Converting Fax or PDF Scan to AutoCAD Format

I know that programs are available to convert raster images into AutoCAD vector graphics, but they are expensive.

I have clipboarded bitmaps into ACAD and traced over them. Depending on the complexity of the drawing, this might be the quickest way to go.

I might do some experimenting to see what I can do. I remember bringing a raster image into MDT 6 (based on ACAD 2002) as a vector object, but I don't remember how I did it.

Thanks Doug. That was what I was originally thinking of doing. I have sucessfully brought camera pictures into AutoCAD and traced them to get a drawing. But converting a scan from my HP G85 into a format I can import has proved to be the stumbling point. I do not have a decent camera that can photograph the printed page up close to give me the necessary quality. This is a low cost small community theater effort and a hundred dollar effort is simply not feasible at this time. Do you know of a free download that might serve as an intermediary stage.

I have OpenOffice. I haven't played around enough with it to know all its features or capabilities, so it might have be able to export in a format you can use. I know it will export directly to PDF, because I have created a few documents that way.

Most photo editing programs will export to the popular formats. I have the free version of Serif Photo Plus, which is about as powerful as I need for now. I have heard The Gimp is a free equivalent to Photoshop.

Hi Doug, Now there is a possibility. I have Linux with Open Office on one computer. So far I have not managed to get the HPprinter to talk to my Linux computer because it is plugged into the Windows computer and I have not figured out the network settings needed to make the setup work. But it is worth exploring. thanks!

If you have no problems with images from your camera then you should be able to use any PDF image, correct?

Do a Ctrl-PrntScrn on your PDF, then crop it and save it as a JPG using Paint. You will then be able to work with the drawing the same way that you work with images from your digital camera.

Actually, you can cut and paste pictures in pdf directly to AutoCAD by using the Loupe or Snapshot tools in Reader. There might be better ones available in the full versions of Acrobat. I have used an AutoTrace software called CorelTrace with good results and Canvas also has AutoTrace. You might try saving your file as a dxf or iges from Acrobat or other graphics editor. Here is a list of tracers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_raster_to_vector_conversion_software

Hi elnav - Do you have the source of the drawing in any format? I found it easier to convert files from any format to DXF.

Turbo Cad had a freeware / demo package some years ago. I never used it but played around vectorizing some drawings with OK results.

Hendrik unfortunately no. The original was from a small company that was subsequently bought out by a large multi national. Those originals no longer exist. The newer versions uses a photograph to illustrate the text. Black panels do not make good line drawings. Black on black is lousy to trace from. I have tried but with no success. The local theater production would be over with and done before I got it figured out. I'll see if the turbo CAD idea offers any possibilities. Thanks.

Hi elnav

I found this site http://www.newfreedownloads.com/find/vectorizing.html with a free vectorising sw.

To change the black background play around with your color settings. We use GIS sw to change the colour settings.

The Autodesk programme that allows you to scan documents into 2D versions of AutoCAD is Raster. You can download a 30 day trial here which, I believe, is fully functional.

I've used Raster some while ago with varying degrees of success. It works very well with a clean drawing but involves a lot of fiddling around if there are a number of blemishes, fold lines etc.

That only works if you are running the latest version of AutoCad. I'm not and can't afford to upgrade.

Which version of ACAD are you using? I think I may have an older version of Raster at home.

I have a program called PDF to CAD converter. It works about 60% of the time. If you would like to email me the pdf, I will give it a try and send the results back. e_bronson@conknet.com

Check to see if your AutoCAD will import a TIFF image file. Then, if you have Adobe Acrobat (not the free reader, the paid-for software) or know someone who does, you can export your pdf of the panel as a TIFF image (File-> Export -> Image -> TIFF or PNG or JPG). Then you may be able to import the TIFF into AutoCAD. One other thing - it might require Acrobat Pro instead of Acrobat Standard to do the conversion to TIFF. Another program that I think will do the complete conversion from .pdf to .dwg for you is Adobe illustrator. I'm not sure but my patent illustrator does all sorts of tricks like that all the time with Illustrator.

jhammond

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The way I do it is.

1) From Acrobat saveas a Tiff file.

2) Then most any convert will work.

or

3) Bring that file into acad as a image and use it as a background. Then you can edit the image to take out things that you don't need and can draw over top of the image.

To go from .pdf to Word, you might try "Free PDF to Word Doc Converter", available from http://www.hellopdf.com/. Or, you might want to look at Foxit Reader (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/) for .pdf files, which has better copying features than Adobe (and some other features I like as well). Both are free programs.

You say you use Acad a lot...(?) How hard can it possibly be to simply draw what you want of it from scratch? I've seen lots of multi-channel doo-hickeys, and, once you've drawn 1 channel to-scale, the rest is pretty much "Array'd". Grab a 6" pocket SS rule, get some basic dimensions and go-to-town with it.

I use Acad just a wee-bit, and I am positive that it wouldn't take an evening's time to get everything the way that *I* wanted it, saving bundles of money and grief in the process.

Just my 2-sense worth

Yes I could. Its only a question of time. However I am self employed and every day I spend on this volunteer effort for the community theater takes time away from earning money to buy food and pay for necessities. With the economy being what it is my hourly rate is not very good any more. If I could scan in the drawing it would save me several days work. Getting a CAD picture of the drawing is only the first step. Then I would need to write the manual and sequence each scene of the play with specific illustrations for each step. This is the first time the guy has worked as a light technician . He is somewhat apprehensive about this. He works in the saw mill. This computerized stuff is all strange for him.

Surely there must be *another* volunteer-type nearby... one who is good with graphics in general.

If I read you right, what you really need, quite simply, is a good (bright/clear) photo image of the controller, with a variety of "cropped-out" and either "rotated" or otherwise modified control switches, slides, and knobs that could be pasted-on to represent different settings (on different pages of a manual) for different scenes-of-the-play, etc.

If you show a KID what you want (using a few sample photos), and sit them down with even a "Demo-version" of Paint-Shop Pro or similar graphics program, I'll bet they would simply astonish you!

Shouldn't cost more than a couple of pizzas and six-pack of Dr Pepper...

If neither you, nor any of the other cast/crew members have talented kids, for tapping another volunteer ... then, try asking 'round your church or what-have-you...(?)

Just a thought ~