Chris_Hebden Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 Hi all, i would like to know how/if to trace a drawing with CAD! I have AutoCAD 2010 and have a pen/tablet set up. I have an image that i would like to trace with CAD (like tracing paper) so that i can manipultate the lines with CAD to get nicer shapes. The image is far to small to use a start and end nodes like you would usually draw a CAD file, so is there a way of keeping the pen solidly pressed and lines are traced? Cheers Chris Quote
rkent Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Scan the image, insert into a drawing, use sketch command set to make polylines (or splines if available in 2010). Quote
tzframpton Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Hi all, i would like to know how/if to trace a drawing with CAD! I have AutoCAD 2010 and have a pen/tablet set up. I have an image that i would like to trace with CAD (like tracing paper) so that i can manipultate the lines with CAD to get nicer shapes. The image is far to small to use a start and end nodes like you would usually draw a CAD file, so is there a way of keeping the pen solidly pressed and lines are traced? Cheers Chris Have you given thought to a program like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw instead? You can get a free alternative, such as Inkscape. It might be a better program for what you're after with plenty more options for hand-drawn type imagery and has support for tablets. Quote
ReMark Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I used to electronically trace drawings using a 12x18 digitizing tablet. Not quite what you want to do but along the same lines. Quote
Jack_O'neill Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 From 2010's help files: Creates a series of freehand line segments. Command entry: sketch The following information is based on the assumption that Tablet mode is on. Record increment : Specify a distance or press Enter The record increment value defines the length of the line segments. The pointing device must be moved a distance greater than the increment value to generate a line. Sketching is captured as a series of independent lines. Setting the SKPOLY system variable to a nonzero value produces a polyline for each contiguous sequence of sketched lines rather than multiple line objects. AutoCAD really doesn't lend itself well to artistic endeavors. It will do it, but I think you'll find it to be annoying and frustrating to use. Tanner's recommendation above is probaby going to be more fun for you. Quote
Coosbaylumber Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I have done this before using a PDF type image as the background. I did it the easy way, by XREFing in another drawing into the main area of concern drawing. Used 0,0 as the insertion pont and then had to alter the secondary image/drawing until it came in and was proportionately and rotated correct. Got to make sure Ortho is turned OFF. Now use the Wintopo routine as it is even faster and more accurate. Wm. Quote
ReMark Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Use Wintopo to do what? We aren't even sure of what the OP is really drawing. Quote
Chris_Hebden Posted May 30, 2011 Author Posted May 30, 2011 (edited) Have you given thought to a program like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw instead? You can get a free alternative, such as Inkscape. It might be a better program for what you're after with plenty more options for hand-drawn type imagery and has support for tablets. Hay all, thanks for all the replys! I havent given anyother program much thought as i dont know what is out there, i'll have a look at inkscape, thanks! I have been playing around with "sketch" but it draws too many singular lines and makes tweaking a nightmare! Any thoughts on how to make the lines drawn more continous? Reading Jack_O'neils response "Setting the SKPOLY system variable to a nonzero value produces a polyline for each contiguous sequence of sketched lines rather than multiple line objects." this may be what i am after, however i havent a clue on what skpoly is??? OK have a go a he will get answer himself! Played with SKPOLY command and it was just what i was after!!! Cheers Chris Edited May 30, 2011 by Chris_Hebden Quote
nestly Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 You don't need to remember SKPOLY if you read the Command Line prompts after you type SKETCH. "[T]ype" does the same thing as SKPOLY demo Quote
Jack_O'neill Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 You don't need to remember SKPOLY if you read the Command Line prompts after you type SKETCH. "[T]ype" does the same thing as SKPOLY demo That doesn't work in 2010. I get a prompt to "record increment" then Pen, eXit Record Erase Connect. Ain't no "type". Quote
Jack_O'neill Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 Hay all, thanks for all the replys! I havent given anyother program much thought as i dont know what is out there, i'll have a look at inkscape, thanks! I have been playing around with "sketch" but it draws too many singular lines and makes tweaking a nightmare! Any thoughts on how to make the lines drawn more continous? Reading Jack_O'neils response "Setting the SKPOLY system variable to a nonzero value produces a polyline for each contiguous sequence of sketched lines rather than multiple line objects." this may be what i am after, however i havent a clue on what skpoly is??? OK have a go a he will get answer himself! Played with SKPOLY command and it was just what i was after!!! Cheers Chris Sorry, wasn't here except for a bit early this morning. Spent the day with my family instead of sitting here in front of this computer. This is holiday in the US called Memorial Day. Set aside to remember those who have fallen defending freedom for us and everyone else in the world that enjoys it. Less civilized parts of the world had to work apparently. "skpoly" as I said earlier in the quote from the help files (which you quoted again) is not a command, it is a system variable. It told you to set it to a non zero value, and sketch would draw polylines instead of individual segments. I don't know what else to say about it, that's all it does. Quote
nestly Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 Whoops, I guess those command line options were new in 2011.... Quote
Jack_O'neill Posted May 30, 2011 Posted May 30, 2011 I thought maybe it was one of those "undocumented" things, but nope. I put in "t" anywhere in the sequence and it gripes at me. Quote
Chris_Hebden Posted May 31, 2011 Author Posted May 31, 2011 Sorry' date=' wasn't here except for a bit early this morning. Spent the day with my family instead of sitting here in front of this computer. This is holiday in the US called Memorial Day. Set aside to remember those who have fallen defending freedom for us and everyone else in the world that enjoys it. Less civilized parts of the world had to work apparently. "skpoly" as I said earlier in the quote from the help files (which you quoted again) is not a command, it is a system variable. It told you to set it to a non zero value, and sketch would draw polylines instead of individual segments. I don't know what else to say about it, that's all it does.[/quote'] HOLD UP !!!!!!!!! That was no way a dig at yourself!!!!!!!!! I merely meant, instead of asking questions, have a go and the answer will show it self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, Hay all, thanks for all the replys! I havent given anyother program much thought as i dont know what is out there, i'll have a look at inkscape, thanks! I have been playing around with "sketch" but it draws too many singular lines and makes tweaking a nightmare! Any thoughts on how to make the lines drawn more continous? Reading Jack_O'neils response "Setting the SKPOLY system variable to a nonzero value produces a polyline for each contiguous sequence of sketched lines rather than multiple line objects." this may be what i am after, however i havent a clue on what skpoly is??? OK have a go a he will get answer himself! Played with SKPOLY command and it was just what i was after!!! Cheers Chris The final line was supposed to be a thank you, to you for helping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
Jack_O'neill Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 HOLD UP !!!!!!!!! That was no way a dig at yourself!!!!!!!!! I merely meant, instead of asking questions, have a go and the answer will show it self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Also, The final line was supposed to be a thank you, to you for helping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey, No problems Chris. I was just bragging about having a Monday holiday while the rest of the world had to work. Don't get another till July 4, a day I'm sure you UK lads appreciate! LOL. Glad you got it to work. Unfortunately, today is Monday for me. I get to go lay out a floor plan for a pawn shop in a strip mall 2000 miles away, and depend on someone there to feed me information about the existing building. Haven't even started yet and already got troubles. Site plan shows the existing space to be 24' wide, and the customer's hand drawn sketch says he wants his shop to be 27'. Ain't gonna fit. Quote
Chris_Hebden Posted June 2, 2011 Author Posted June 2, 2011 Thats cool, i just did not want anything i wrote to be taken as anything other than a big thanks! I appreciate all help that is offered from this site, it has been much help! We did also have a bank holiday (a day off from work) on Monday, i have no idea why though.................................. thats not good of me! Quote
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