import a pdf for tracing

[td88]

I have scan of a hand drawing saved as a pdf. I would like to import it to trace in Acad. What commands may I use to do this and do I simply erase to delete from drawing, when I am finished?

[fuccaro]

The command is IMAGEATTACH but I think that it does not exists in AutoCAD 2006 LT. But if somebody having full AutoCAD (meaning not LT) will insert the image in a drawing and save it, you can open it and work on the file.

I don't use AutoCAD LT so wait for more inputs -I might be wrong.

[td88]

Grazzi, will try.

[Dipali]

thur imageattach, you can not attach pdf files. so first you will need to covert it to jpeg or bmp. for version later than 2008, you can alos convert it to dwf & than bring it in acad.

[29xthefun]

You could do a screen dump as in press Print Screen on the keyboard and then paste into a new paint doc. Then save as a J peg.

[A1DWG]

Try - Insert OLE Object > Adobe ...make sure Create from file is checked, I have done it a few times, back on LT2004 even. You can then scale the pdf (roughly) and trace over it if needed.

[td88]

I've gotten access to Acad 2006 full. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this with 2006 full. When I invoke "import", the file types importable are wmf, sat, 3ds. Can I import a pdf in 2006 full or do I need to re-scan to another file type?

[Teeds]

Have you considered converting it to a cad file?

 

I used PDF2CAD to convert a pdf into a dwg. The entire file was a mess of distinct lines, but I was able to xref the drawing into a clean file and trace the parts I really needed. Then I dumped the xref.

[td88]

Try - Insert OLE Object > Adobe ...make sure Create from file is checked, I have done it a few times, back on LT2004 even. You can then scale the pdf (roughly) and trace over it if needed.

 

A1DWG,

 

I've looked in both 2006 LT and full and the only file types offered in either, import or insert, are wmp, sat, 3ds for import and dwg, dxf for insert. If these are my only options, which file type shall I use to scan a graphite hand drawing and import it into 2006?

 

Thanks,

 

td88

[td88]

Have you considered converting it to a cad file?

 

I used PDF2CAD to convert a pdf into a dwg. The entire file was a mess of distinct lines, but I was able to xref the drawing into a clean file and trace the parts I really needed. Then I dumped the xref.

 

Teeds,

 

I get "unknown command" when I invoke pdf2cad. Must be a newer command.

 

td88

[A1DWG]

A1DWG,

 

I've looked in both 2006 LT and full and the only file types offered in either, import or insert, are wmp, sat, 3ds for import and dwg, dxf for insert. If these are my only options, which file type shall I use to scan a graphite hand drawing and import it into 2006?

 

Thanks,

 

td88

 

Hi,

 

dont go into the file dropdown, but the Insert dropdown or enter "_insertobj" at the command line... I've double checked its on both my LT2004 and LT2007 copies.

[td88]

I've found Insert/Raster Image. Any suggestions of the best file format to scan a hand drawing to for insertion this way? bmp, tif, jpg,......etc.?

[Tankman]

Teeds,

 

I get "unknown command" when I invoke pdf2cad. Must be a newer command.

 

td88

 

pdf2cad converts a pdf file to a *.dxf file.

Although it doesn't do a great job, comes in handy.

 

Try www.pdf2cad.com and, if still available, get their free trial.

[td88]

Hi,

 

dont go into the file dropdown, but the Insert dropdown or enter "_insertobj" at the command line... I've double checked its on both my LT2004 and LT2007 copies.

 

Hi A1,

 

I've used insertobj. It seems to insert a variety of ways without my input. I get a stretched, tiny, rotated image without the ability to choose. Finally got something looking normal after a few tries. Don't know why. Will try to use. Kind of surprised at how "maybe" this process is.

 

Thanks,

 

td88

[sparkyuk]

I sorted this problum before, its not great but it works import the pdf into photoshop then go to image on the pull down tabs select grey scale then save as jpeg you can then insert as a raster image into autocad, and im sure i saw a great tut on here once,that once the jpeg is inserted you can then using a know length in the jpeg scale the whole drawing, you can then trace over the drawing on a new layer once done simply delete the jpeg, hope it helps

[td88]

How about some feedback on the use of the insert/raster image method. That would seem viable. I would expect to get a less pixilated image with a jpg or tif than I've gotten with insertobj and, I hope, more predictable. Any comments?

What I need is a file type to take to the scan service.

[td88]

I sorted this problum before, its not great but it works import the pdf into photoshop then go to image on the pull down tabs select grey scale then save as jpeg you can then insert as a raster image into autocad, and im sure i saw a great tut on here once,that once the jpeg is inserted you can then using a know length in the jpeg scale the whole drawing, you can then trace over the drawing on a new layer once done simply delete the jpeg, hope it helps

 

One glitch, sparkyuk, don't have photoshop. May I simply have the hand drawing scanned as a jpg and import that as a raster image?

 

td88

[sparkyuk]

yes it will do just the same no matter how you get to a jpeg it will work, if you can get it scanned as a Tiff file that too can be used and it will not have a back ground just the lines of the drawing i found that out just now as I was playing around with different formats

[td88]

yes it will do just the same no matter how you get to a jpeg it will work, if you can get it scanned as a Tiff file that too can be used and it will not have a back ground just the lines of the drawing i found that out just now as I was playing around with different formats

 

Thanks for the follow up. Will give it a try.

 

td88

[Teeds]

Teeds,

 

I get "unknown command" when I invoke pdf2cad. Must be a newer command.

 

td88

 

Actually it is a separate program that you have to download.

 

It comes with a 30 day trial.

 

Oops, I see Tankman beat me to the answer ...

 

as others have said, Photoshop can convert it as well.