Vectorization …

WHAT CAN IT DO FOR ME?

Vectorization - the Pro’s and Con’s

Having had a scanning bureau for over a year now  and used various Vectorization Softwares please find below some of the questions raised with this type of Service.

What are the advantages of having your drawings scanned and then vectorized:-

Please note that the drawings will need to be scanned first, then vectorised.

Advantages

Modify in CAD – Drawings once scanned and vectorized into a DXF File can be edited/ modified inside CAD as per a ‘normal’ CAD Drawing.

Not a Complete Re-Draw – If for arguments sake you have a large Site Plan and you are modifying part of the Site, can you Imagine having to re-draw the whole drawing for just the smaller modification?…this is where Scan2CAD comes into it’s own, as you can take it into your CAD Software erase the area where the modifications are taking place.  Add the new Vector information and Plot.

Similarly any drawing once scanned can be similarly edited, so you are saving hours of re-drawing from off the paper copy.

Disadvantages

It’s a Big File!! – Depending on the quality and clarity of the original, the file size can be reasonable compared to a ‘normal’ CAD Drawing, or Huge if the drawing is very poor.  Every mark speckle can be translated into a vector, even with careful despeckle settings. Especially if it is a copy of a copy.

The Quality is not as good as I expected!! – Again – even if the original drawing is first class you must ensure that you scan it correctly (use Monochrome not colour), plus if you are using eg Scan2CAD yourself you need to load the correct settings for the job in hand. Otherwise you will get a poor result and thus be disappointed.

Its very Jagged!! – Again settings inside the software and the original Scan quality settings are imortant.

It’s not to scale when brought into CAD!! – If you scan and Import you will find that you will need to re-scale.  Use a known dimension/ Line to set the Scale.  Most CAD softwares offer this Scale to a Reference function.

Objections Overcome

How can you get around the disadvantages posed above?

Not Readable – Ensure that the Company doing your drawings guarantees that every drawing is checked as it is scanned.

Find that Drawing!! – If the numbering system you use is not clear then why not ditch it for something more easily understood as your drawings are being scanned.  Lets have a chat about your filing system and devise easy ways for everyone to find that elusive drawing.

Plot to Scale – Ensure that the Company doing your drawings gives you proper advice ref your Viewing and Printing/Plotting software and what options are available.

Drawings on their SIDE! – Ensure that the Company doing your drawings rotates the drawings for you before saving onto CD.

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Scanning FAQ’s

Ø        Q. What format are the files in when I get them back?

A.       Normally in .TIF format.  These files are compact and can easily be viewed on many Graphics softwares (Imaging etc).

Ø        Q. Do I need special software or hardware to view/print from the disks?

A.       No a Windows based PC with CD Rom drive and Windows Imaging will view and print TIF Files.

Ø        Q. How many documents will fit onto a CD Rom

A.       It all depends on the quality of your documents, however as a general rule you can expect to get approximately 20.000 A4 image files on each CD.

Ø        Q. Can I put the scanned files onto a network?

A.       Yes – this will mean that they are available to all who have access rights to the particular Directory where they are stored.

Ø        Q. What if I need to modify the scanned files or add extra files later ?

A.       Files can be updated or added by us at any time as required.

Ø        Q. Can we copy the CD ourselves? Is there any extra fee to be paid?

A.       There is no extra Fee - You can freely copy the disks.

Ø        Q. Can I have my documents indexed and put onto a Database?

A.       Yes, but before scanning we will discuss your exact requirements and provide you with a sample for approval.  There are various options available.

Ø        Q. Can you Vectorize/OCR a document or drawing?

A.       Yes we can OCR single scanned pages or entire drawings. We would need to discuss this with you and check the quality of the originals.

Ø        Q. Can I print a drawing back to its full size?

A.       Yes you may print out any size you require, so long as the printer/plotter supports the output size required..

Ø        Q. Can I e-mail a scanned file from my PC?

A.       Depending upon the e-mail software, documents can be e-mailed via an Attachment and then viewed Printed via Windows Imaging etc.

Ø        Q. Can you scan old linen drawings and/or dyeline copies.

A.       Yes, but again the scanned file quality depends on the quality of the original.

Ø        Q. Can I print out a small section of a drawing/document?

A.       Yes you can print out small or large sections the capability of the printer selected is the only restriction.

Ø        Q. How easy is it to find the items on the CD?

A.       Very straightforward - the images on a disk will normally be made available using the name of the Drawing file and stored with a TIF extension.

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Outline of Service

A Personal Scanning Service…

I can provide you with a Personal Scanning Service and guess what….I always check ‘every’ drawing to ensure it is readable.  If not I re-scan, sometimes providing you with two or more copies of the same drawing: These have either an _LT (Lighter) or _DK extension to the filename…thus ensuring that between the drawings you will be able to read all of the important information.

Rotation of Large Drawings…

Drawings are also rotated as required, plus I use Windows Imaging….a Free Package that allows rotation with a minimum overhead.  Some Image Viewing Packages increase the size of a drawing quite alarmingly when rotated.  Imaging is very good at this.

Advice on Filing Systems…

I can advise you on how you might re-order your naming system to make the drawings more easy to locate using logical Folders/ Directories to help you find particular drawings.

Help with Viewing and Printing Softwares…

Education and Helping my Customers has been the key to my business and it’s success, so I will do my very best to help you get the best Viewing and Plotting/Printing Software (at the very best price – FREE if possible) so that Plot to Scale problems are eliminated.

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SCAN2CAD - Cost effective Vectorization...how I use it :-

I run a small Business, where I Train Clients on CAD...Mainly AutoCAD/ paraCAD+ and ACAD Architectural Add—On’s, I also have a large format A0 Scanner, so am able to Scan Drawings for Clients and also draft Paper Drawings into CAD via manual input.

As I had the scanner and knew CAD quite well (being in the business for over 13 years) I was continually asked about the ability to scan and vectorize drawings into CAD.

As I am only in my first year of Trading, I had to be careful regarding any investments I made in both Hardware (Scanner/Pc’s etc) and also Software.

I had used an older copy of Scan2CAD in a previous Company, and had also seen other Scan to Vectorization software in action whilst in the CAD Industry (many cost over £1,500!!).

As £1,500 was out of my price range and I knew Scan2CAD was up to the job I sent for a copy of Scan2CAD V7, plus I have just recently downloaded the latest V7.2 update Free of Charge off the excellent Softcover Web Site (www.softcover.com).

Now I used to be a CAD Salesman, so I know the difference between ‘demonstrating’ a Software and ‘using it in anger’. There can be a big difference between what you see at the Show and what you find you are using in your business.  It can sometimes be disappointing.

One thing you will notice straight away is that the Interface is slightly different to the way say AutoCAD works, so be patient and read the Help/ Book and you will soon get used to how it all work.

Another item worth mentioning here is Softcovers approach on feedback from customers.  Many program developers look on it as an insult to their ‘Baby’ - softcovers approach is “let us know and we’ll listen – and if it’s a good idea we’ll do it”.  Now that’s what I call the correct way to deal with customer feedback.

A great deal of my work involves partnerships with Architectural Practices, many carrying out sub-contract work for Local Councils (as well as Engineers). They find that they need to get the ‘existing’ drawings into CAD quickly so that they can then amend to suit.

That’s where I come in…my customers send me the paper drawings to get into CAD (be it AutoCAD or another CAD software).

One thing that is really time-consuming is sitting there with your scale rule trying to get decent measurements of that piece of paper.  It can be soul destroying and very, very time-consuming.

To alleviate this problem I first scan the drawing and create a Monochrome TIF File normally at 400dpi and then pass it across into Scan2CAD. 

The main problem I have is that I generally (99% of the time) receive a copy NOT the original…this is because customers do not want Master drawings to be off-site, which of course is understandable.  Therefore when I scan the drawings and pass across to Scan2CAD I sometimes don’t get as good a result as I would if I were using that Master drawing.

Once opened in Scan2CAD I can then choose the Type (Electrical/ Mechanical/ Architectural) and let Scan2CAD create my DXF file for me.  You have control over Rotation (Deskew: I call it – as it is difficult to always be 100% at right angles when feeding a drawing into the scanner).  You can also despeckle a bit if/as required and mend gaps/ smooth lines.  (Again working through the Scan2CAD Interactive Tutorials is worthwhile as it will give you the basic’s.)  Try looking in the Help File too…it has the majority of the answers, or try the web site for the FAQ’s.  Then if you are still stuck I have found softcover to be very helpful…even in some instances looking at ‘problem’ TIF files to see what the ‘problem’ really is.   I quite often get scanned images sent to me for drafting, and the number one problem is a Super High Resolution Colour scan instead of Mono, so check this point carefully.

You must understand also that if the drawing is in very poor condition, then what you put in you will get out: ie: Scan2CAD can only do it’s best with ‘rubbish’!!.

Anyway back to “how I use Scan2CAD”…

Please note that I have had excellent results from Master Drawings, where this method is not required ie: I simply tidy up the DXF file a bit and plot it out.

As I am supposed to be re-drafting this drawing from scratch my customers expect 100% first quality, but to save me time I Scan2CAD to do 90-95% of the work and I do the rest, thus ensuring that the final results are perfect.

…once Scan2CAD has created the DXF File I Import this into the CAD Software and then re-scale to the true size (you can use the standard AutoCAD Scale ‘Reference’ to get this accurate).  I usually place this geometry onto a faint coloured layer (that I call S2C )…a dark grey if on a black background.  I then create a layer that I call ‘trace’ and make this white. If for instance I am re-producing some architectural elevations the majority of lines on the DXF will be fine, but of course some will not be.  I then change the S2C lines onto Trace (easiest way in ACAD is to just select the lines and then pick the Trace layer) and very quickly start to build up the detail required. Note that I am not drawing over the S2C Layer, simply changing them to the correct Layer.  I am also able to use Offset and fillet zero commands to tidy up and modify using the scan2CAD DXF File…I don’t have to start from a clean sheet in CAD.   If you are lucky enough to have a really good quality drawing, then it is surprising how quickly you can build up the detail. After that just delete the left over entities on the S2C Layer.

This literally means that I am completing the elevation drawing in around half the time, plus ending up with an accurate drawing that I can then e-mail back to my Architectural customer to carry out his amendments for that Local CC.

All in all I find that Scan2CAD has saved me a vast amount of time, thus has given me back a very rapid payback on my initial investment.  Where the Master Drawing is good and I scan it correctly, I have very little work to do afterwards.

Well done softcover…for making Vectorization ‘affordable.  A good VFM software...why pay £1,500! For a software that won’t do any better than scan2CAD. Being an ‘canny’ Ex-CAD salesman I know how much I would prefer to pay for quality vectorization.

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