All About Images

download All About Images

of 22

Transcript of All About Images

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    1/22

    All About Images

    by David Watson

    See also, Using Images & Scaling Images

    Introduction

     AutoCAD is essentially a vector drawing application. However, tere are occasions wen it would be

    use!ul to display raster images as part o! your drawing. It would also be use!ul i! you could ma"e basic

    modi!ications to images and to be able to scale tem. Using suc tools, you could use an image to

    trace some base in!ormation. #or e$ample, a raster map could be used to draw vector contour lines.

    %ou could also use raster images in place o! vector symbols to add realism or personality to a drawing.

    #ortunately, suc tools do e$ist witin AutoCAD and altoug tey dont approac te !unctionality o! a

    dedicated raster image application suc as Adobe 'otosop, tey are ade(uate !or most purposes.

    )is tutorial sows you ow to use all o! te tools on te Image section o! te *e!erence toolbar,

    sown below. )e tutorial will sow you ow to attac an image to an AutoCAD drawing and ow to

    manipulate te image appearance. )e tutorial also covers some o! te e$tended image options

    included wit +$press )ools and ow to control image obects wit te 'roperties Window. I! you would

    li"e to !ollow tis tutorial closely, rigt-clic" te )ree Image on te rigt and download it to your wor"

    !older. Wen you ave completed tis tutorial, you may li"e to complete te Using Images e$ercise in

    order to get some practical e$perience. )ere is also a tecni(ues tutorial, Scaling Images tat

    demonstrates te best way to scale raster base in!ormation.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Attach%23Attachhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Attach%23Attachhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Express%23Expresshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Express%23Expresshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Express%23Expresshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Properties%23Propertieshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Frame%23Framehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Transparency%23Transparencyhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Quality%23Qualityhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Adjust%23Adjusthttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Clip%23Cliphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Attach%23Attachhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Manager%23Managerhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Attach%23Attachhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Express%23Expresshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Properties%23Propertieshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.php

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    2/22

    )o display te *e!erence toolbar in AutoCAD, select View Toolbars… !rom te pull-down menu,

    scroll down te )oolbars list and put a cec" in te bo$ against *e!erence.

    %ou can !ollow te tutorial !rom start to !inis in order to learn all about images and AutoCAD.

    However, i! you ust need in!ormation (uic"ly, use te /uic"#ind toolbar, above to go straigt to te

    command you want or select a topic !rom te contents list.

    Top of page

    Images & AutoCAD

    )e important ting to remember about images and te ting tat causes most con!usion amongst

    novice users is tat tey are not actually inserted into a drawing as te Insert pull-down menu migt

    suggest. Image !iles are attached  to AutoCAD drawings. In oter words, images do not become an

    integral part o! a drawing. AutoCAD merely loo"s !or images tat ave been attaced and loads tem

    as re(uired. )ere are pros and cons to tis metod.

    'ros

    •  AutoCAD drawing !iles remain relatively small.

    • Canges to images will be displayed eac time a drawing is opened.

    • It is consistent wit te 0re! 1+$ternal *e!erence2 metod.

    Cons

    • I! AutoCAD cannot !ind te image !ile, te image cannot be displayed.

    • 3ore tan one !ile is re(uired to display te drawing correctly.

    Wen you attac an image to an AutoCAD drawing, AutoCAD remembers were te image !ile is

    located, tis is "nown as te  path. +ac time te drawing is opened, AutoCAD uses te pat to !ind te

    image !ile and displays it. )is wor"s !ine providing bot te drawing !ile and te image !ile remain in

    te same place. However, i! li"e me, you travel around and wor" on di!!erent computers, tis can

    cause problems. 3y solution is very simple and consists o! ust two rules4

    1.  Always "eep AutoCAD drawings and teir attaced image !iles in te same !older. 

    2.  Always deselect te *etain 'at option in te Image dialogue bo$. 

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    3/22

    I! you !ollow tese two rules, it doesnt matter were your wor" !older is, on your ome 'C, on your

    wor" 'C, on a US5 drive or on a CD, AutoCAD will always !ind te image !ile wen te drawing is

    opened.

    Top of page

     Attacing an Image

    )oolbar 

    'ull-downInsert Raster

    Image…

    6eyboard IMAGEATTACH sort-cut IAT

     Attacing an image to an AutoCAD drawing is a relatively simple 7-step process. )is involves

    selecting te image !ile, setting a !ew parameters and ten pic"ing points to position and scale te

    image.

    5e!ore inserting an image, it is a good idea to create a new layer !or your image. )is way, you can

    easily control te display o! te image by turning te layer o!! or on. Use te 8ayers command to

    create a new layer called )ree Image and set it to be current.

    )o begin, start te Attac Image command !rom eiter te Insert pull-down menu or te *e!erence

    toolbar. )e Select Image #ile dialogue bo$ appears. Use te dialogue bo$ to locate te image you

    want to insert or te )ree Image i! you ave downloaded it.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    4/22

    Wen te !ile is selected, an image preview appears. )o complete te selection, clic" on te 9pen

    button. )e Image dialogue bo$ displays and allows you to set various parameters tat determine ow

    te image will be attaced. )e Image dialogue bo$ is sown below.

     As you can see !rom te illustration above, te Image dialogue bo$ as two main !unctions. #irstly it

    allows you to decide weter AutoCAD remembers te image pat. See te Images & AutoCAD 

    section above !or a discussion on pats. Secondly it allows you to decide weter te position 1insert

    point2, scale and rotation o! te image are speci!ied on-screen or witin te dialogue bo$. #or most

    purposes, deselect te *etain 'at cec"bo$. 9ter settings can be le!t to teir de!ault state. %our

    dialogue bo$ sould now loo" li"e te one sown above. Clic" te 96 button to proceed.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Images%23Imageshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Images%23Imageshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Images%23Images

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    5/22

    :ow loo" at te command prompt. AutoCAD will now as" you to speci!y te insertion point 1te lower

    le!t-and corner o! te image2 and te scale because tese two parameters were set to Speci!y on-

    screen in te Image dialogue bo$. #ollow te command se(uence below to complete te command.

    Specify insertion point : 1pic" a point2

    'ic" a point in te drawing area to !i$ te lower-le!t and corner o! te image. %ou neednt be too

    precise at tis stage because you can always move te image later. However, you could always enter

    a co-ordinate value i! you "now e$actly were te image sould be placed.

    Base image size: Width: 1.000000, Height: 0.96!", #nit$ess

    Specify sca$e factor : 1scale dynamically2

    )o scale te image dynamically, simply move te mouse. %ou will see te image outline cange si;e as

    te mouse moves. 'ic" a point wen you are appy wit te image si;e and te !ull image is displayed

    at te re(uired si;e. I! you want, you could enter a scale !actor instead o! scaling dynamically. )e

    de!ault scale !actor is one. )is means tat te image will be inserted so tat its widt is one drawing

    unit. So, i! you want te image to be !ive drawing units wide, you could set te scale !actor to !ive.

    Top of page

    )e Image 3anager 

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down Insert Image Manager… rigt-clic"Image Image

    Manager 

    6eyboard IMAGE sort-cut IM

     As te name suggests, te image manager is a general purpose utility !or managing your raster

    images. Using te Image 3anager, you can attac new images, detac e$isting images, unload andreload images, modi!y te image pat and display image details suc as pi$el si;e, colour dept etc.

    )e Image 3anager is sown below.

    )e Attac

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    6/22

    Sometimes you may want to remove an image !rom your drawing. %ou can, o! course, simply erase an

    image but since you can ave more tan one instance o! an image in your drawing, only tat one

    instance would be erased and AutoCAD would still loo" !or te image !ile wen te drawing was

    opened. )e only way to remove all instances o! a particular image and to stop AutoCAD searcing !or 

    te image is to detac it. )o detac an image, igligt te image name in te list and clic" te

    Detac button. 5eware o! using te Detac button. 9nce an image as been detaced, all position,

    scaling and clipping in!ormation will be lost.

    I! you ust want to remove an image temporarily, it is !ar better to unload  it. Unloading an image,

    removes te image !rom te drawing but AutoCAD remembers any position scaling and clipping

    in!ormation. Wen te image is reloaded , it will reappear ust as it was be!ore you unloaded it. )o

    unload an image, igligt te image name and clic" on te Unload button. )o reload an unloaded

    image, igligt te image name and clic" on te *eload button. Wen an image is unloaded, its

    boundary remains visible in te drawing. %ou can turn image !rames o!! using te Image #rame 

    command.

    )ere are a number o! reasons wy you may want to unload an image. #irstly, images can ta"e up

    (uite a lot o! computer memory and so your computer may wor" more (uic"ly wit images unloaded.

    Secondly, you may simply want to ide images so tat te drawing loo"s clearer wile you are

    wor"ing. 9! course, you could also do tis using layers i! your images are on teir own layer. See te

    Controlling 8ayer States section o! te 9bect 'roperties tutorial !or more in!ormation.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Frame%23Framehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/object-properties.php#Stateshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/object-properties.php#Stateshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/object-properties.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Frame%23Framehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/object-properties.php#Stateshttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/object-properties.php

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    7/22

    )e Details

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    8/22

    6eyboard IMAGEC"I# sort-cut IC"

    )e Image Clip command enables you to clip or ide part o! an image. )ere are two types o! clipping,

    Rectangular  and Polygonal . A rectangular clip allows you to ide tat part o! an image outside o! a

    de!ined rectangle. A polygonal clip allows you to ide tat part o! an image outside o! a de!ined

    polygon. See te images below to see te e!!ect o! te two clipping types. 9nly one clip is allowed per

    image. However, you can apply di!!erent clips to di!!erent instances o! an image.

    9riginal Image *ectangular Clip 'olygonal Clip

    )o clip te )ree Image, start te Image Clip command and !ollow te command se(uence below.

    Command Se(uence

    %ommand: IMAGEC"I#

    Se$ect image to c$ip: 1select te image by pic"ing on its border2

    &nter image c$ipping option '()*(++*e$ete*)e- o/ndary :  1de!ault2

    &nter c$ipping type 'o$ygona$*2ectang/$ar : # 1!or 'olygonal2

    Specify first point: 1pic" a point2

    Specify ne3t point or '#ndo: 1pic" te ne$t point2

    Specify ne3t point or '%$ose*#ndo: 1continue to pic" points to de!ine area2

    Specify ne3t point or '%$ose*#ndo:  1or C to close te polygon2

    %ou can use U to undo any pic"ed point, ust as you can wit te 'olyline command. Wen te

    polygon is completed, any pi$els outside o! te polygon area are idden.

    %ou may ave noticed tat tere are a number o! options wit te Image Clip command. We used te

    :ew boundary option to de!ine a new clip boundary. )e Delete option can be used to permanently

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    9/22

    remove a clip boundary. )e 9## option can be used to turn o!! te e!!ect o! a clipping boundary

    wile te 9: option is used to turn it bac" on again.

    Top of page

    +diting Image Clips wit >rips

    *ectangular and 'olygonal clipping boundaries can be edited using grips. Wen a clipping boundary

    as been applied to an image, selecting te image causes grips to appear at te clipping boundary

    vertices as opposed to te actual image boundary. %ou can cange te position o! any o! te clipping

    boundary grips witin te image area. See te e$ample below.

    Select te image by clic"ingon te clip boundary

    Clic" on a grip toma"e it active

    'ic" a new position !or te active grip

    %ou can also use grips to resi;e or scale an image. However, you can only do tis i! no clipping

    boundary as been applied. I! you want to scale an image tat as a clipping boundary, you will ave

    to use te Scale command.

    Top of page

     Adusting an Image

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down Moif! $b%e&t Image A%ust… rigt-clic" Image A%ust

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/modifying-objects.php#Scalehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/modifying-objects.php#Scalehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/modifying-objects.php#Scalehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    10/22

    6eyboard IMAGEA'()*T sort-cut IA'

    )e Image Adust command allows you to modi!y te brightness, contrast  and fade o! an image. )e

    5rigtness and Contrast controls wor" in e$actly te same way as in any image editing application.

    )e !ade control is sligtly curious. )e !ade control can be used to !ade te image into te drawing

    window bac"ground colour. #ading te image on a blac" bac"ground causes te image to become

    dar"er wile a wite bac"ground will ma"e it ligter. )is !unction sould not be con!used wit te sort

    o! image opacity control tat you ave over image layers in Adobe 'otosop. %ou can demonstrate

    tis by placing an image over a solid atc and ten !ading it. )e atc does not sow troug te

    !aded image. Its also wort bearing in mind tat i! you intend to print a !aded image, te result will

    always be a ligter image since paper is wite. %ou can cec" te e!!ect by using 'rint 'review or wor"

    wit a wite window bac"ground.

    )e images below sow te e!!ects o! various brigtness, contrast and !ade settings. %ou can use te

    *eset button to reset all image settings to teir de!ault values. )e Image Adust settings are

    remembered !or all image instances wen te image is unloaded. *eloading te image will display all

    image instances wit teir various settings intact.

    ?@ 5rigtness @B 5rigtness @ 5rigtness

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    11/22

    ?@ Contrast @B Contrast @ Contrast

    @B #ade on blac" @B #ade on

    wite

    @B #ade on

    red

     Altoug te Image Adust command can be used to ma"e !airly basic canges to te displayed

    image, it does not ave anywere near te !unctionality o! even a basic image editing application. It is

    always best to adust te image correctly using Adobe 'otosop or a similar application be!ore

    attacing it to your AutoCAD drawing. Actually, you can also ma"e canges to te image a!ter it as

    been attaced. Simply open te attaced image !ile in your !avourite image editor, edit te image, save

    it and ten in AutoCAD, use te Image 3anager to reload it. )e image display is updated to sow

    your canges.

    Top of page

    Image #rame isibility

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down Moif! $b%e&t Image +rame

    6eyboard IMAGE+RAME

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    12/22

    Image #rame is a simple command wic is used to control te visibility o! all image !rames in te

    current drawing. Image !rames are use!ul !or manipulating images. As you ave seen, image !rames

    can be used wit grips to resi;e images and to modi!y image clips. In !act image !rames are te "ey to

    te selection o! images. Altoug images loo" better wen teir !rames are turned o!!, you cannot

    select an image in tis state. :ormally, you will wor" wit image !rames turned on 1te de!ault2 and turn

    !rames o!! at te end o! te drawing process.

    Command Se(uence

    %ommand: IMAGE+RAME

    &nter image frame setting '()*(++ : $++

    Image !rames are always displayed in te layer or obect colour o! te image. See )oggle #rames !or a

    more convenient way o! controlling image !rame visibility.

    Top of page

    Image /uality

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down Moif! $b%e&t Image ,ualit!

    6eyboard IMAGE,)A"IT-

    )e Image /uality command is used to control te display (uality o! images. )ere are two image

    (uality modes. Hig (uality 1te de!ault2, displays te image and antialiases pi$els in order to give a

    smooter loo" to te image. Dra!t (uality displays only te image pi$els.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    13/22

    Hig /uality Dra!t /uality

    )e e!!ect o! te two (uality modes can be seen in te close-up o! a scanned map image, above.

    Diagonal lines, in particular, loo" muc better in Hig (uality mode tan in Dra!t (uality mode.

    Command Se(uence

    %ommand: IMAGE,)A"IT-

    &nter image 4/a$ity setting 'High*raft : '

    Hig (uality images ta"e more memory to display and your computer may wor" !aster i! you ave

    image (uality set to Dra!t. %ou can always set te (uality bac" to Hig at te end o! te drawing

    process, wen you are ready to plot. See )rue Colour Images !or more in!ormation on image (uality.

    Top of page

    )ransparency

    )oolbar 

    'ull-

    down

    Moif! $b%e&t Image Transpa

    ren&!

    rigt-

    clic"

    Image Transparen

    &!

    6eyboard TRA*#AREC-

    )e Image )ransparency command can be used to ma"e te bac"ground colour o! a bitonal  image

    transparent. )e tree illustrations below sow te e!!ect o! canging te transparency o! a bitonal

    image tat as been placed over an orange bac"ground image. )e image on te le!t sows te

    de!ault image state. )ransparency is o!! by de!ault. )e middle image as transparency turned on.

    :otice tat te image !rame is still visible. %ou can turn te image !rame o!! to display ust te

    !oreground pi$els 1image on te rigt2.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#True%23Truehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#True%23Truehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    14/22

    )ransparency 9!! )ransparency 9n )ransparency 9n, #rame

    9!! 

    Command Se(uence

    %ommand: TRA*#AREC-

    Se$ect image5s: 1select one or more images2

    Se$ect image5s:  1to complete selection2

    &nter transparency mode '()*(++ : $

    )e !oreground pi$els o! bitonal images are always displayed in te layer or obect colour. )e

    bac"ground pi$els are displayed in te drawing window bac"ground colour. I! you are using Adobe

    'otosop to prepare your bitonal images, te image Mode sould be set to 5itmap be!ore it is

    saved. Un!ortunately, AutoCAD does not support te >I# image !ile !ormat and so it is not possible to

    display multicoloured images wit a transparent colour.

    Top of page

    )e 'roperties Window

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down Moif! #roperties rigt-clic" #roperties

    6eyboard #R$#ERTIE*

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    15/22

     As you ave seen, you can easily manipulate te various

    image properties wit te speci!ic commands described above. However, sometimes it may be simpler 

    to use a single tool tat allows you to modi!y image properties. )e 'roperties Window 1new to

     AutoCAD ?BBB2 allows you to do tis !rom one location and displays te value o! all image attributes at

    a glance.

    )e 'roperties Window is not li"e a normal dialogue bo$. It can remain on screen !or as long as you

    li"e and will update to display te properties o! te currently selected obect. In !act, you can dock  te

    'roperties Window to eiter te le!t or rigt and sides o! your drawing window.

     As you can see !rom te image on te rigt, you can also use te 'roperties Window to cange te

    scale, position and rotation o! te image. In te >eneral section, you can cange properties suc as

    layer, colour and even add a yperlin" to an image.

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    16/22

    9bect properties can be displayed in eiter Categori;ed 1see illustration2 or Alpabetic order. %ou

    can cange !rom one to te oter by clic"ing on te appropriate tab. )o modi!y any obect property,

    simply clic" on te property name. %ou will ten be able to cange te property value eiter by typing it

    directly into te 'roperties Window or you will see a small button appear tat will4

     let you coose a value !rom a drop-down list 18ayer is a good e$ample o! tis type2

     ta"e you to a dialogue bo$ 15rigtness will ta"e you to te Image Adust dialogue bo$2

     allow you to pic" a point !rom te drawing window 1'osition 0, % and =2

    )e 'roperties Window does allow you to do one ting tat no oter command can do. It allows you to

    control te visibility o! images. Since it is obect speci!ic, you can turn o!! ust one instance o! an

    attaced image. Wen you do tis, te image !rame remains visible 1providing !rames are on2 so youcan still see te image position and scale. )e only image property tat you cant cange via te

    'roperties Window is te image pat 1tese are greyed-out 2. %ou will need to use te Image 3anager

    to do tis.

    Top of page

    )rue Colour Images

    Wile you ave been wor"ing wit images, you may ave noticed tat tey o!ten dont loo" (uite as

    good wen displayed in AutoCAD as tey did wen viewed in oter applications. )e issue is most

    obvious were images ave a gradation o! similar tones. I! you loo" at te two images below, you will

    see tat te one on te le!t loo"s smoot and te one on te rigt loo"s spec"led. )e one on te le!t

    is te original image and te one on te rigt is te way it loo"s wen displayed in AutoCAD.

    )rue colour image AutoCAD de!ault colour 

    dept

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    17/22

    )e spec"led e!!ect is "nown as dithering  and it appens wen an application uses too !ew colours to

    accurately display an image. 5y de!ault, AutoCAD uses a relatively small colour palette. )is is

    because it is easier and (uic"er to display low colour images. )rue colour images, li"e te one above

    le!t ta"e more memory to display and so te drawing process can become slow as AutoCAD struggles

    to display all te re(uired colours 1remember, AutoCAD was not originally designed to wor" wit raster

    images2. However, as always, tere is a way to display true colour images in AutoCAD.

    'ull-down Tools $ptions…

    6eyboard $#TI$* sort-cut $#

    )e 9ptions command can be used to !orce

     AutoCAD to display all images in true colour. )o do tis, start te command and clic" on te Display

    tab o! te 9ptions dialogue bo$. )e Display 'er!ormance area o! te dialogue bo$ 1sown on te

    rigt2 allows you to cange a number o! image related settings including te display o! true colour

    images. :otice also tat you can !orce AutoCAD to display images during dynamic pan and ;oom

    operations. :ormally AutoCAD sows only te image !rame.

     Altoug it is (uite nice to wor" wit true colour images, it is not essential. #or te sa"e o! speed it may

    be prudent to wor" wit low colour images and ten switc to true colour at te end o! te drawing

    process be!ore you plot.

    Top of page

    )e +$press Image )ools AutoCAD ?BBB comes wit a set o! additional tools "nown as +$press )ools. )e +$press )ools are an

    option wen AutoCAD is installed. %ou can tell i! tey ave been installed on your computer by loo"ing

    at te pull-down menu bar. I! tey ave been installed, you sould see te +$press pull-down located

    between 3odi!y and Window. +$press )ools provide a range o! very use!ul additional or ybrid

    commands tat compliment te standard AutoCAD tool"it.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    18/22

    :ote !or users o! AutoCAD ?BBBi and above

    Starting wit AutoCAD ?BBBi, )e +$press )ools are no longer provided !ree as an integral part o! te

     AutoCAD installation. )ey ave proved so use!ul tat Autodes" as decided to sell tem to users at

    an additional cost. 'ersonally, I tin" AutoCAD is already e$pensive enoug and te +$press )ools

    sould be part o! te basic AutoCAD tool"it.

    )e commands we are going to cover ere are

    most easily accessed !rom te +$press Standard )oolbar. )o display tis toolbar you need to use te

    )oolbars dialogue bo$, sown on te rigt. View Toolbars…

    Cange te 3enu >roup to +0'*+SS using te drop-down list and you will see a new range o!

    toolbars appear in te )oolbars list. Cec" te bo$ against +$press Standard )oolbar and te

    toolbar will appear in te drawing window. Clic" te Close button to clear te )oolbars dialogue bo$.

    I! you ave not seen te +$press )ools be!ore, it is well wort loading tem up and e$perimenting wit

    tem. Some o! tem are real time-savers. )ere are two tat are particularly use!ul wit respect to

    images and tey are )oggle #rames and Super Hatc, described below.

    Top of page

    )oggle #rames

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down none

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    19/22

    6eyboard T+RAME*

    )e )oggle #rames command is a simpli!ied version o! te Image #rame command, covered above.

    *ater tan prompting to turn !rames eiter on or o!! and re(uiring some user input, it simply inverses

    te current state. I! !rames are on tey will be turned o!! and vice versa. )is avoids any necessity !or

    using te "eyboard. It certainly ma"es wor"ing wit images a lot (uic"er.

    Top of page

    Super Hatc

    )oolbar 

    'ull-down E/press 'raw *uper Hat&0…

    6eyboard *)#ERHATCH

    Super Hatc is a very power!ul command tat enables you to create atc patterns !rom images,

    bloc"s, 0re!s and wipeouts. )is command as many options tat are well wort getting to "now but

    !or now we will ust loo" at ow to create a atc pattern !rom an image.

    %ou can create a atc pattern !rom any image tat AutoCAD can attac. However, i! you want your

    atc to loo" uni!orm, you will need to use an image tat will tile seamlessly rater li"e te tiles tat

    you use !or your Windows wallpaper. I! you would li"e to !ollow tis tutorial, you can download te bric"

    image on te rigt. Eust rigt-clic" on te image and save it to your wor" !older. )e image is called

    tile.%pg and is a true colour image, as are all E'+>s.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Frame%23Framehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Frame%23Framehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Frame%23Framehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    20/22

    5e!ore you start te Super Hatc command, draw a circle somewere

    witin te drawing window. %ou will use tis circle as te atc boundary. %ou can use almost any

     AutoCAD obect to !orm atc boundaries !or Super Hatc. %ou cannot, owever, use Splines altoug

    you can use splined polylines.

    Start te Super Hatc command and you will be presented wit a small dialogue bo$ 1sown on te

    le!t2 tat o!!ers a number o! options. #or te moment, ust clic" on te Image

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    21/22

    one.

    #se ?+28&S to togg$e oect frames on and off.

    Hatc wit #rames Hatc witout #rames )rue Colour Hatc

    witout 5oundary

    %ou sould now see your image tiled witin te circle. :otice tat since image !rames are turned on,

    te atc displays as a matri$ o! rectangular images. As AutoCAD elp!ully suggests, use te )oggle

    #rames command to turn image !rames o!!. )e tree illustrations above sow te atc as it !irst

    appears 1le!t2, wit !rames turned o!! 1centre2 and wit te boundary obect turned o!! and colour dept

    set to )rue Colour  1rigt2.

    I! you loo" closely at te images above, you may notice tat te atc does not !ollow te atcboundary per!ectly. )is is particularly noticeable on curved boundaries because Super Hatc uses

    curve appro$imations tat are composed o! straigt line segments. %ou can control ow closely Super

    Hatc appro$imates curves by canging te Curve error tolerance value in te dialogue bo$. )e

    smaller te value, te more accurate te curve appro$imation.

    9nce you ave created a atc pattern using a particular image, you neednt go troug te same

    process o! attacing te image ne$t time you want to create a similar atc pattern in te same

    drawing. %ou can copy an e$isting atc by using te Select e$isting F button. 3a"e sure tat !rames

    are turned on be!ore you use tis option because oterwise you wont be able to select te atc.

    :ow tat you ave completed te tutorial, wy not try te associated e$ercise Using Images in order to

    practice your new s"ills. Also see Scaling Images to !ind out ow to scale scanned base in!ormation.

    Top of page

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#True%23Truehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#Toggle%23Togglehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#True%23Truehttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/using-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/scaling-images.phphttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav

  • 8/17/2019 All About Images

    22/22

    )ips & )ric"s

    •  Altoug AutoCAD supports te )I## image !ile !ormat, it rater annoyingly does not

    support )I##s wit 8=W compression. I! you cannot see te image preview o! a )I## !ile

    and it wont display in AutoCAD, te cances are tat it as been saved wit 8=W

    compression. I! tis is te case, te only option is to open te image in a raster

    application suc as Adobe 'otosop and save te image witout compression.

    • #or general purpose wor", te E'+> !ile !ormat is probably te most convenient !or

    wor"ing wit AutoCAD. E'+> images display well in true colour and are relatively small

    1depending upon te level o! compression2.

    • )ry to "eep image !ile si;es as small as possible. AutoCAD will wor" !aster wit small

    image !iles. Wen you scan your image, you will need to consider te level o! detailre(uired. Dont !orget tat !or many !ile !ormats, te pysical image si;e 1measured in

    pi$els2 is directly related to !ile si;e. #or e$ample, a 53' image scanned at 7BBdpi will be

    G times larger tan te same image scanned at @Bdpi.

    • Images do not display wen a drawing is rendered.

    • I! you distribute your AutoCAD drawings by email or on dis", dont !orget to send any

    attaced image !iles along wit te drawing !ile so tat tose viewing te drawing will also

    see te images.

    Top of page

    Donate to CAD)utor 

    I! you !ound tis tutorial use!ul, you migt li"e to consider ma"ing a donation. All content on tis site is

    provided !ree o! carge and we ope to "eep it tat way. However, running a site li"e CAD)utor does

    cost money and you can elp to improve te service and to guarantee its !uture by donating a small

    amount. We guess tat you probably wouldnt miss .33 but it would ma"e all te di!!erence to us.

    http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnavhttp://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/all-about-images.php#topnav%23topnav