Richard Putnam 1 Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Hi, I am looking for a program to convert Jpeg or similar to DXF file suitable to load onto a cad program. ( Total Cad). I have tried several supposedly free programs only to find that you can't save your image without buying the full program. OK I can understand where the companies are coming from and I don't blame them for wanting cash for their hard work, but I am only dabbling with cad at the moment and don't want the outlay. many thanks Richard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Having used various CAD packages as well as photoshop a lot, I would be amazed that you can get one for free. Even if it gave an accurate end result (which I doubt - see below), you would probably be better off importing the image file into your CAD software and tracing over it. I'm sceptical because a jpeg is a raster image: a series of dots of colour tones placed next to each other in a grid to create an image. CAD uses vector graphics, where points on a line are plotted and connected mathmatically, and values assigned to define width, colour etc. Raster and vector are totally different, therefore, speaking as a professional designer, in my experience the results of the conversion are usually of a poor quality and fail to find edges or describe the image you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Putnam 1 Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 Hi LHF, How do I import an image file into CAD? I thought the only way was to convert your raster image into a vector image? I am using Total Cad. can't see any suffix in Photoshop that will be accepted by the Cad program. I am new to Cad and determined to learn how to use it so any help would be gratefully accepted. Richard. PS love your avatar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Hi, I've not used Total Cad but would assume (going on my AutoCAD / Vectorworks / 3DS Max / SketchUP experience) that somewhere under the file menu is the option "import" which will allow you to select an image file and add it to the drawing space in the same way as you would a CAD object. You may have to predefine the point you want it to appear in terms of co-ordinates, but it should be moveable anyway. In photoshop you can "save as" (also under the file menu) a photoshop .pdf which may be readable by and importable into total cad. If not, I would suggest googling and downloading a free programme called "Cute PDF" which I have used to turn various CAD files into PDF's to work on in photoshop. It may be able to convert PDF's into DXF or DWG files. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 I am not an expert, I have been using CorelDraw since 1990, at one time I did the design, layout and typesetting for a council printing dept. which was my only "commercial" use. I would agree that the best way is to import your image and draw round it, the "trace" function does not give the required results for plan type work. I have used Autocad quite a lot in the past, but must say that in recent years, I have found that CorelDraw is what I use for plane, model aircraft and buildings. The open office drawing programme is quite good for being free, as it is vector based. I think your first move would be to be able to make good drawings of your plans, progressing to dedicated CAD software if the need arises. A case of taking one step at a time. But please go by LHF comments on what I suggest, as I am only a casual user! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Putnam 1 Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 Hi Steve and LHF, I have now tried converting an image to PDF. Go into Total Cad and click open as there is no import button. I try to open the PDF file a box appears on the screen "No filter matching this file." ! So I am still stuck. I have looked at Cute PDF but it doesn't seem to convert to any other formats. You are right Steve I can manually draw my aeroplane , but the whole point is I want to move on to CAD. I have somewhere Coral draw so that would be an alternative but I don't think that would be Vector based? Richard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton van Munsteren Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Richard, Iam using Wintopo to make a DXF from a JPG . Klink the link below for how it works and download the freeware http://wintopo.com/help/freeware-example1.htm Ton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Putnam 1 Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 HI Ton, Have you actually converted an image and and put that image into a cad program? When I tried it I believe it said it would insert a sample of the image and you had to buy the " pro" program before I could insert the complete image. You can save the image within the program but that is the limit of what you can achieve unless I am doing something wrong! I have also tried: Vector Now Solid works E-Drawing. AVSImage converter and of course Wintopo. They all want payment before you can insert your image into a Cad program. It was Wintopo that spured me on to start this thread! Regards Richard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton van Munsteren Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Richard, Yes using it for years now no problem at all please check my FIAT G50 this one started also with wintopo as bases for Rhino. When I open my wintopo I have two options the professional and the freeware you must click the freeware thats the one you can save. Ton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton van Munsteren Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Richard Mine works exactly as shown on the link . http://wintopo.com/help/freeware-example1.htm By the way the green one is the pro the orange one is the standard / freeware. Ton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Todd Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 just downloaded wintopo, impressive and seems to work fine Lindsay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Putnam 1 Posted December 27, 2010 Author Share Posted December 27, 2010 hi all, At last I have managed to import a drawing! Using Wintopo I have saved the drawing as a PDF file and imported it in total cad as an object. I don't feel I am doing you all enough credit just saying many thanks. You all have given me the encouragement to to continue when at times I have felt like giving up. So "Many thanks" to all who have contributed to this topic and a prosperous New Year. Richard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke S2C Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Hi all, Scan2CAD converts JPG to DXF. Download the free trial from www.scan2cad.com It is a fully functional 14 day trial, you can convert pretty much any file to DXF. They also recently released the article "Pro Tips Convert JPG to DXF " which may help you on your way. (Disclosure - I work at Scan2CAD, any questions we'd be happy to help.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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