Setting Carving Depths

I like your picture of the skyline better than mine, I was having a tough time on the internet finding something that is as clear as the one you have. I may just steal it. I knew my edges on the courthouse were going to need improving, I had to change the gray levels since my picture was taken at night and both the pointed tower and the courthouse had lights shining on them. And I probably should redo the sleigh, I played with the gradient to make it look like he was going away from the viewer.

I was playing around with your picture, cleaned it up somewhat and then decided to do a trial cut just to see what it would look like. At 3 mm I wasn't getting any details on your building to the right, it wasn't even cutting into the wood. In ipicture it looks like I get pretty decent details at 6 mm, so I'll try that next. Then I got a Code 13 halfway through, the second time yesterday. Seems strange because I'm on the same circuit I've always used, and yesterday was the first time I've ever gotten this. Don't know if it's the cold (minus degrees for a couple days now) or what. I'm going to clean up the machine - using your suggestion to take off the back cover and blow out the dust from the circuit boards - and try again tomorrow when we're supposed to be up in the blistering 20's.

The cold should not have that much to do with it, the Navy project has had me running non stop around the clock on a carport while raining and 33*.
Dang I can still hear that machine run and its been off now for two days! Lol
I had to cut 10 5 hour cuts then sand stain sand again then clear coat and get it the mail to be overseas by the 20th!!
If they order more I may have to call up the army LOL

That first pic looks like the tall building is leaning a little to me, may just be me, I would try that cut at around .180 for a first cut but like bob said the lighter it is the higher that spot will be.

Have you tried taking the original pic and turn to greyscale then do an invert, I don't normally use a gradient on a scene like this because it tends to make it round.

s146.photobucket.com/user/gregs_photo/profile/

I think you were right on the picture being a little "off" Greg, the picture Bob found is so much better that I've gone forward with that version. I tried cutting it two days ago at whatever the ipicture depth default is, that was way too shallow as it wasn't cutting windows into the buildings at all, just sliding across the wood in those locations. I'm trying it again at .22" on a scrap oak board I found and in the first couple of inches on buildings it's looking pretty good so far. I was wondering if the cold had anything to do with the code 13's, it's now a balmy 22 degrees and I'm having no problem - yet. I took the machine slightly apart today and blew all the sawdust out of it everywhere, other than a little problem with the USB recognizing it had a drive in it when I started up (then giving a code 21), it seems to be working now. I just touched the flash drive and it started working, first time that happened. All in all, for a year old machine this thing gives me fewer problems than most cars I've owned.