up carve time for a purchased 3D Wave model.

Keywords:

vista sculpt, sculptok, depth-r, vectric update, open vectors, illustrator cleanup, vector validator, 3d wave, toolpath efficiency, aspire, cnc hub, ai tools, vcarve logo, live edge slab carving