How do you make images of blocks to use in toolpalettes etc.?

I am wondering how you guys make images for useon a toolpalette, like 32x32pixels.

Thats basically all. In my situation I insert the block of my need, zoom it kinda like 32x32pixels and then "bmpout" it. Then in a imeage editor I cut of all unwanted stuff so my result is only my block in a 32x32 pixels frame. Only point is that the lines get to thin.

So I do it all over again and use pline edit to make the lines 0.2 width.THis is getting to a better result but it is alot of work to do on a few hundred blocks.

Again: how do you do this? Am I missing the boat big time or what?

Any help appreciated!

What's the fuss? Drag...drop...forget it. Kind of a stickler for detail perhaps?

You did not read my question. Darg & Drop ain't no image the way I mean it.

If noone does this okay, then I might concider a better approach.

Just FYI I am aware of the drag and drop function and the toolpalettes.

I don't see the point to creating images for tool palettes. Sorry for my ignorance.

I leave the image as it becomes when I create the tool palette - like you described Marco, it's a lot of work if you want to do good images for every block. A semi-good image and a good name for the block and it shouldn't be that hard to find the right one anyway.

Assigning, creating, and managing images for commands is covered in your Customization Guide. I would think that most of this would be applicable to what you are trying to accomplish. Just hope that when you next upgrade, AutoDesk makes the process of migrating all your custom images over easily or all will be for naught.

@ Tiger, thanks for the reply. You are probably right.

Maybe I want to be to precise on the images and forget all about the goal I want to achieve.

Don't blame the fish :wink:

@ Remark, I know all about the "how to do's" but I find it very time consuming.

I really had hoped someone would say "hey I know what you mean and I do like this and that".

But unfortunately I allways end up doing things noone does.

So I ask myself: "Hey why don't they... ". Simple answer I guess: because what I do can be done easier.

Anyway, thnaks for the reply, maybe someone else knows a way about it. I'll see.

It's your call. Just consider for a moment the amount of time you are spending on this endeavor. Is the payoff going to be worth it?

@ Tiger, thanks for the reply. You are probably right.

Maybe I want to be to precise on the images and forget all about the goal I want to achieve.

Don't blame the fish :wink:

 

I know all about wanting it to be exact and good and excellent in every way, but like ReMark says, if you're not getting paid for that, then is it worth it? I know that while my co-workers appreiciate my efforts with CAD-standardizing and blocks and paletters and stuff - my boss keeps asking why I mark anywhere from 4-8 hours a week as un-debitable. So there's gotta be a line somewhere.

Then again, if you do get paid for this, then go for it

I am wondering if you could make some of your process automated - like with a script and a button. Look for LeeMacs ScriptWriter, it could help you with some of the more repitious tasks.

And now I think I have misspelled enough words before coffee.

the old fashioned way is to create slides and a menu you can control the way the image looks I disagree about the time but then I have done it many times and know all the shortcuts. most obvious go home while autocad makes the slides.

I am having problems attaching an image example since new forum update can someone help

Hello everyone,

First let me thank you for the time you have taken to help me. But I need to say that we are going the wrong direction. Let me explain.

My first "application"(yeah) that I had was fully build on *.mnu / *.mnl files and gave me the opportunity to creat several menu's, submenus etc. also with the use of image tiles wich are in fact slides, all together in a frame of 16 images. This means that I dare to say I know all about slides, menus and the rest. At this point our company still uses this to draw: I myself draw every day with this add-on (how I call it), the others every now and then.

But as with a lot of people around here, it is never good enough. So I thought I might try to do it with toolpalettes. In the end I got it all working and it looks somewhat modern compared to the "menu one". Because I do not drag and drop the blocks on my palette (I use lisp to get them how I like) I need images. This is no problem for the images are easily attached to the button. I dare to say that even the toolpalettes are no match anymore to me.

But creating those %#$@ images is a whole other thing . Try for yourself: take a new drawing, insert a block, scale it however you like and BMPout the thing. (Or jpgout and what else do we have...). Once the image is made, it can be opened in evey editor to view. Now comes the trick: once you add an image to the toolpalette button it gets resized to fit in the tile. Due to the resizing the lines in the JPG get too thin so you cannot see them as supposed. This is my problem.

No need for other methods to show blocks, slides etc. I only want to know if there are methodes to create images from blocks that I am not aware of.

Maybe there is no better way so I keep doing what I do: burst the block, delete all ATTTAGS and then convert every line to a PLINE. Pline can be edited to a different width so I take 0.2 in stead of 0. Last problem are circles: I need to make them 0.2 as well but since they are no polyline I will offset to both sides wit 0.1 and then erase the original. Some hatch in between and then JPGout the thing. Now if resized, it is almost 100%... good enough but for a few hundred blocks it is hard labor.

I might consider "automating" this process but that also consumes a lot of time.

Anyway, I hope I have explained well enough to show you my point. Thanks again for the help so far it is appreciated as always.

Regards,

MarcoW.

Well your attention to detail is commendable.

Would you be satisfied with the look of these images on your tool palette or on a button if they were of the same quality as those that appear on any standard AutoCAD toolbar or are those images not up to the standards you wish to maintain?

I think the toolbar icons (16x16) are too small. I'd rather stick to the size as on the toolpalette: 32x32px.

Then we can assume you are satisfied with the quality of the default images on any AutoCAD tool palette?

I know you're asking yourself why am I asking all these questions.

Well I just opened up my tool palettes and clicked on the Architectural tab and took a look at the images that were used. Just for laughs I right-clicked on the dynamic block for Aluminum Window (Elevation) Imperial and selected Block Editor. Block Editor opens with the linework depicted and I notice that the image is made up of lines and polylines and the polylines have no width. Yet, if one looks at the image on the tool palette you'd have to agree it looks pretty clear. Perhaps your methodology needs a rethink. Look at what AutoDesk did and emulate that.

I have a problem like this I save a 3D library component with wblock, so i don't get a block in a block problem. But autocad can't make a decent picture for toolpallets for such a dwg file.

So what I do I run a batch that sets the correct view angle and the correct display style. Then png out. Before I run my batch I make sure I set the window size of autocad to a 1x1 format square (800px by 800px or something like that).

I then manually set the images in toolpallets (yes that is a pain in the ass...)