Scan2CAD Hints & Tips - Carlson Software

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Color ChecklistLook at the number after the file name at the top of the screen. Ifthis number is 256 or 16.7M your image is grayscale or color,even if it looks black and white!If you try to vectorize a grayscale or color image there are threelikely outcomes:The vectors look like crazy paving OR there are no vectors at allOR there are a few horizontal and vertical lines at the image edge.Solutions• Use Thresholding to reduce image colors to black and white:1.Click to do a Simple Threshold or to do an AdaptiveThreshold. If a Threshold Information dialog appears, click Yesto continue.2.Move the slider(s) to a position where the lines on your imageare as solid as possible and the background is as clean as possible.Click the Help button in the Simple or Adaptive Threshold dialogfor more information on how to use the sliders.• Whiten the image background:1.Go to Palette > View/Edit Palette.2.Click on the colors that look white so they become selected.(To select a row of colors, click at the right hand end of the row.)3.Click on Change To White.4.Click on OK.• Rescan the drawing using the Scanning Checklist included withthese Hints and Tips.Vectorization Settings ChecklistA technical explanationBy default, Scan2CADvectorizes every non-whitepixel it sees on a whitebackground. It does notvectorize white pixels.Sometimes a backgroundthat looks white is slightlynon-white. Maybe it's crisscrossedby non-white areasleading to crazy pavingvectors, or maybe it'scompletely non-white leadingto no vectors.In a 256 color image 255 ofthe colors are non-white.Now imagine an image with16.7 million colors whereonly one is white! You cansee how easy it is to end upwith a non-white background!The problem is particularlylikely if you are convertingJPEG files because JPEGs canonly be color.Vectorization settings control the conversion ofraster images to vectors.The default settings thatare set when you select an option from the TypeMenu give good results on most drawings butsometimes you may need to edit them.If dash lines are not recognizedMake sure that Type > Settings > ObjectIdentification > Dash Line is selected.Dash Linenot selectedDash LineselectedIn the diagrams above vector end points areenclosed in small squares.If Dash Line is selected and dash and dash dotlines are still not being identified try increasingthe maximum dash and gap lengths in Type >Settings > Advanced.If arrows are not recognizedMake sure that Type > Settings > ObjectIdentification > Arrow Line is selected.If arrows are still not identified try increasing themaximum arrow head length in Type > Settings> Advanced.Arrows will not be recognized when the arrow tipis touching a line that has a similar width to thearrow head. If an arrow is recognized as a line,you can quickly change it to an arrow as follows:1.Click .2.Right click.3.Select Arrow 1 or Arrow 2 from the dialog.4. Click on the lines you want to convert to arrows.The arrow head will be at the end of the lineyou click on.If polylines are not recognizedMake sure that Type > Settings > ObjectIdentification > Polyline is selected. Alternatively,use Vector Edit > Make Polylines to createpolylines after vectorization.Stuck? Questions? Email us at postmaster@softcover.com. Web: www.softcover.comPage 8© Softcover International Ltd 2002-2006. Scan2CAD is a registered trademark of Softcover International Ltd.
Vectorization Settings ChecklistIf hatch lines are not recognizedMake sure that the Hatch option correspondingto the angle of the hatch lines you want to identifyis selected in Type > Settings > ObjectIdentification.If hatch lines are still not identified, try increasingthe Hatch Line angle tolerance in Type > Settings> Advanced.If hatch lines are identified but the lines are notparallel, select the angle in Type > Settings >Angle Optimization that corresponds to the angleof the hatch lines you want to identify.If arcs or Bezier curves are not recognizedIf arcs are not recognized make sure that Type >Settings > Object Identification > Arc is selected.If Bezier curves are not recognized make surethat Type > Settings > Object Identification >Bezier is selected.You can choose to identify arcs or Bezier curves.If the image is a typical architectural, mechanicalor electrical drawing containing mainly straightlines, select arc. If the image is mainly curvy,like a contour map, ship hull, aerofoil or freeformartwork select Bezier. If you are vectorizing acurvy image but your CAD or CNC program doesnot support splines you can still select Bezier.You can convert the Bezier curves to arcs or lineson export using File > Vector > Export Options.If circles are not recognizedIf circles are not recognized make sure that Type> Settings > Object Identification > Circle isselected.Line WidthIf thick lines contain double vectors, increase Type> Settings > General > Line Width.Double vectorsAfter increasingLine Width... continuedDeviation FactorIf the vectors do not follow the lines on the rasterimage closely enough, decrease Type > Settings> General > Deviation Factor.Loose vectorsAfter decreasingDeviation FactorIf you have to decrease the Deviation Factor youmay have scanned your drawing at too low aresolution. You may want to try rescanning it ata higher resolution.Corner SnapIf corners are chamfered, increase Type >Settings > General > Corner Snap to sharpenthem. You may also need to increase Type >Settings > Advanced > Corner Snap AngleTolerance.Chamfered cornerAfter increasingCorner SnapPass-Thro SnapIf vectors do not cross neatly at untidy rasterjunctions, increase Type > Settings > General >Pass-Thro Snap.Untidy junctionAfter increasingPass-Thro SnapLoose Ends LengthIf you have a lot of loose end vectors, increaseType > Settings > General > Loose Ends Length.If you have to increase Line Width, the lines onyour raster image are thicker than normal. Thickerlines have more unwanted protrusions and holesso use Raster Effects > Smooth ( ) and RasterEffects > Clean > Remove Holes ( ) beforevectorization. You may want to try rescanningyour drawing at a lower resolution to decreasethe line thickness.Loose end vectorsAfter increasingLoose Ends LengthTo avoid loose end vectors, use Raster Effects >Smooth ( ) before vectorization.Stuck? Questions? Email us at postmaster@softcover.com. Web: www.softcover.comPage 9© Softcover International Ltd 2002-2006. Scan2CAD is a registered trademark of Softcover International Ltd.
Page 2 and 3: Scanning ChecklistIf your drawing i
Page 4 and 5: Not getting the results you were ex
Page 6 and 7: Raster Quality ChecklistFuzziness i
Page 10 and 11: Vectorization Settings ChecklistGap
Page 12 and 13: Using Scan2CAD to convert PDF files
Page 14 and 15: Using Scan2CAD to convert logos...
Page 16 and 17: Typing over poor quality textIt doe
Page 18: How to tell if a polyline is closed

Scan2CAD Hints & Tips - Carlson Software

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