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Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:50 am
by wvar
I am not sure if this is a V18 thing.

I saved a pdf file to jpg at 200 dpi. However, when I imported it into Datacad the bitmap is a very low resolution.

Is there a setting that controls the resolution of bitmaps in Datacad.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:56 am
by MtnArch
Did you try saving it to a higher DPI and inserting it (just for grins and giggles)?

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 1:12 am
by wvar
Thanks Alan
I tried TIFF at 300 dpi. The print quality was average. Screen display was not very good.
The bitmap that I am importing is a site plan containing linework only.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:11 am
by Paul Nida
I haven't installed 18 yet, but I would open the pdf in my pdf viewer and zoom in until the image quality was what I wanted. Then I copy the page to my clipboard and paste it into my DCAD drawing.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 8:04 pm
by wvar
Paul Nida wrote:I haven't installed 18 yet, but I would open the pdf in my pdf viewer and zoom in until the image quality was what I wanted. Then I copy the page to my clipboard and paste it into my DCAD drawing.


Thanks Paul

Your method usually works for me. Except in this case I have a pdf that is A1 in size and a screen clip of the whole drawing is unreadable.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 8:07 pm
by wvar
The bitmap is very clear when I import the bitmap into other software eg Bricscad. I really didn't want to use 2 CAD pakages when working on a project.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:19 pm
by Mark F. Madura
Can you send the PDF file to help@datacad.com?

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 11:43 pm
by Paul Nida
wvar wrote:
Paul Nida wrote:I haven't installed 18 yet, but I would open the pdf in my pdf viewer and zoom in until the image quality was what I wanted. Then I copy the page to my clipboard and paste it into my DCAD drawing.


Thanks Paul

Your method usually works for me. Except in this case I have a pdf that is A1 in size and a screen clip of the whole drawing is unreadable.


I wouldn't do a screen clip I would zoom in to set the resolution (I usually use 200 to 400%) but select the whole drawing not just what is on the screen.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:43 am
by wvar
Thanks Paul
I zoomed in to a jpg file to the required level. Selected all, Copy, then pasted in as a bitmap in Datacad. Same display quality as previous.
I have sent a copy of the pdf to Datacad.
Regards

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:56 am
by Paul Nida
I was talking about the pdf not a jpg. A jpg is what it is, it doesn't matter whether you zoom in or not.

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 11:42 am
by Mark F. Madura
Hello Walter,

I've had a chance to look at your PDF file and experimented a bit with various methods to maximize the quality of the imported image in DataCAD.

Your PDF document includes a full-sized sheet that when exported to a bitmap at 300 d.p.i. is larger than eight thousand pixels wide.

Unfortunately for DataCAD, that is pushing the practical limit for an imported bitmap, and 300 d.p.i. is the minimum resolution you need for a black and white image (line drawing) to be sharp enough for printing.

Adobe Acrobat does not appear to smooth (or anti-alias) the vector image when you export to a bitmap, so the 300 d.p.i. image does not look as sharp as it otherwise would. Ideally, you could export the PDF to a 600 d.p.i. image, then re-sample it down by 50% in a paint program. The result would be a smoother 300 d.p.i. bitmap. However, I get an error from Acrobat that the resulting image is 'too wide' to create.

I was able to open your PDF file in Photoshop at 600 d.p.i. and save it as a 300 d.p.i. PNG file.

The PDF does contain vectors, so if you can get a DWG file from whoever created the PDF file, that would be a better way to go.

If you can't get a DWG file, and you need to import these types of files into DataCAD often, you might consider buying a dedicated PDF conversion program such as BackToCAD ( http://www.backtocad.com/engl/convert-p ... nline.html ).

Thank You,

MFM

Re: Bitmap Resolution

PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 4:12 pm
by wvar
Thanks to Mark & Paul I managed to get a satisfactory result.

Here is my process:

In Bluebeam Revu
1. Open PDF
2. Edit > Preferences > Snapshot > Resolution set to say 200 - 300 dpi
3. Pan the PDF to a desired corner.
4. Zoom in to a required zoom level (say 800%)
5. Edit > Snapshot.
6. Press the left button on the mouse and, while holding the left button move mouse to the other required corner of the drawing. Then release the left button. The area selected will momentarilly turn blue.

Then

In Datacad
1. Open the drawing in which to insert the Bitmap.
2. Edit > Paste Special > Bitmap.
3. Name the Bitmap file to be inserted into Datacad.
4. Ensure Fixed Ratio is toggled on.
5. Select the first and second corner of the Bitmap being inserted.
6. Use the Enlarge command to adjust the size of the Bitmap.