"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison.
We've released an updated version of Scan2CAD, v7.5f. It contains a number of user requested improvements such as CIT raster file type support; image width, height and paper size display; resampling; a pixel measure command; and improvements to selection, tiling, clipboard support and undo.
For more details and upgrade options, click here.
Please keep your suggestions coming!
A fully functional Scan2CAD trial is now available from here.
It lets you load your own raster images, convert them to vectors and save the vectors as full DXF files. There is no restriction on the size or number of images you can convert during the trial.
The trial is fully working for 14 days. After 14 days, vector save, batch conversion, font training and the command line are disabled. However the trial continues to function as an unrestricted raster editor, color reduction tool, cleanup tool and tiling tool.
I've been involved with Scan2CAD since it was first released in 1995. As you can probably guess, I've vectorized hundreds of images since then and I decided to write down the steps I take when I vectorize an image.
Vectorization is not usually a one step process. This is because all raster images are different and most raster images need some tidying before they can be vectorized successfully. If you want a good vectorization, there is no "one size fits all" solution.
If you follow the steps in my Guide they will help you get the best possible vectorization from most black and white images. Once you are familiar with the steps and with what to look for, you'll be able to get good vectorizations very quickly - so long as your images are suitable for vectorization.
Remember that not all raster images can be successfully vectorized. Some images are too poor quality, have been scanned at too low or too high a resolution, or are simply unsuitable (e.g. have too much overlapping content or too many tiny details that cannot be scanned in sufficient detail for vectorization). You'll see some examples of these in the Guide.
My Real World Guide is now included with Scan2CAD. It's also available as a download, here.
National Trust volunteer steward Michael Bennison has used Scan2CAD to convert historic maps of Sheffield Park, a beautiful and listed English garden, into DXF files which he places on layers over contemporary AutoCAD drawings in order to identify changes made during the past 260 years.
Having converted maps of the garden that go back as far as 1745, Bennison said "I have been very impressed by Scan2CAD's speed, accuracy and ease of use. I shall certainly recommend your Scan2CAD software".
There's never been a better time to buy a large format scanner. Prices keep coming down. Performance keeps going up. But how much and what "performance" do CAD users need? At what point do you pay too much for more than you need?
Using our knowledge of raster to vector conversion to determine good scanned image quality, we've created a new web site that offers CAD users hot news and practical advice on buying a large format scanner for everyday CAD work:
Get a handy large format scanner comparison chart!
Our comparison chart lists the main features of 31 scanner models from Colortrac, Contex and Graphtec. It lets you quickly see the main differences between scanner makes and models. It can be downloaded from here.
Colortrac have released a new 600 dpi, 42" scanner, the SmartLF Gx 42. Unlike the SmartLF Cx 40 which uses CIS technology, the Gx 42 uses CCD technology which Colortrac claim gives it better colour recognition.
While the CIS-based SmartLF Cx 40 is great for most CAD usage, one area where the Gx 42's CCD technology is better is in the capture of highlighter pen detail.
We believe that the SmartLF Gx 42 does more than most CAD users require, but it will prove to be popular because of its price and performance.
Read all about the new Colortrac SmartLF Gx 42, "CCD vs CIS" and other issues here.
PDF files can either contain raster drawings, vector drawings or a combination of both raster and vector.
Scan2CAD can convert any type of PDF file - raster, vector or a combination of both - if you first convert the PDF file to TIFF or BMP format. Once it's in one of these formats you can load it into Scan2CAD and convert it to DXF in the normal way. Click here for more information.
If your PDF file contains a vector drawing you may want to take a look at a program called PDF2CAD. This converts the vectors in a PDF file direct to CAD vectors (DXF, DWG, DGN etc.). Click here to visit PDF2CAD's web site, where you can find out more and download a fully working trial.
Users sometimes send us color or grayscale photos of objects they'd like to vectorize the outline of. We've been sent photos of cows, cats, cars ...
Unfortunately, vectorizing an object on a photo can be very difficult. This is because before you can vectorize the object you need to divide the photo into two discrete color areas: The object and the background. This is usually hard to do automatically because the object and the background tend to share colors or shades of gray that make it difficult or impossible to separate them.
Here's a quick "cheat" approach:
Smiling is contagious
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at
me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner,
and someone saw my grin -
When he smiled I
realized, I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine,
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected -
Let's start an epidemic quick
and get the world infected !!
(Source unknown but our thanks to the author for passing on that smile!)
Scan2CAD converts raster text to editable vector text using OCR, but it can only do this when the raster text is clean and clear. Is the text on your image suitable for OCR? Work through our Raster Text Quality Checklist!
"Many thanks for the great advice. Your rapid response to problems/questions and credible suggestions are unmatched when compared to other software firms we've dealt with. Thanks for the high standard of service."
P. Michor
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Scan2CAD support is free.
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S. Hobbs
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