1.0 Introduction

The maxim ‘sharing is caring’ features heavily in a collaborative work environment. That the DXF format exists is a true testament to the popular saying, which, though used in informal settings, bears much weight professionally. In the DXF files, designers find an open-source vector file format that can be opened by many a CAD programs.

But it is not uncommon for the CAD programs to have their native file formats – for AutoCAD, for example, that would be DWG. Secondly, some drawings may be saved using raster formats such as PNG, JPG, or TIFF. Combined, these aspects create a problem when everything is analyzed through the lens of collaboration – not every CAD program is designed to universally open all files, raster or vector. Thus, different team members whose workflow entails working with only one CAD software may be unable to work effectively. This is especially so if they receive files saved using raster or vector formats native to other programs and not what they are used to. This is where converting to DXF format comes in.

An integral piece in boosting collaboration and smoothing the workflow, converting JPG, PNG, PDF, SVG, and DWG formats as well as floorplans, paper drawings, and Matterport floorplans to DXF is more of a necessity than a rarity. And in this comprehensive guide, we extensively cover how to convert these myriad formats to DXF format. In addition, we cover how to convert raster file formats such as PNG, JPG, raster PDF, and TIFF, as well as vector formats, namely DWG and SVG. Welcome aboard!

2.0 What is DXF file format?

Short for Drawing Exchange Format – but can also stand for Drawing Interchange Format – DXF was developed by Autodesk. Its initial release in December 1982 coincided with the launch of AutoCAD 1.0. The intention behind the DXF’s development was simple: to create an open-source file format that would enable collaboration among different CAD programs.

At that time, Autodesk had already developed the DWG file format as AutoCAD’s native file format. And it guarded DWG’s documentation and technical specifications. Unfortunately, this meant that other developers who wanted their software to support DWG either had to part with some money in license fees or reverse engineer the format. But in came the DXF file format, which was designed to represent all the data stored in a typical DWG file. And being open-source, its source code was, and still is, freely available. Thus, any developer could use it, facilitating collaboration and sharing of files. The collaboration intent is even captured in the format’s full name.

A sample of the DXF file format structure

Autodesk initially launched the ASCII format of DXF, a factor that perhaps explains its popularity to date (ASCII DXF files are more common than binary DXF files). The ASCII format completely represents an AutoCAD drawing in an ASCII text form and is easily processed by other CAD programs. On the other hand, the binary DXF format, introduced in 1988, stores the data in binary form, i.e., a cluster of zeros and ones.

The binary DXF file is technically superior to ASCII despite being less common. For instance, it takes up 25% less file space than a similar ASCII DXF file. It can also be read about five times faster than the ASCII DXF file and is more accurate. Generally, however, the acronym DXF denotes the ASCII type.

That said, what is the purpose/function of the DXF file format? DXF is an exchange format that allows engineers, architects, and designers to share drawings across different programs. And this fact has made it extremely popular.

3.0 Which file formats can be converted to DXF?

The evolution of technology has brought good tidings as far as file conversion is concerned. Now more than ever, you can convert both raster and vector files to DXF, despite the stark differences between the formats. For instance, raster drawings are made up of pixels, while vector drawings comprise vector elements that are created using mathematical formulas. Thus, whereas the resolution of a raster design diminishes with the uptick in magnification, the quality of a vector drawing remains constant as zooming in or out. This is because such actions only change the variables in the mathematical formulas, which are recalculated with every magnification.

And because DXF is a vector file format, the approach to converting a raster file varies from what would typically be required of a vector to vector file conversion. Typically, to convert a raster image to DXF, you would need to trace the outline of the drawing, manually or automatically, thereby creating a new vector drawing on top of the raster outline. This can sometimes be problematic in terms of accuracy and the time taken, especially if you elect to use the manual approach.

Fortunately, as we shall outline later, some software programs can undertake automatic raster to vector conversion with great accuracy. Using such programs, you can convert PNG, JPG, TIFF, and PDF file formats as well as SVG and DWG. You can also convert different types of drawings, from Matterport floorplans and architectural floorplans to paper drawings.

Technological advancements have, in fact, made it possible to complete the conversions online, offline, or on mobile or tablet. Additionally, you can convert multiple files simultaneously in a process known as batch conversion. Here’s how.

3.1 Converting PDF to DXF

An abbreviation for Portable Document Format, PDF is a popular file format, the third most popular file format on the web after HTML and XHTML. First released in 1992, PDF enables anyone to send electronic versions of documents and subsequently view and print them in the same state they were initially saved. PDF not only supports encryption and digital signatures but also stores metadata and different types of content. Examples of the different types of content you can save using this file format are:

• Text
• Graphics
• Rich media, such as video content
• 3D objects
• Logical structuring elements

There are two types of PDFs, namely raster PDFs and vector PDFs. As stated earlier, raster PDFs are made up of pixels and are created by saving a scanned image using this format. Conversely, vector PDFs, which are created by saving a drawing using vector software such as AutoCAD, Photoshop, or Illustrator, feature content that is defined by mathematical formulae.

That said, you cannot edit a PDF-based CAD drawing, begging the question, can you convert a PDF to a DXF file? Well, yes. When it comes to converting PDFs to DXF, you have to keep in mind the fact that you could be dealing with either a vector or raster PDF. Accordingly, as we have highlighted above, you need to take a different approach for each of the two types. But there is a simple method – using Scan2CAD.

Scan2CAD is a formidable and reliable PDF to DXF converter. (And though it enables you to convert PDFs to DXF, this is just one of the many file formats and conversions it supports.) Scan2CAD is packed with numerous helpful features with which you can clean up a raster PDF to ease the vectorization process.

3.2 Converting JPG to DXF

JPG or JPEG is the fourth most popular file format on the web after PDF and the most popular image file format on the web, according to Common Crawl. Outside of the web-based environment, JPG is still the most common image format used by digital cameras, mobile phones, and other image-capturing devices, particularly because it is the default format.

Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEG, a raster image format, is famed for its lossy compression that enables it to capture and store high-quality images in small file sizes. But the compression often strips the image of vital data crucial to applications such as image editing and web design. Additionally, this format does not support transparency – the state wherein layers within an image become ‘see through.’ For this reason, JPG is rarely used to create images that require a transparent layer, such as icons and logos. But it can capture and store architectural and engineering drawings and designs.

Unfortunately, drawings saved using the JPG format cannot be edited by adding or deleting objects such as lines or curves, as you would using CAD software. Of course, you can use image editing software to change elements such as the size, color, and even add text. But you cannot modify the length of an existing line or change the font size, for example. So, if you wish to modify the drawing, you have to convert JPG to DXF.

And that’s where Scan2CAD comes in. In addition to supporting PDFs, Scan2CAD enables you to flawlessly convert JPG to DXF, provided you use the available tools to clean up the raster image. And as we have highlighted below, there’s a lot you can achieve using Scan2CAD.

3.3 Converting PNG to DXF

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a raster image format. Created in the mid-1990s, PNG is compressed using a lossless approach. (This is unlike JPG, which uses lossy compression.) It also supports greyscale images, 24-bit RGB color palettes, and full-color (true color) non-palette-based images. Additionally, PNG supports transparency and opacity.

Ironically, though Common Crawl ranks PNG lower than JPG in terms of the most popular image formats on the web, it was initially created to facilitate the transfer of images on the internet. The images could include anything from photos with illustrations and architectural drawings as well as scans of architectural drawings and more.

But like its JPG counterpart, PNG does not let you make drastic changes to the content of the photo, even using Photoshop. If you wish to modify a drawing or plan by either deleting or adding some objects, you would first have to convert PNG to DXF. And this requires you to use file conversion tools, such as Scan2CAD, which are designed to automatically complete the conversion. Alternatively, you can use CAD programs such as AutoCAD that allow you to attach the image as a reference file. You then have to manually trace over the outline of a drawing. This underlines the convenience that Scan2CAD offers.

A leading conversion solution, Scan2CAD is a formidable and reliable PNG to DXF converter. Its reliability stems from the fact that it enables you to clean the PNG image using tools such as threshold, remove speckles and holes, thicken lines, and smooth. And that’s not all. Suppose the drawing contains both geometric objects and text-based objects. In that case, you can select the Vector & OCR option, which enables Scan2CAD to convert these raster objects into editable vector elements.

3.4 Converting SVG to DXF

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a digital vector image format created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Being a vector format, SVG has a one up on raster image formats like TIFF, BMP, PNG, and JPG, all of which are pixel-based. This advantage stems from the fact that the quality of SVG images does not diminish if they are scaled up or down. Rather, the quality is maintained throughout. On top of its characteristic as a quality file format, SVG is also famed for having a smaller file size than comparative raster images.

Little wonder then that SVG is mostly used for website icons and buttons and digital company logos. Additionally, the format stores animations, illustrations, graphs, and infographics. But where SVG falls short is in facilitating drastic modifications. After all, it is an image format.

This means you cannot permanently delete certain components of the drawing, for example, even using a vector graphics editor such as Illustrator, CorelDraw, Vectornator, and more. Such modifications would require you to convert SVG to DXF. Unfortunately, Scan2CAD does not currently support SVG to DXF conversions, but that does not mean the market does not have SVG to DXF converters.

Inkscape is proven software that not only enables you to edit SVG files but also export the edited content as DXF. This program stands out, especially because it is a free tool. You can, however, elect to use non-free applications such as CorelDraw or ReaConverter.

3.5 Converting TIFF to DXF

Tag Image File Format, or TIFF for short, is a raster format used to store image information and graphics. Like the PNG file format, TIFFs use a primarily lossless approach to file compression, meaning they retain a great deal of image detail and color depth. That said, TIFFs have better image quality and resolution than PNGs. This attribute makes them ideal for professional photography as well as saving satellite imagery and contour maps. It also makes them suitable for scans. Scans stored using the TIFF format feature unrivaled high-resolution image quality.

Generally, the quality of TIFFs is pegged on the fact that they can store extra image data and information, an attribute that translates to a larger file size. In fact, a single TIFF file can be used to store multiple lower-resolution JPG images. The advantages that the TIFF format offer, however, are no match for vector formats such as DXF, especially in a CAD setting. Here, professionals who wish to quickly edit drawings or scans saved as TIFFs would find it extremely hard.

Ordinarily, a designer’s, engineer’s, or architect’s workflow involves dealing with CAD software programs, which cannot edit TIFF files but are designed to work with vector formats such as DXF. So, converting TIFF to DXF becomes a necessity in such a scenario. And again, Scan2CAD comes to the rescue. As a TIFF to DXF converter, Scan2CAD simplifies a process that would otherwise take up a considerable length of time using other software programs.

While you can manually convert TIFF to DXF using tools such as AutoCAD, you would have to attach the TIFF as a reference file. You then have to manually trace over every line and curve. Understandably, this is bound to take up a lot of time. Scan2CAD, however, automatically traces over the geometric objects. That said, you have to clean up the raster image for the best results.

3.6 Converting DWG to DXF

DWG stands for drawing and is the native file format for AutoCAD files. Converting a DWG to DWF is very useful when you have created the DWG in AutoCAD and it is being used in another CAD package at some point else in the design process. As DXF is a universally accepted file format, it’s quite common to convert form DWG to DWF.

As DWG is a propriety file format, developed by Autodesk, applications which open, edit and export DWGs require a specially designed software for this file support. More often than not, CAD development companies purchase a ‘library’ (a small software application designed for a specific purpose) licensed by Autodesk which enables support for DWG files.

This propriety nature of DWG files means the number of CAD, CAM and CNC applications which support them is much fewer when compared to those that support DXF files. By contrast, DXF files are comparatively easy to read and support.

Converting can be done many different ways including using Scan2CAD, online converters or even Autodesk’s free file viewing software, DWG TrueView. To learn more about the different options available check out our ultimate guide to converting DWG to DXF.

3.7 Converting floorplans to DXF

Floor plan drawings are normally created by architects but they are increasingly being used for fire safety and security in buildings and therefore converting them to DXF is becoming more common. As not all buildings and homes are new, floor plans for the entire building or just one floor can be quite old, and in some cases over 100 years old.

These older drawings tend to be scanned images saved to a raster image format like a raster PDF. As these raster images are difficult to work with in CAD, they need to be converted. This process of digitizing these older drawings can be done on a one-off basis or in bulk, depending on the project requirements.

3.8 Converting paper drawings to DXF

It’s very common for large organizations, government bodies or even small machining shops to have paper drawings – and lots of them. When design departments are updating CAD software or product management software, it can kick start a digitization process of moving paper drawings to a digital format – normally vector, so they can be edited at a later date.

The process of converting from paper to DXF is challenging. Original paper drawings can be of poor quality and will have deteriorated over time. So it is important to get as good a scan of the drawing before attempting to convert to DXF using software like Scan2CAD. We have an article on how to convert paper drawings for CAD that will help you get the best results.

3.9 Converting Matterport floorplans to DXF

Matterport schematic floorplans are drawings of an architectural 2D layout of a building. Once requested, Matterport takes up to 48 hours to deliver the floorplans in PNG and PDF format and their dimension accuracy tolerance is between 1% to 2%.

For designers, architects and engineers who wish to edit these schematics in their CAD software of choice, they would need to convert their Matterport floorplans to DXF with CAD conversion software, Scan2CAD.

Scan2CAD has the ability to convert both PDF and PNG versions of the schematics to DXF using raster-to-vector conversion technology. Scan2CAD will recognize all elements in the floorplan image, converting them to their correct CAD object equivalent. This is made possible with object recognition technology. In addition, text in the Matterport floorplan will be converted to vector text strings which can be edited in your CAD software.

Matterport floorplan schematics are typically used by the Estate Agents market in which companies will survey properties utilizing Matterports’ 3D scanning hardware. It is subsequently possible to request Matterport to deliver a 2D schematic generated from the 3D scans. These 2D floorplans are an integral tool in the Estate Agents’ sales process. And having such plans in DXF format provides an extra layer of freedom, enabling users to freely edit the floorplans in their CAD software.

4.0 FAQ

4.1 Why convert to DXF format?

The DXF file format takes its name from the acronym ‘Drawing eXchange Format’. As the name suggests, the file format is intended to be freely ‘exchangeable’ between different applications developed by various development companies.

The DXF file format can be considered a more ‘open’ variation of the similar DWG format. Unlike DWG, the DXF format is written in ASCII making it easily readable and extendable by applications. The format requires no official license in order to read and export the files.

These benefits mean that DXF has become an industry standard for storing 2D CAD data. It continues to be the file format of choice for those who value the freedom of editing their files in any CAD software they wish.

4.2 Are DXF files 2D or 3D?

DXFs are primarily a 2D CAD file format. However, as we discussed previously, the DXF format is freely extendable due to it being written in ASCII and the fact that any application has a free license to develop on this format. Therefore there are scenarios in which you can find DXF files containing 3D model data.

If you intend to work with 3D models (as opposed to 2D drafting) we would recommend using a file format designed specifically for this requirement because 3D models are highly complex and DXF files which contain 3D data are often very rudimentary. Additionally, most applications which support DXF files do not read the 3D data contained within the DXF. Instead they assume the DXF is 2D and subsequently retain only the vectors on the X&Y axis.

4.3 Does Photoshop support DXF?

Photoshop is primarily a raster editing application, developed by Adobe. These raster files (i.e. photographs) are often in JPEG format because this became the industry-standard format for digital cameras. DXF files are not supported by Photoshop, they are vector and therefore there would be no sensible reason to open a DXF file in Photoshop. Adobe’s vector editing application, Illustrator, does support DXF files. Therefore Adobe customers who wish to edit a DXF file should opt for Illustrator and not Photoshop. It should be noted that Illustrator cannot be used for CAD purposes as it is not a CAD application and therefore does not have the ability to create CAD blocks and it cannot store the file data in a CAD-standard structure.

4.4 What software can be used to open DXF files?

Most CAD work is done on desktop and laptop computers running Windows or macOS. We have previously collected a list of the best free DXF viewers for your computer.

If, instead, you wish to view your CAD DXF files on a mobile device (i.e. an iOS or Android smartphone) then we have collated our recommendations for the best apps to view DXF files on mobile.

4.5 Which free software can be used to edit DXF files?

If your requirement is to edit DXF files – and not simply view them – we would recommend that you do not use a mobile device for this purpose. Instead, we recommend using a macOS or Windows computer with software specifically developed for CAD purposes. There are many fantastic CAD drafting applications available. Some free and some premium. We have previously presented a list of the best free DXF editors.

4.6 Why you should avoid online DXF converters?

If your CAD work involves viewing and editing files provided by your clients or your organization, then it is likely that you cannot reasonably upload your DXF files to an online website which offers free DXF conversions. This is because you have no control over the security of a file once you have uploaded it to a third-party website server.

Even if the security of yours’, and your clients’, files were not your primary concern, the extremely low accuracy and basic features of online conversion websites typically drives all users to finally settle on downloading and installing an offline conversion application on their computer. We discuss this further in our article describing why you should avoid online DXF converters.

5.0 Conclusion

In this ultimate guide, we have discussed how you can convert your files to DXF. As we have learned, many files are suitable for conversion to the DXF file format. Suitable source files include raster images, such as JPG, TIFF and PNG, as well as vector files, such as DWG and PDF.
It should be noted that only 2D imagery is suitable for conversion to DXF. As previously mentioned, DXF files can contain 3D information but they are far from the most suitable file format for 3D models. Additionally automatic CAD conversion software can only convert 2D imagery to DXF.

We noted that if you wish to convert your files to DXF so you can open your drawings in your CAD/CNC software of choice, you should utilize computer software which is specifically designed for this requirement. The results should be accurate to the original design. Unfortunately, accurate results are not possible with online converters and the security of such third-party services cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, conversion software developed for your Windows and macOS computers is the solution of choice.

For those who have a recurring need to convert a large number of files to DXF, they may make use of a batch conversion feature. This allows users to convert a ‘batch’ of thousands of files within a single folder directory to DXF by instructing the software to automate the conversion tasks on each individual file until all are converted into their DXF equivalent.

As such, Scan2CAD is the ultimate solution for converting your images and PDF files to DXF, offering offline conversion, batch conversion and all the features required for market-leading accurate results.

Let’s begin with a demonstration of how professional conversion software, Scan2CAD, can convert an image to an AutoCAD format.

Table of contents

• What types of images can you convert to AutoCAD?
• What are your options when converting an image to AutoCAD?
  • Manually trace the image
  • AutoDesk’s Raster Design
  • Convert with conversion software
• Why do some converters create poor quality results?
• What if the image contains text?
• Conclusion – How to convert an image to AutoCAD

What types of images can you convert to AutoCAD?

To answer that question, we should first get specific; in this post, we’re focussing on converting raster images to an AutoCAD format DXF or DWG (e.g. convert JPG to DWG or convert JPG to DXF.) A raster image is an image formed of pixels such as JPG, BMP, TIF, and many more file types.

Raster images are different from vector images. Vector images (such as vector PDF files) are typically much easier to convert to an AutoCAD format because DXF and DWG are also vector file types. The technical term for converting raster images to DXF/DWG is ‘raster to vector conversion’.

Scan2CAD supports all the raster and vector image formats you would come across including JPG, BMP, TIF, DXF, DWG as well as raster and vector PDF files.

What are your options when converting an image to AutoCAD?

When you need to convert an image to AutoCAD you have three options:

1. Manually trace the image
2. Convert using Raster Design
3. Convert with conversion software

Option 1: Manually trace the image

If you opt to manually trace a drawing you will commit yourself to a long painstaking process of drawing over each individual element in your image. It’s surprising that many people are still manually tracing raster images when automatic conversion software could save them countless hours and therefore budget.

Some AutoCAD users may prefer to manually trace an image because they believe that it is not possible to achieve a high degree of accuracy with conversion software. This is due to the vast difference in conversion accuracy offered by the available JPG DWG converter or other conversion software (most notably, the poor results provided by online converters). In almost all cases, the far better option is to automatically convert your image to AutoCAD format and then manually edit the file to get that final 1% accuracy if required.

Option 2: AutoDesk’s Raster Design

Raster Design is Autodesk’s solution for automatically converting a raster image for AutoCAD.
Unfortunately, Raster Design is not AutoDesk’s core product and it doesn’t offer much of the required functionality to produce useful converted images, therefore a significant amount of manual input is still required.
Raster Design utilizes simplistic vectorization methods which are not designed to convert each image element to its correct vector CAD entity. Instead, all elements will be represented as lines or polylines.

Raster Design may be commonly used by AutoCAD users due to the fact that it is part of the AutoDesk product offering. Therefore there is little friction in trying Raster Design’s conversion results first before finding that better results can be achieved with another solution.

Option 3: Convert with conversion software

Using Scan2CAD to convert text and other elements in an image

Scan2CAD is raster and vector conversion software designed specifically for CAD & CAM. We have spent the last 20 years focused purely on improving the conversion performance, saving time and money for the world’s design, manufacturing, and AEC companies.

If you need to convert an image to AutoCAD format you will most likely find that Scan2CAD will offer the best performance in almost any circumstance.

Unlike Raster Design, Scan2CAD is a standalone application that doesn’t need to be run as a plugin to other CAD software. Scan2CAD offers OCR and object recognition which means you will convert image entities (including text) to the correct vector CAD data.

Why do some converters create poor quality results?

Scan2CAD converts a circle to a vector circle entity, not a collection of lines

The worst type of image conversion would be to convert every object in your image to the same vector element. For example, some vectorization software might convert a circle in an image to thousands of small vector lines or polylines instead of a single CAD circle entity.

With this type of simplified vectorization software; the text, arcs, circles, and all other elements would be represented as many individual connected vector lines. But that is practically useless if you need to edit the CAD drawing in AutoCAD.

This is why you need conversion software that has object recognition capabilities. What is object recognition? It is the process of identifying entities (objects) in your raster image and converting them to the correct vector CAD entity.

What if the image contains text?

If your drawing contains the text you will need to ensure that your conversion software has OCR capabilities. OCR (optical character recognition) converts text in your image to editable vector text strings, identical to the text strings you would create when writing text in AutoCAD.

If your conversion software does not have an OCR feature, the software will instead convert all the text in your image to a collection of vector lines or polylines. We call this ‘exploded text’ but it is not really a ‘text’ at all, but simply vectors in the shape of a ‘text’.

Text converted to individual vector lines

Text converted to text strings using OCR

The ‘exploded text’ can not be edited in CAD software so you will need to erase these vectors and redraw the text in AutoCAD.

Conclusion – How to convert an image to AutoCAD

If you need to convert an image for AutoCAD we recommend that you choose software designed specifically for that purpose.

Scan2CAD offers the most accurate photo to CAD conversions of your raster and vector designs. With automatic conversion software, you will save countless hours spent fixing poor-quality conversions or manually tracing files.

In Scan2CAD’s latest guide, we look at what paper patterns are and how they’re used in different industries. We also give you the full lowdown on how to convert paper patterns for CAD or CNC—offering a free trial of Scan2CAD for your troubles!

Table of Contents

• What are paper patterns?
  • How are they used?
• Why convert paper patterns for CAD?
• How do I convert paper patterns for CAD?
  • What does conversion entail?
  • Conversion methods
    • Image editors
    • Online converters
    • Scan2CAD
• Converting with Scan2CAD
  • Acquiring an image of a pattern
  • Video: Convert paper patterns with Scan2CAD

What are paper patterns? 

Paper patterns are essentially cutting templates of a required shape and size which will be cut out of material. They communicate the necessary information and directions to produce prototypes—taking note of design, shape, fit and measurements. Much like an architect uses blueprints to create structures, paper patterns are used by industries to create prototypes and eventually, a final product. 

Fundamental to industries across the world, paper patterns are used for a variety of purposes, from producing garments in sewing and fashion design to manufacturing car seats in the automotive industry. While these patterns are usually made with paper, it’s not unusual for industries to use paperboard, cardboard or plastic if they’re in need of something a bit sturdier.

Image source: Stylus Apparel Group

How are they used?

The process of making paper patterns is otherwise known as “patternmaking” or “pattern cutting”. To start, designers will sketch or trace over their chosen shape. An example of this might be a glass company which will head to a site and trace the shape of client patterns on cardboard paper. Next, the designer will cut the shape out of the paper—giving them a paper pattern. 

Some companies might opt to use their paper pattern manually, using the template to cut their material. Most industrie, however, opt to digitize their patterns—converting paper patterns for use in CAD or CNC. We’ll discuss this particular process below and the benefits attached. Once digitized, the paper pattern can be opened up and modified in a CAD application—meaning changes can be made swiftly and efficiently. If happy with the final design, the pattern can be sent to factories electronically for production or sampling.

Why convert paper patterns for CAD?

Before we look at how you can convert paper patterns for CAD (hint: it involves Scan2CAD), we’re going to look at the reasons why industries opt to digitize and convert paper patterns for CAD. 

Converting a paper pattern with Scan2CAD – Watch the full tutorial in this post, below.

Easier and faster modification

Converting paper patterns for CAD ensures changes are faster and easier to make. If you’re working with physical paper patterns, even small changes can push you back weeks. In large industries, this can be a nightmare. Having to redo or revise paper patterns—due to mistakes or changes to the design along the way—wastes time and reduces the chances of meeting deadlines. If you convert to CAD, however, you can make the necessary changes without having to go back to the drawing board. 

By working with paper patterns in CAD, it can be easy to create several sizes of the same design to fit particular shapes—if you’re working with garments, for example. Additionally, it’s possible to use old designs—take elements you like—and create brand new designs. This is something that would take much longer with physical patterns. In all, converting to CAD can streamline the production and manufacturing process, meaning faster layout and cutting.

Greater collaboration

Collaboration can be difficult if you’re working solely with physical paper patterns. The physical transportation of paper patterns from companies to factories can be long and laborious. Additionally, mistakes can happen along the way. More often than not, designs are never perfect the first time around. Companies and factories mailing physical designs back and forth for corrections slows production time down and can lead to miscommunication.

If you convert paper patterns for CAD—digitizing them—you can make necessary modifications quickly and in real time. With cloud-based CAD, it’s even possible to work with colleagues—no matter how far away—in real time. Patterns can be worked on simultaneously between colleagues—enabling designers to enact fast revisions. Once happy with the final result, patterns can be sent to cutting for production. 

Better management

Physical patterns can often get worn down depending on their material. If you have a template of a dress that you keep going back to for reference, then odds are that it will begin to wear down with time. This means that sizing and measurements might end up skewed as a result. If you digitize your patterns, however, you don’t have to worry about them degrading with time. They can be kept safe and organized—ready for print or cutting at any time. 

By deciding to convert paper patterns for CAD, you can take advantage of consistency with sizing, standardized patterns and a library of easily accessible patterns. An added bonus to a digital archive of patterns is that you can save up space that may have otherwise been taken up by physical copies. 

How do I convert paper patterns for CAD?

There are many services that you can find online that will convert your paper patterns for you. Some ask you to scan your patterns and others require you to send it to them by mail. If you’d rather do it yourself, however, we’ve got the perfect solution: Scan2CAD. How does it work? It couldn’t be simpler…

1. Sketch or trace your shape
2. Cut the shape out of the paper
3. Scan your pattern
4. Convert using Scan2CAD
5. Use your design in CAD or send directly to a CNC cutter

Before we look at how Scan2CAD can convert your paper patterns for you—and other methods of conversion—we’re going to look at what conversion is and how it works. 

What does conversion entail?

So, you’ve got your scanned copy of your paper pattern. How exactly can you convert it to create a digitized copy? Conversion—or vectorization—can be enacted through manual or automatic tracing. Much like the process of creating a paper pattern, manual tracing involves drawing over your paper pattern with vector lines using an image editor. Automatic tracing, by comparison, consists of using a specialized software that traces over your pattern automatically.

If you’re working in a big industry, e.g., manufacturing car seats in the automotive industry, you won’t have time to convert your paper patterns manually. It can be time-consuming and can get in the way of tight deadlines. Automatic tracing is fast and, in some cases, can take mere seconds to complete! 

Once your paper pattern has been converted, you can save it in a vector file format that can be worked with in CAD. Typically, DXF is the go-to format. Why? It’s a universal file format that can be used in most—if not all—CAD packages. This is highly beneficial in terms of collaboration. Exporting to a common format like DXF mean that you can send patterns to your colleagues—or directly to factories—and know that they’re be able to open them. 

Conversion methods

Image editors

You might be surprised to find that some of the image editors you undoubtedly work with can be used to convert your paper patterns. If you prefer to manually trace your patterns, you can simply open your pattern in the editor and trace over it with vector tools. Alternatively, many editors have an automatic tracing tool—at the click of a few buttons, you’ll have a vector image. Here are a few examples of image editors that you can use: 

• Illustrator
• Inkscape
• CorelDraw

If you’re only converting the occasional paper pattern and you have time on your hands, there’s probably nothing wrong with using an image editor. That being said, if you have a large volume of patterns to convert, we’d recommend using a specialized solution. 

Online converters

You don’t have to look far to find an online converter that promises to convert all of your patterns for free. As with most things in life, however, it’s far too good to be true. These converters might be free, but that advantage comes with an abundance of problems. For starters, you’ll only be able to upload designs that have a small file size. In terms of the actual conversion, you can expect poor quality and issues with text. 

One of the biggest problems with online converters lies in security. When you download files from the internet, you run the risk of downloading a virus or Trojan. Additionally, you don’t know who else might end up having access to your patterns. 

Scan2CAD

Scan2CAD is a market leading raster-to-vector conversion software. This means it can convert your scanned pattern—a raster image—to a vector file format like DXF that’s ready for use in CAD. The software supports a wide variety of file types—from raster file types like JPG and TIFF to vector file types like DXF and DWG. 

So, how does the vectorization process work in Scan2CAD? Once you’re happy with your scanned image—using pre-conversion tips we’ll discuss below—you need to select your vectorization settings. Then, the software will automatically detect the lines or shapes and trace over them with vector lines. The actual conversion process can take seconds.

Converting with Scan2CAD

Acquiring an image of a pattern

As with any conversion, it’s of the utmost importance that you use a suitable image. What does this mean? It’s simple, really. You can’t just take a low quality photograph of your pattern on your phone and expect the quality to be suitable. Instead, we suggest using a scanner to acquire a high-quality picture of your paper pattern. 

Once you’ve scanned your pattern, we suggest saving it as a TIFF. This raster file format gives users the best possible output for conversion. It comes with lossless compression, so you can expect high resolution and quality even after you’ve made edits to it. 

Video: Convert paper patterns with Scan2CAD

In the following video we’ll take you through all the steps required to convert your paper pattern to an accurate vector outline using Scan2CAD. 

If you’re looking to use CAD software with your images, however, you’ll soon run into problems. BMPs are raster files and thus unsuitable for use with CAD. In order to make them compatible with editing software and achieve pro results, you will need to vectorize your images.

Luckily, with programs like Scan2CAD, the vectorization process need not be complicated or time consuming. In fact, this article will outline how you can go about converting BMP images with ease. Plus, we’ll explore your options when it comes to which vector file type to select. 

Table of Contents

• What is BMP?
• What are vector graphics?
• Raster vs vector
  • Which vector format to choose?
• Converting BMP to vector
  • Manual tracing
  • Automatic tracing
• Using Scan2CAD to convert your images

What is BMP?

BMP stands for Bitmap. As previously mentioned, BMP files are the native image file format of Windows and computers will often store images in this format unless instructed otherwise. They can be useful in the sense that saving images in this format does not affect their quality because BMP files don’t use compression. On the other hand, this means that the files are on the larger side and so take up a lot of storage space. 

Another upside to BMP files is that they are widely accessible. They’re a useful choice if you’re simply looking to share your images, because most computers will be able to open them.

From a CAD perspective, BMPs are problematic because they store images as raster graphics. This means the images are made up of pixels rather than individual objects. As soon as you zoom or attempt to re-scale a raster image, you will notice a reduction in quality. Perhaps most importantly, raster files are not compatible with CAD software. If you’re looking for pro results, it will be necessary to vectorize your files. 

What are vector graphics?

Image source: serif.com

Vector graphics are made up of objects, the position of each of which within an image is mathematically defined. An image in vector form is therefore a collection of individual elements—be they lines, text, arcs, etc. As a result, even if the image is re-scaled, the quality does not suffer. Importantly, CAD and CNC software can recognize these individual elements, which is what enables vector images to be edited. Examples of vector file formats include SVG, DWG, DXF and PDF.

Raster vs vector

Raster and vector files can both be useful in their own way—deciding which to use depends on the nature of your work. As we’ve already mentioned, if you just need to store or share files, raster graphics are fine. Although, if you’re using the BMP format, you might want to consider converting to TIFF. It’s a raster file type that tends to be smaller in size than BMP, while retaining the high image quality that the latter format allows.

If you’re looking to go beyond simply viewing and sharing an image, vectorization is key. There are many vector file types to choose from, but for the purpose of this article we’ll focus on DXF and DWG—probably the most popular file types to use in conjunction with CAD or CNC. 

Which vector format to choose?

Working with AutoCAD? Your best bet is to convert to DWG—the software’s native format. DWG files support both 2D and 3D images, tend to be nice and compact, and can store a wide range of objects including x-references and line weights. Basically, it’s a no-brainer if you want to make the most of everything AutoCAD has to offer. 

On the other hand, if you’re not tied to AutoCAD and you want to be able to access and share your files across more than one type of CAD program, DXF is the way to go. Like DWG, this format was created by Autodesk, but unlike DWG, it has an open source format. These files are thus free for anyone to use and share (hence the name: Design eXchange Format).

Converting BMP to vector

So, you’ve decided to vectorize your work and have an idea of the vector file type that suits your needs, but how do you actually go about ‘vectorizing’? Well, converting from raster to vector involves tracing your image. You have two options:

Manual tracing

If you want to be very hands on and have maximum control over the entire process, you can manually trace your image. This involves using a graphics pen or computer mouse (depending on the image editor you’re using) to physically draw vector entities on top of your raster image.

Manual tracing requires a certain amount of skill and quite a bit of patience. We recommend this option if you’re working with simple, low quality images—the human eye can pick up details in a blurry image that a computer may not, for example. Overall, though, this option is laborious and time-consuming, so you might be better off cleaning up your image and going for option two. 

Automatic tracing

Rather than investing in a graphics pen, your life will be made much easier if you plump for vectorization software instead. Simply upload your work into one of these conversion programs and it will detect the different features of your raster image and trace over them with vector elements. The technology behind such software is constantly improving, so you can rely on most programs to produce vector images of a professional standard.

To achieve optimum results, it is important that the raster image you’re starting with is of a high quality. If you’re wondering how to go about cleaning up your original image, consult our raster quality checklist. The software will do the rest of the work for you. 

Using Scan2CAD to convert your images

In this animation we convert an anchor image to a vector outline for CNC using Scan2CAD

Scan2CAD is the ultimate vectorization software, particularly if you’re looking for pro results. The conversion process is made quick, efficient and professional. Simply load your raster image into Scan2CAD (File→ Raster→ Load→ Select your file), begin vectorization (Run→ Vectorization) and export the file to your chosen format (File→ Vector→ Save as). And you’re done!

If you need to optimize your raster image before converting, there are numerous raster effects tools available within Scan2CAD’s editing suite. 

Here’s just a taste of the features that enable Scan2CAD to produce professional results in a matter of minutes:

• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology that can detect and convert text along with images (it can even be trained to recognise handwritten words!)
• A batch processing option that allows for numerous files to be worked on simultaneously
• A comprehensive image editing suite that enables users to optimize images before conversion and add any final touches to the image post-conversion

Don’t just take it from us—start your free 14 day trial today and see why Scan2CAD is the best option for all of your conversion needs.

Converting JPG to vector is a technically complex process. Luckily, though, Scan2CAD is here to simplify things. Whether you need to convert JPG to DWG or convert JPG to DXF. In this article, we’ll cover the ins and outs of the conversion process, and show you how you can convert JPG to vector in just a few clicks.

About JPG

Even a computing novice would be familiar with the JPG file format. JPG is, after all, the standard image format for digital photography. As such, anyone who’s ever taken a photo on a digital camera or smartphone will have created a JPG.

For our purposes, however, we’ll need to dive in a little deeper. The first fact to be aware of is that JPG is a raster file format. This means that, like other raster formats, JPGs display a map of colored pixels—with each pixel distinct from all the others. As such, there is no structure to a JPG.

Take the image above, for example. The human eye is able to see that the image portrays a floorplan. The JPG format itself, however, simply stores separate colored pixels—in this case, black, white and gray. It cannot provide information about how these pixels are connected to one another, nor about what the image portrays. This aspect of the nature of JPG files is an important reason as to why they are unsuitable for use with CAD software—and why you would need to convert JPG to vector.

This isn’t the only drawback to using JPG, however. Firstly, as is the case with other raster files, you cannot zoom into or scale a JPG without losing quality. Secondly, you cannot attach information to a JPG—rendering it useless for CAD purposes.

Meanwhile, the JPG file format exhibits some weaknesses even when compared to other raster formats. Key to this is JPG’s use of lossy compression. In a nutshell, this means that, when you save a JPG file, you sacrifice some image quality in exchange for a smaller file size. This works well for JPG’s intended use of digital photography, but makes it completely unsuitable for CAD, where crisp, clear images are necessary.

An additional drawback of lossy compression is the appearance of compression artifacts. You may have noticed these if you’ve ever mistakenly saved an image as a JPG: blurriness, dots or blocks appearing around the edge of a line or shape, making the image appear of low quality.

Tip: JPG files are not the only raster files you may convert to vector using Scan2CAD. If you have other raster images, this guide discusses how Scan2CAD may also be used for vector conversion of these formats. 

With so many disadvantages to the JPG format, you may wish to convert JPG to vector. Let’s take a deeper look at vector files to see what advantages they offer.

About vector files

Vector files stand in stark contrast to JPGs for numerous reasons. Firstly, a vector file is made up of objects, as opposed to a JPG, which is made up of pixels. These objects lie at a fixed relative position within the image, defined by Cartesian coordinates. The result of this is that it is possible to display a vector image at virtually any scale without losing quality.

Additionally, it is possible to edit each of the objects that make up a vector image separately. Deleting an object from the image, for example, takes just a couple of clicks. This distinguishes vector files from JPGs, where any edit will affect the image as a whole.

Another benefit to the use of objects, as opposed to pixels, is the ability to attach information to those objects. This is particularly useful in fields such as architecture, where a designer could, for example, specify the building material of a certain object. As businesses have embraced PLM and adopted more holistic approaches towards design, this feature has become ever more useful.

Vector file formats for CAD

When you convert JPG to vector, you need to make sure that you get the most out of your converted image. The best way to ensure this is by converting to a format that your software supports—in the case of CAD software, this means either DWG or DXF. We’ll run through the differences between these formats and the pros and cons of each.

DWG

Anyone who’s ever used Autodesk’s flagship CAD software AutoCAD will be familiar with the DWG format. In fact, the history of DWG is intertwined with that of AutoCAD; it serves as the native file format for the CAD application, with new versions of the DWG format released to coincide with new versions of AutoCAD.

With this in mind, DWG is the ideal format for any designer who works with AutoCAD. That’s because, unlike DXF, DWG is able to support the full range of AutoCAD-specific vector entities, such as dynamic blocks. It’s also a more natural fit for 3D design than DXF.

Nonetheless, there are still some drawbacks to DWG. Key to this is that, as a proprietary format, developers must pay to include support for DWG in their software. While some have attempted to find workarounds, others have simply excluded DWG from their software. This means that, if you’re collaborating with designers from other teams, they may not have access to DWG-compatible programs. The safest bet here is to opt instead for DXF.

Converting JPG to DWG? Check out this in-depth article discussing the pros and cons.

DXF

The raison d’être of the DXF format is to enable designers to collaborate even if they use different CAD programs. Autodesk developed the format as an open standard, meaning that developers were free to build support for DXF into their software.

Today, DXF has become ubiquitous, and virtually every CAD program on the market supports it. However, this means that, to some extent, it must act as a kind of “lowest common denominator” vector format. As such, it lacks support for some program-specific objects. Nonetheless, users looking to convert JPG to vector are unlikely to need such sophisticated features. As such, it stands as one of the best options for vectorization purposes.

Preparing to convert JPG to vector

Having covered the details on JPG and vector files, we’ll now move onto how to convert JPG to vector. Our first piece of advice, unfortunately, might come a little too late for some: avoid JPG where possible.

As we noted above, saving your image as a JPG worsens its quality, and makes it trickier to produce a usable vector file at the end. That’s why, if you’re looking to convert from raster to vector, you should consider saving your image in a different raster format. Here at Scan2CAD, we recommend converting from TIFF to vector instead.

Unfortunately, changing your file format isn’t always possible: a colleague may have sent you a JPG version of a scanned image, for example. And simply saving your JPG as a TIFF later won’t change things—once you’ve saved an image as JPG, the damage is done. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t undo some of this damage later on.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a few helpful tips on how Scan2CAD can help you get the most out of your JPG:

• Reduce the number of colors in your image. Vectorization works best when your image has as few colors as possible—preferably, only two: black and white. Unfortunately, JPG’s lossy compression has a habit of turning black and white images into grayscale images. Scan2CAD’s Thresholding tool allows you to undo this damage, separating the shades of gray into black and white. For images containing different colors, try out the Segment tool instead.
• Thicken your lines. This is a particularly useful tip when you scan in an image from a paper copy. In this situation, you may often find that gaps may appear in the lines in your image. Using Scan2CAD’s Thicken tool to reduce these gaps makes it easier to convert JPG to vector.
• Smooth the image. When you scan an image, you may find that the edges of any shapes in your image are ‘hairy’. Smoothing helps to eliminate these ‘hairs’, making your image crisper.
• Deskew the image. Try as we might, it’s not always possible to scan in an image at a perfect angle. This means that, when you open the JPG on your computer, you may find that the image is not completely straight. Luckily, Scan2CAD has a deskewing tool, which allows you to shift the image back into place. Be careful with this tool, though, as it can have a negative impact on image quality.

The right (and wrong) way to convert JPG to vector

Once you’ve used the above steps to clean up your JPG, you’re ready to convert your image. But how exactly can you accomplish this? In fact, you have some options.

The first option is to trace over your image manually. This process starts in an image editor which supports both raster and vector images, such as Illustrator or Inkscape. If the quality of your JPG is particularly low, this might be a good option, as you’ll be able to pick out details that a computer program simply wouldn’t be able to discern. However, this is a very time-consuming option—a single JPG could take hours to convert.

Your alternative, then is to use automatic tracing. Provided you have a good quality image to start off with, automatic tracing software can help you to convert JPG to vector in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, not all automatic tracing software is created equal. If you choose to use an online JPG to vector converter, for example, you could find yourself facing problems such as:

• Poor quality conversion outputs
• Risking the property of your intellectual property
• Lack of adequate features for technical conversion
• Downloading viruses and Trojan horses

With the potential for seriously dire consequences, choosing an online converter simply because it’s free just isn’t worth the risk. Instead, opt for a trustworthy program that specializes in technical raster-to-vector conversion: Scan2CAD.

How to convert JPG to vector in Scan2CAD

It often surprises newcomers, but Scan2CAD makes it refreshingly simple to convert JPG to vector. In fact, as long as you have a good quality JPG, you can actually complete the conversion process itself in just a few clicks! See Scan2CAD in action below:

Why choose Scan2CAD?

As you can see, Scan2CAD offers lightning-fast JPG-to-vector conversion. But it isn’t just any software—it’s the ultimate vectorization software. That’s because Scan2CAD contains all the tools you need for every stage of the conversion process. With Scan2CAD, you can clean up and optimize your raster image prior to conversion, vectorize your image, and perform any necessary finishing touches to ensure that you’re ready to open your new vector image in your CAD software of choice.

We could sit here for hours talking about our raster editing features, smart OCR or object recognition—but we’d rather you saw what Scan2CAD can do for yourself. That’s why we offer our users a 14-day, no obligation free trial. There are no watermarks and no restrictions, meaning you can really put Scan2CAD to the test!

In this article, we’ll run through the reasons why you should consider converting from GeoTIFF to CAD file formats, in addition to a guide to the conversion process itself. Such as how to convert TIFF to DWG. So, if you’re a CAD or GIS user and want to put your GeoTIFF files to use, then read on!

About GeoTIFF

Converting a GeoTiff to CAD with Scan2CAD

It’s impossible to discuss GeoTIFF without talking about the format on which it is based: TIFF. The ‘T’ in TIFF stands for Tagged, and refers to the ability to attach metadata to your image in the form of tags. Additionally, TIFF is an extensible file format which gives programmers the freedom to add relevant tags for their work. As a result, TIFF files may include a wide variety of different tags.

The benefits that come with such flexibility, however, come with a price: compatibility issues. After all, users could not reasonably expect all programs to support every possible tag and extension. To combat this, a set of Baseline TIFF Tags exist as a common denominator that all TIFF readers should support.

Some programs do still wish to accept extra tags, though—and to make compatibility and collaboration easier, developers have created a number of extensions to the basic TIFF format. Amongst these is GeoTIFF, which is an extension of TIFF that allows users to include georeferencing data inside those tags.

A wide range of cartographic, GIS, and other organizations worked together to define the tags that form part of today’s GeoTIFF file format. Examples of data within a GeoTIFF file include:

• Geographic coordinates
• Map projection properties
• Coordinate systems
• Ellipsoids
• Geodetic datums

Be aware, however, that not every program will necessarily support or use all of GeoTIFF’s tags. For more information, check out the full list of GeoTIFF tags.

Why convert from GeoTIFF to CAD?

The image on the left is a vector map of the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. On the right is a zoomed-in section of the map, which has maintained its quality.

Despite the difference in tags, GeoTIFF is very similar to its parent format. Both allow the storing of high-quality raster images, either with or without compression. As such, many of the reasons to convert GeoTIFF to CAD formats are the same as those for converting from TIFF to DXF:

• As a raster image format, you can’t zoom into or scale a GeoTIFF file without suffering pixelation and loss of quality. Converting to a vector format, meanwhile, allows for infinite scalability.
• A further disadvantage of raster images is their lack of structure. Vector formats, on the other hand, allow users to edit each line or object individually.
• While GeoTIFF files allow users to attach data to an image in the form of tags, it is not possible to attach data to individual elements within that image. When you convert your GeoTIFF to DXF or DWG, you can associate each element of the image with a complex set of properties.

The specific nature of GeoTIFF, however, adds several more reasons. Firstly, GeoTIFF’s georeferencing data means that it has applications in GIS programs. A GeoTIFF image may, for example, serve as the backdrop to a map system.

However, converting to a CAD format, such as DXF, gives the user greater possibilities. That’s because CAD formats allow you to use your image as more than a simple backdrop, but as a way of displaying and contextualizing more information. The range of vector entities lend themselves to different cartographical features: polygons for area measurement; lines for features such as roads; points for individual locations.

CAD file formats

Choosing to convert your GeoTIFF to a CAD file format gives you the option to use your images in both CAD and GIS programs. This allows you to use your image for both mapping and surveying purposes and for various BIM applications. Additionally, many GIS programs will accept CAD formats, while the reverse is not always true.

Two of the most common CAD file formats are DWG and DXF. Both share many attributes common to all vector formats, including scalability and ease of editing. However, there are still some points which distinguish the two from one another. Read on to learn the differences between the two formats, and why you may choose to use them.

DWG

The history of DWG stretches back to the 1970s, predating the program with which most users associate it: AutoCAD. Its status as AutoCAD’s native format, however, is what turned it into a behemoth; DWG is now reckoned to be one of the most popular CAD formats (if not the most popular) in the world.

Though primarily known as the native file format for AutoCAD, it’s possible to view DWG files using many different programs. Amongst these are some of the most popular GIS programs on the market, including ArcGIS. DWG is also a common file format across a range of Autodesk software, such as Revit.

DXF

Standing in comparison to the proprietary format DWG is DXF. An open standard, the intent behind DXF was to enable collaboration between users of different CAD programs. Indeed, virtually all CAD software on the market today includes built-in support for DXF, and the format remains extremely popular.

Though DXF lacks support for some object types which are specific to AutoCAD, it remains a useful format due to its wide compatibility. Meanwhile, CAD programs are not alone in supporting DXF: GIS programs will generally allow DXF imports, too. This means that it’s not only great for teams working with different specific programs, but that it also allows for cross-disciplinary collaboration.

How to convert from GeoTIFF to CAD

If you’re familiar with converting other raster image formats to CAD, you’ll know that the process is complex. That’s because raster and vector images have entirely separate structures, with the result that the conversion process actually involves creating a vector representation of what appears in a raster image.

There are two ways to achieve this: manual and automatic tracing. Manual tracing is exactly what it sounds like: using a mouse or graphics pen to physically draw vector lines atop an existing raster image. Scan2CAD, on the other hand, offers automatic tracing, which allows a user to complete the process in a matter of seconds.

If you’ve ever read up on our other conversion guides—such as our ultimate guide to TIFF to DWG conversion—you’ll be up to speed with the ins and outs behind the vectorization process. However, there are a few specificities you’ll need to look out for when converting GeoTIFF files.

What makes GeoTIFF different?

When converting most raster image formats, the user is primarily aiming to convey the contents of the image itself. With GeoTIFF, however, it’s important to preserve some of the georeferencing metadata as well as the image itself.

Unlike many online converters, which offer only simplistic solutions (and come with a number of problems), Scan2CAD gives users professional, accurate vectorization results. As part of this, Scan2CAD also uses the following GeoTIFF tags:

• ModelTiepointTag
• ModelPixelScaleTag
• GTRasterTypeGeoKey : RasterPixelIsArea

When opening a GeoTIFF file in Scan2CAD, you can access the georeferencing information by navigating to File > Vector > Export Scale Settings. A dialog box will then appear, such as the one shown below.

The Geo option appears in the Export Scale Settings dialog box when opening a TIFF file with georeferencing data

In this box, the Geo option will appear, and there are spaces for a number of relevant details. Firstly, Geo Pixel Scale gives information on the distance represented by each pixel on both the X and Y axes.

Then, under the Tie Point option, you’ll see options for Raster and Vector Coordinates. The Raster Coordinate refers to the location within the raster image of a known point; in the example above, this is 0,0. The Vector Coordinate, meanwhile, is the real world location of a known point.

Converting GeoTIFF to CAD

Actually converting your GeoTIFF file to CAD using Scan2CAD could hardly be simpler. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide of how to convert your file:

1. Open your GeoTIFF file in Scan2CAD by clicking File > Raster > Load.
2. Put your raster to the test by comparing it to our Raster Quality Checklist. If you spot any issues, use Scan2CAD’s range of raster cleanup tools to be sure of a great quality vector image.
3. Use the Export Scale Settings menu to ensure you have the correct Tie Point between the raster and vector coordinates.
4. Apply one of Scan2CAD’s vectorization settings. This ensures that Scan2CAD processes your image using appropriate settings, and gives you a great chance of better end results.
5. Click to convert your image! In just seconds, you’ll have a usable vector image. Simply export the file as either a DWG or DXF to finish.

Using CAD file formats in GIS

A screenshot of GRASS GIS, an example of a Geographic Information System

After converting your GeoTIFF using Scan2CAD, you’re free to use the resultant DWG or DXF file in the program of your choice. For many users, this means their GIS of choice.

Luckily, most major GIS programs support both DWG and DXF. Be aware, however, that it’s common for such programs not to support the most recent versions of DWG. ArcGIS, for example, supports DWG up to the 2010 version.

In the table below, you can see which common GIS programs support DWG and DXF.

It’s also worth noting that some programs (such as gvSIG) allow for DWG imports, but not exports. As such, it’s probably a safer bet to use DXF for your conversion if you plan to collaborate with numerous stakeholders. Nonetheless, as is evident from the table above, wide support exists for both CAD formats. So, if you’re looking to convert your image to vector for use in both CAD and GIS programs, the answer is clear: convert your GeoTIFF file to CAD using Scan2CAD, the ultimate vectorization software.

Scan2CAD’s latest guide will show you exactly how you can convert PDF to CAD in a few simple steps. Plus, we’ll show you how you can get Scan2CAD for free!

What are PDFs?

PDF, or Portable Document Format, is easily one of the most popular file formats you’ll find. Why exactly? Since its first release in 1993, PDF has become the go-to format for exchanging documents. Unlike many other formats—like Microsoft Word’s .doc—the text or images displayed on a PDF tend to be displayed in an identical manner across all types of devices. In industries like media, this is ideal—you can rest assured knowing everyone you share your PDFs with will see the exact same thing you do. 

Another major benefit to the PDF format is that you don’t need specific software to view them—you can do it from the comfort of your chosen browser with absolutely no issue. Alternatively, you can use software like Adobe Reader, which tends to already be installed on most PCs. One of the most interesting aspects to the PDF format however, has to be its ability to support both raster and vector elements. As such, it can be difficult to categorize the file format as strictly “raster” or “vector”. 

While PDFs are great for displaying documents or general information, they’re incredibly difficult to edit. In fact, if you wanted to edit the information in a PDF, you’d generally have to convert to a different file format entirely. If you’re looking to use information in a PDF in CAD software like AutoCAD or SolidWorks, for example, you’d have to convert your PDF to a CAD-friendly file format. We’ll show you exactly how you can do this below—and the issues you might come across along the way!

Converting to CAD

When we talk about converting PDF to CAD, we don’t mean “CAD” as a file type. Instead, we’re using it to refer to file types that run in CAD applications like AutoCAD. So if you’re looking to convert to use your PDF in CAD software, you’re going to first have to convert your PDF to a CAD-friendly format. In this case, you’ll be looking to convert your PDF to DXF or DWG. 

DWG

DWG is the native file format for none other than AutoCAD, one of the most popular CAD programs around. A proprietary file format owned by Autodesk, DWG has had a long and interesting history since its first release in 1982. Being a proprietary file format, any developer that wishes to use the format in their software has to first get a license to do so. Fortunately, nowadays, there are plenty of ways to view DWG without AutoCAD.

As you’d imagine, being the native file format for one of the leading CAD software packages on the market, DWG is used extensively around the globe. The format comes with a wide variety of advantages. To start, it comes with a small file size, as it is a binary file format. In turn, the compact nature of DWG files makes them perfect for sharing and collaborating. Of course, its compatibility with AutoCAD means that almost all CAD professionals and hobbyists will have encountered it at some point—making it a great format to use.

Furthermore, DWGs are able to support both 2D and 3D geometry. For example, it would be simple enough to create a 2D drawing of a design which can then be modified to 3D using Autodesk software. In addition, DWG files come with the ability to support AutoCAD elements like dynamic blocks and line weights.

DXF

As popular as the DWG file format is, it does come with some drawbacks. Paramount amongst these is that, despite the broader support that exists for DWG now, the format primarily exists to serve as the native file format for AutoCAD. But imagine if you wanted to share your CAD files with a collaborator who doesn’t use AutoCAD. You can’t guarantee that their program will support DWG files—something which could be potentially problematic. This is where the DXF file format comes in. An open standard format, DXFs are the closest thing the CAD industry has to a universal file format. 

So if you’re a designer who likes to use different software to AutoCAD, the DXF file format is an ideal solution—you’ll struggle to find a CAD software package that doesn’t support it. If you’re sharing CAD files with someone else and you’re not sure whether they have AutoCAD, you’re best off sending a DXF. 

Unlike DWGs, DXFs are not binary files—they’re made up of letters and numbers, so you’re facing a larger file size. Additionally, they don’t support some of AutoCAD’s specific CAD elements like dynamic blocks. As a result, you might find yourself losing data when opening your DXFs in programs like AutoCAD. 

How do I convert?

There are two ways to convert PDF to CAD: through manual or automatic tracing. As the name suggests, manual tracing will depend entirely on your input. That is, you have to open your PDF in a program and draw over it with an additional layer. You’ll trace over all the lines, shapes and text that you wish to convert. This method has the benefit of human understanding—you know exactly what you’re converting, unlike conversion software. While it can be time-consuming, it’s a great option if you’ve got plenty of time to spare. You can manually trace using the following software: 

• Inkscape
• Illustrator
• SketchUp

Bear in mind, however, that you’ll come across a few issues when attempting to manually trace PDFs. To start, some software packages don’t support PDFs—so you won’t be able to import them. Additionally, with the wide variety of information that PDFs carry, you might struggle to trace everything you see. 

Automatic tracing, by comparison, makes use of conversion software which—yes, as you guessed—automatically traces your image and converts it to a vector file format like DXF or DWG. Software like Scan2CAD, for example, will detect the lines and edges in your PDF and redraw them as vector lines, shapes and other entities—if you’re converting a raster PDF at least. In some cases, it can take as little as a few clicks and a few seconds to convert.

Can I use an online converter?

If you typed “convert PDF to CAD” into your chosen browser, you’d undoubtedly come across multiple online converters claiming to convert quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, as with most things, this isn’t always the case. 

While online converters are generally free, they come with a wide variety of disadvantages. Strictly speaking, online converters can’t offer the same high-quality output as converters that are dedicated raster-to-vector solutions. Additionally, they always come with limitations—a limited file size upload or a limited number of conversions. Worse still, using an online converter can mean leaving your system open to security risks. 

Instead, you should make use of software that you can trust to keep you safe and give you the best possible output—that’s where Scan2CAD comes in!

Using Scan2CAD to convert PDF to CAD

As a market-leading raster-to-vector conversion software, you can expect only the best from Scan2CAD. With it, you can convert to and from a wide variety of file formats—not the least of which includes PDF to CAD formats like DXF and DWG. 

Unlike online converters and many other conversion tools, Scan2CAD is able to support and convert both raster and vector PDFs—and even PDFs that contain both raster and vector elements. 

Convert a raster PDF to CAD

If you’re using Scan2CAD, it couldn’t be any easier to convert your raster PDF to a DXF or DWG. All you need to do is ensure you’re using a high-quality PDF to start with, and you’ll be able to start the vectorization process. Simply load your raster PDF into Scan2CAD. Once you’ve done so, you can look through the vectorization settings available to ensure your conversion is as precise as possible. 

The steps to conversion are then as follows: 

•  : converts lines, curves and shapes to vectors
•  : to convert any raster text to vector text
•  : converts both raster lines and text to vectors

Then, all you have to do is choose the file format to save your raster PDF to—either DXF or DWG. It’s just as simple as it sounds—as you can see below…

Converting a technical drawing to vector with Scan2CAD

Convert a vector PDF to CAD

It can be difficult to convert vector PDFs to CAD file formats. Fortunately, Scan2CAD is fully equipped with the necessary tools to make it possible! 

• File management: in a single PDF, you might have hundreds of small raster images which might be treated separately by other converters—leaving you to have to reassemble your entire PDF by the end. Scan2CAD, by comparison, enables you to save each page as a single file. 
• Draws CAD arcs and circles: a disadvantage of PDFs is that they typically don’t save CAD arcs or circles—they’re made up of short lines or curves instead. Scan2CAD combats this by replacing these entities with true arcs and circles that are easily editable. 
• Retains PDF line types: as we’ve said, PDFs contain a wide variety of information, including different line types. Instead of converting these different types to the same continuous one like other converters, Scan2CAD saves them accurately as they are. 
• Retains PDF line widths: PDFs tend to contain specific line width information associated with each PDF vector entity—Scan2CAD retains this whilst giving you the option to turn them off if you’re saving to DXF. 

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg! Click on the link below to see what else Scan2CAD can do…

Convert PDFs with raster and vector elements to CAD

If you’ve got a PDF that contains both raster and vector elements, you don’t have to worry at all—Scan2CAD does it as easy as pie! 

All you’ve got to do is load your PDF file into Scan2CAD as you would with a raster or vector PDF. A dialog box will then appear—it will give you the option to load raster elements, vector elements or both in your PDF. You have to click both to convert all of the elements in your PDF to DXF or DWG. 

To isolate the vector elements in your PDF, simply click View Vector File. You can also distinguish between the different types of vector entities present (such as lines and arcs) by using the View Vector Colors tool. With these tools, you can then figure out which PDF Import Settings to use—re-import your PDF and all of your vector elements should appear correctly. To isolate the raster elements in your PDF, simply use the steps listed above for converting raster PDFs to CAD. All you’ve got to do at the end is save your completed image as a DXF or DWG. 

Scan2CAD: Free Download

Scan2CAD isn’t just great for converting PDFs to CAD, it’s also great for converting any raster file type to a vector file format. Better still, it doesn’t merely apply a generic vectorization process to all images—using specific vectorization settings, Scan2CAD can offer you a specialized solution that’s perfect for your specific files.

Of course, it’s not just all about the vectorization tools—it’s also about the clean up! Scan2CAD comes with a range of pre- and post-processing cleaning tools that makes getting a perfect vector output possible. And with its support of a wide range of file types and market-leading features like Smart OCR and batch processing, it couldn’t be easier to convert to and from your chosen file formats. 

Don’t just take our word for it. Try out our free, 14-day trial with absolutely no limitations or obligations. That’s right—you don’t have to worry about file size limits or a limited number of conversions! Click on the link below to get started!

In this article, we’ll outline how to convert images to vector formats quickly and simply. We’ll also go into detail about which vector formats to choose, as well as providing some handy tips on how to make the conversion process run smoothly.

Table of contents

• Raster images
  • Common raster file types
    • JPG
    • PNG
    • TIFF
• Vector images
  • Common vector file types
    • DWG
    • DXF
• Conversion options
• Convert image to vector
  • How it works
  • Potential issues
  • Improve your results
  • Converting your image
• Why use Scan2CAD?

Raster images

The vast majority of digital images we encounter in daily life are raster images, from the photos we take on our phones through to GIFs we share on social media. There are plenty of reasons behind the predominance of raster images:

• Web browsers support many of the most common types of raster image formats
• Raster images are ideal for purposes such as photography
• Scanning a paper drawing will create a raster image
• Many of the most popular image editors, such as Photoshop, work with raster images

However, raster images come with their own drawbacks. Firstly, raster images are made up of pixels, and are thus intended to be displayed at a set resolution. This means that resizing or zooming will inevitably come with some loss of image quality.

Secondly, raster images have no structure; they are simply a map of different colors. This means that CAD programs cannot interpret what the image represents nor distinguish between different elements within the image. This also makes it impossible to convert the image to a CNC-compatible format, such as G-code.

If your image is saved in a raster file format, and you need to use it for CAD or CNC purposes, then your only solution is to convert your image to a vector format.

Common raster file types

There are hundreds of raster image types on the market, each offering its own benefits and drawbacks. Here, we’ve focused on just a few formats that you’re most likely to use.

JPG

One of the most well known raster file types around is JPG. This format is the perfect choice for photographs because of its small file size. This is an advantage as it allows users to store hundreds of photos on a phone or digital camera without having to worry about running out of space.

To achieve this reduction in file size, though, JPG must cut some corners with image quality, and uses lossy compression techniques. This typically isn’t a major issue with photos, where some blurring around the edges won’t have too negative an effect on image quality. When dealing with line drawings such as floorplans, however, JPG’s shortcomings become apparent, as compression artifacts will appear.

Compression artifacts make it difficult to convert a JPG image to vector. As such, we recommend that you avoid saving your image as a JPG.

PNG

Another extremely common file type is PNG. This format has gained prominence as an all-rounder, particularly in the field of web graphics. PNG also offers users the benefits of 16 million colors and transparency alongside lossless compression.

Lossless compression means that, when you save a PNG file, it won’t lose quality. This sets it apart from file formats like JPG, and makes it a better choice if you’re looking to vectorize your image later on. The one downside is that file sizes are larger than for JPG.

TIFF

TIFF, or Tagged Image File Format, is a raster image format that is popular in the world of digital art. Much like the PNG format, TIFF offers users lossless compression and transparency. However, TIFF also enables users to save their images without compression.

Uncompressed images guarantee users maximum image quality. As you may expect, though, this means that TIFF files can balloon in size to be far larger than an equivalent JPG, or even PNG. Nonetheless, if you’re seeking to convert your image from raster to vector, it’s important to prioritize image quality over small file sizes. That’s why Scan2CAD recommends TIFF as the best file format to convert your image to vector.

Vector images

Vector file formats offer users an entirely different way to store image data. That’s because they eschew pixels and instead opt for objects. This means that, instead of displaying color information, they display the individual elements of an image. Elements within a vector image can include lines, curves, shapes, and text, amongst other object types.

Each object in a vector image is defined by mathematical coordinates. This means that it’s possible to display a vector file at practically any scale without loss of clarity or quality. Additionally, for the same reasons, you can display a vector image at any resolution.

Another benefit to vector images is that all elements of the image are distinct from one another. This makes it easier for CAD and CNC control software to use and interpret the image, and also allows users to attach data to individual objects. For example, if you were using architectural CAD software, you could specify the building material for a particular wall.

As well as the positives above, vector images often come with smaller file sizes, too. This is because, where raster files contain information about each individual pixel (including the background), vector files only contain information about the relevant parts of the image.

Common vector file types

Much as with raster images, a wide selection of vector file types exists. However, in the world of CAD, two file types predominate: DXF and DWG. We’ll explore the reasons why you might choose to convert your image to either of these two vector file types.

DWG

DWG is the native file format for the market-leading CAD software from Autodesk, AutoCAD. As a result, you can find DWG files on the hard drives of architects, engineers and designers the world over.

The DWG format is primarily intended for use with AutoCAD. As such, it reflects the changes made to the program itself, and Autodesk periodically releases new versions of the DWG format to coincide with new AutoCAD releases.

The format supports a wide range of vector entities, including many that are specific to AutoCAD. However, there are now many other ways to view DWG files without AutoCAD, and the file type remains popular with users of many different CAD programs.

DXF

Interestingly, the DXF format comes from the same stable as DWG; both have their origins in Autodesk. Where DWG was to be the native format of AutoCAD, DXF was to act as CAD’s lingua franca—a format that would enable users of all CAD programs to collaborate on the same projects.

While there are a few, AutoCAD-specific entities that DXF doesn’t support, the format is identical in most ways to DWG. Add this to the fact that practically every CAD software on the market supports DXF, and it’s clear to see why DXF has become a popular file format. If you’re looking to share your image with a wide range of clients after conversion, and you aren’t sure whether all of them use AutoCAD, then it may be safer to save your file as a DXF.

Though vector files aren’t perfect in all situations—such as for displaying photo-realistic images—they’re ideal for CAD. Read on to find out exactly how to convert your image to vector.

Conversion options

If you’re used to programs such as Photoshop, then you might think that converting from one file type to another is as simple as clicking “Save As…” and selecting from a drop-down menu. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to convert from raster to vector.

As raster and vector images operate using entirely separate principles, converting an image to vector (also known as vectorization) is more complex. The only way to accomplish this conversion is through tracing over a raster image. There are two ways to complete the tracing process:

• Manual tracing. This involves opening your raster image in a program such as Inkscape, Illustrator or SketchUp, adding a new layer on top of the existing image, and then drawing vector lines, shapes and text that reflects the content of the raster image.

  If you have plenty of time on your hands to trace your image accurately (and a steady hand!), this method can produce great results. However, it’s certainly time-consuming—it could take hours or even days to trace a single image!

• Automatic tracing. Vectorization software, such as Scan2CAD, can automatically detect the lines, shapes and objects present within an image. From this, they can then produce a vector representation of the raster image. It’s also possible to detect text (and even handwriting!) thanks to OCR technology.

  The key positive to automatic tracing, however, is speed. It takes mere seconds to convert an image to vector using automatic tracing. You can also use batch processing to convert many images at once—something that would require an entire team if tracing manually!

  There are some downsides, though—this method requires some pre- and post-processing, so humans aren’t entirely off the hook here. Meanwhile, even the ultimate vectorization software doesn’t have the same understanding of an image’s contents as a human would. This means that it may make some errors during conversion. Nonetheless, there are ways to help reduce these issues—read on to find out how!

Convert image to vector

How it works

Converting images to vector files automatically is a difficult process. That’s because it requires a computer program to understand an image—something that it finds much harder than a human would.

Because of this, vectorization works best with images that are:

• simple
• clear
• monochrome

For example, if an image consisted of the outline of a black square on a white background, it would be incredibly easy to vectorize. It would be close to impossible, meanwhile, to achieve good results with a full-color photograph.

Potential issues

Common issues with raster images

With many potential types of vector entities, it can be difficult for vectorization software to know how to process your vector file. For example, it might not always be clear whether an object is a straight line or a curve.

As well, your entire image, or individual objects within it, may suffer from defects. This can occur due to errors in the scanning process, skewing, or problems introduced by saving your image using a lossy file format. These may include the appearance of speckles or ‘holes’, blurriness, or the use of grayscale rather than monochrome colors.

Whilst high-quality, accurate, professional software such as Scan2CAD will find issues like these much easier to deal with than an online conversion tool, there are still ways that users can improve their original raster image to make it easier to convert.

Improve your results

Most users who need to convert images to vector files will find themselves somewhere in between the extreme situations described earlier. In some cases, these issues can be avoided by re-scanning your image, or obtaining a version that isn’t saved as a lossy file format such as JPG.

However, in some cases, you have no choice but to go ahead with converting a less-than-ideal image. This means that you’ll need to perform a few pre-processing steps to get your image up to scratch. Some of the most common are found below:

1. Use thresholding. Thresholding enables you to turn a grayscale image into one in which there are only two colors: black and white. With Scan2CAD, you’ll see a dialog box appear while using the thresholding tool, which enables you to set a cut-off point at which shades of gray will be processed as either black pixels or white pixels.
2. Thicken lines. It’s common for broken lines to appear if you’ve scanned in an image, particularly if the image was originally drawn in pencil. You can solve this issue by using Scan2CAD’s Thicken Lines tool. Be careful when using this tool, though—you don’t want to join together lines that shouldn’t be connected!
3. Remove holes and speckles. Holes may appear if your image is too faint. To correct this, use Scan2CAD’s Remove Holes feature. Meanwhile, the opposite problem is the appearance of speckles—additional extraneous pixels that can appear close to the edges of lines and shapes, and can make it difficult for the program to tell the difference between an object and its background. To remove this, you can either erase the pixels freehand, or do it automatically using the Remove Speckles tool.

We have plenty of additional recommendations on how you can get your raster image ready for conversion. So, before you vectorize your image, be sure to check out our top 10 raster cleanup effects.

Converting your image

Now that all the preparation is done, you’ll be pleased to learn that the actual conversion process could hardly be simpler! In fact, all you’ll have to do is open your cleaned-up raster image in Scan2CAD, then click on one of the available conversion options. And voilà! You’ll convert your raster image to vector in a matter of seconds. You can see what that looks like below…

Converting a technical drawing to vector with Scan2CAD

Why use Scan2CAD?

There are a whole host of tools available which allow you to convert images to vector formats—so why choose Scan2CAD?

The answer is simple: Scan2CAD is the professional, accurate conversion solution.

With Scan2CAD, you needn’t worry about whether your software will be able to distinguish an arc from a circle, or whether it will deal with dashed lines correctly. Scan2CAD’s superior vector recognition software makes it the ideal choice for architects and engineers looking to convert technical drawings with pinpoint accuracy.

Meanwhile, Scan2CAD also offers a vast range of tools that enable you to optimize your image prior to conversion, and perfect it at the end. With support for a vast range of file types, Scan2CAD makes it easy for you to convert to and from all of the most popular raster and vector formats on the market. Plus, with support for batch processing, you could convert your images faster than you think.

There are so many reasons to choose Scan2CAD—but don’t just take our word for it. Try Scan2CAD out for yourself with our 14-day, no obligation free trial. Click the link below to download today.

Nonetheless, PDF files aren’t perfect. Their strength in wide compatibility often proves a weakness in other areas. In short, they’re great when you only need to view a document; less good when you need to edit it. This can prove a particular problem if you work with software such as AutoCAD.

Luckily, there are ways to convert even the most complex PDF to AutoCAD-compatible file formats. In this guide, we’ll run through the reasons why you might need to perform such a conversion, provide a rundown on what not to do, and show you the best ways to convert any PDF to AutoCAD.

PDF files

Since its initial release in 1993, PDF has become a ubiquitous file format across the globe. Its popularity lies in its ability to display documents in an identical manner on virtually any device. This gives it an edge over formats such as Microsoft Word’s .doc and .docx formats, which can have inconsistent appearances on different displays. Meanwhile, its ability to store text gives it a clear advantage over simple raster file types.

The ability of PDF files to display various forms of data makes them harder to categorize than many other formats. PDFs are able, for example, to display raster images, such as photos or scanned sketches. However, they can also contain vector graphics—though they typically only support simpler entities, such as circles and lines. As a result, PDF is neither strictly a vector nor a raster file type, but a sui generis format.

There are obvious benefits to the complexity of PDF files—but also some drawbacks. A key issue is that PDF files exist to display information. If you wish to edit the contents of a PDF file, you’ll need to convert the file to another format in order to edit it in another program. A common editing software in the CAD industry, for example, would be AutoCAD. However, this conversion process can throw up numerous issues. This means that specific steps must be taken when converting from PDF to AutoCAD-compatible formats.

AutoCAD

As mentioned above, AutoCAD is one of the most commonly used CAD programs on the market. It is the flagship software from Autodesk, and offers users powerful 2D and 3D CAD functionality. For this reason, it is popular across a variety of industries, though it is particularly prominent in the AEC sector. Thanks to its linked application, AutoCAD 360, its users can now work on mobile devices or edit from the cloud.

AutoCAD allows its users to create detailed and accurate technical drawings: a must-have for engineers, architects and product designers. It also allows the attachment of relevant data to these drawings, transforming them from simple images into vital tools for the successful completion of a project.

File formats

The complex information that AutoCAD deals with requires a file format capable of storing it. Raster file types, which simply store color information, are, therefore, unsuitable. Instead, vector file formats are necessary. These formats store each object (such as a line or circle) as a separate, editable entity, to which a user can attach additional data. AutoCAD supports many different file extensions, though two stand out in particular: DWG and DXF.

DWG

The history of the DWG format goes hand in hand with that of AutoCAD itself. DWG has acted as the native file format for AutoCAD ever since its first release in 1982, and stands as one of the most popular file formats in CAD. Due to its popularity, there are also now a number of ways to view DWG files without AutoCAD.

Given its status as AutoCAD’s native file format, it should come as no surprise to learn that DWG is a vector file format. In fact, Autodesk updates the DWG format periodically to reflect changes to AutoCAD itself. This means that DWG is the ideal format for loyal AutoCAD users—particularly those who make use of AutoCAD-specific entities in their drawings. Additionally, DWG also supports both 2D and 3D graphics, making it a flexible choice for designers.

DXF

Though DWG is AutoCAD’s native format, Autodesk is well aware that it isn’t always a designer’s ideal choice. That’s why it created the DXF file format. Unlike DWG, which is intended primarily for use in AutoCAD, DXF is an open standard. This means that virtually any CAD software on the market can open a DXF file. As such, it’s ideal for users who often collaborate with designers who use alternatives to AutoCAD.

DXF is, in many ways, similar to DWG. Both are vector file formats, capable of displaying objects and data present in AutoCAD drawings. However, there are some key differences. DWG is intended to reflect the full range of AutoCAD entities and features. DXF, meanwhile, is meant to act as a lingua franca for many different types of CAD software. As such, it does not support many of the AutoCAD-specific entities that DWG does. It also lacks support for 3D graphics—though, unlike DWG, it is a suitable format for CNC machines.

Converting from PDF to AutoCAD-compatible formats

The PDF format, with its purpose as a medium for displaying information, differs completely from formats such as DWG and DXF, which are for creating and editing designs. However, oftentimes, designers will find themselves needing to edit designs stored as PDF files in AutoCAD.

The solution, therefore, is to convert their PDF to AutoCAD-compatible formats. Unfortunately, this is often easier said than done. Given the combination of raster data, vector entities and text that can make up a PDF, conversion can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together this guide showing you the best way to convert your PDF to AutoCAD—with information covering raster, vector, and mixed files.

How not to convert from PDF to AutoCAD

Before we jump into the ways to convert from PDF to AutoCAD, let’s start off with a quick note on how not to do it.

For starters, it’s worth noting that, as useful as Google can be, it can often throw up some less-than-perfect results when it comes to PDF to AutoCAD conversion. Many of the first results you’re likely to find in a standard Google search will be online converters. These tools are generally free—but, as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for.

The quality of any conversion produced using an online tool is likely to be low—too low, in fact, to be useful in AutoCAD. Worse still, online conversion tools can leave you open to intellectual property and security risks. If you’re still tempted, make sure to check out our guide covering the pitfalls of online converters.

Meanwhile, some users may wish to try out manual tracing before committing to an automatic conversion tool. A key issue with this is that, whilst many manual tracing tools readily accept various raster file types, they often don’t support PDFs. If, somehow, you do find a tool that allows for manual tracing of PDFs, you’ll come up against another issue: manual tracing is hard. The process is time-consuming and demanding.

It’s certainly true that, if you have the time on your hands, you can achieve good results. However, PDFs can often contain a wealth of complex information. This means that achieving a great quality vector image through manual tracing usually isn’t worth the trouble. Visit our comparison of manual and automatic tracing for more information.

Importing PDFs directly into AutoCAD

For many years, it was impossible to directly import PDF data into AutoCAD. This all changed with AutoCAD 2017: the first release to include PDF file imports as a feature. In 2017, Autodesk built further upon this capability when they released AutoCAD 2018. Every year since, the functionality has been made available in the subsequent releases of the software, including AutoCAD 2023, the most recent version.

Now, it’s possible to import some PDF data into AutoCAD using the PDFIMPORT command. Supported data types include some vector geometry and text, including SHX text as of AutoCAD 2023. If you use this command, AutoCAD will import the data directly from the PDF, enabling you to edit this data and later save it as a DWG or DXF file.

However, it’s worth noting that this command has its limitations. To begin with, the PDFIMPORT command does exactly what it says on the tin—it imports data from a PDF. Whilst this might sound ideal, it can often cause problems. That’s because PDFs only support simple vector entities; AutoCAD, meanwhile, supports much more complex entities, and these might be necessary for your project. If you’re simply importing rather than converting, you could be missing out.

Still, AutoCAD does allow you to transform your vector PDF data into editable geometry. This is not, unfortunately, the case for the raster data in your PDF. The PDFIMPORT command will simply attach any raster data to your AutoCAD drawing as an xref, instead of converting it. If you have drawing data saved in the form of a sketch, this is, therefore, unsuitable for your needs.

Using Scan2CAD

Scan2CAD is the ultimate vectorization software, enabling users to convert to and from a number of different raster and vector formats. This includes the ability to vectorize PDF files in just a few clicks.

Scan2CAD’s automatic PDF-to-vector conversion makes it an ideal choice for any AutoCAD users looking to edit their PDFs. That’s because, unlike some other tools, it’s capable of converting both raster and vector PDFs. It can even handle PDF files which contain both raster and vector elements. Read on to learn exactly how to convert each type of PDF to AutoCAD.

Converting a raster PDF to AutoCAD

From a software point of view, raster-to-vector conversion is incredibly complex. That’s because raster images and vector graphics are totally different. A raster image is made up of colored pixels, whilst a vector image is made up of mathematically defined objects.

The only way to get from raster to vector is through automatic tracing. This involves Scan2CAD working out the appropriate vector entity types for different parts of a raster image. It’s trickier than it sounds!

Luckily, for a Scan2CAD user, the conversion process is simple. To begin with, try to ensure you use a good quality PDF—if necessary (or possible), rescan images to improve their quality. Once you’re happy that your raster PDF is good enough for conversion, load it into Scan2CAD.

Before starting the conversion process, select the best vectorization settings for your image. After that, there are three ways to vectorize your image:

•  : which converts lines, curves and shapes to vectors.
•  : to convert raster text to vector text.
•  : which converts the entire image (both lines and text) to vectors.

Finally, all you have to do is save your image as an AutoCAD-compatible format: DXF or DWG. And that’s it!

For more information, check out our ultimate guides to converting PDF to DXF and PDF to DWG.

Converting a vector PDF to AutoCAD

If your PDF file consists entirely of vector graphics, you may assume that the conversion process is simpler than that of a raster PDF. In some ways, this is true: Scan2CAD won’t need to perform the complex automatic tracing operations involved in vectorizing a raster image, for example.

However, converting from PDF to AutoCAD-compatible formats such as DWG and DXF throws up its own set of issues. This is because PDFs support only a limited range of vector entities. Additionally, some information is lost when saving a drawing in PDF format, resulting in elements being saved incorrectly. When converting your PDF to DWG or DXF, you’ll therefore have to convert these to the correct entities.

Luckily, Scan2CAD makes the process easy. Simply start by loading your vector PDF in Scan2CAD. Use the View Vector Colors tool to turn off the “true” colors of your vector PDF, and instead color vectors by type. You’ll then be able to explore your image, and see whether your entities have been imported correctly. If not, you can change Scan2CAD’s PDF Import Settings to suit the needs of your image. Settings include:

• Make Arcs, Beziers, Circles, Dash Lines, and Arrow Lines
• Load PDF Text
• Load Solid White Rectangles

Once you’ve chosen appropriate settings, you can re-import your vector PDF. The vector elements in your PDF should now appear correctly. If you’re still experiencing any issues, check out our guide to common DWG conversion problems to iron them out. Once everything is sorted, you can save your image as a DWG or DXF.

Converting a PDF with both raster and vector elements

Last, we’ll come to the most complex conversion of them all: converting a PDF containing both raster and vector graphics. Scan2CAD, however, makes this conversion a cinch.

Simply start by loading your PDF into Scan2CAD. You’ll see a dialog window pop up immediately if your file contains both raster and vector elements, with check boxes prompting you to load the raster elements in the PDF, the vector elements, or both. Ensure to check both boxes to convert all elements from PDF to AutoCAD.

From this point, the conversion process basically involves a combination of the two above elements. Using the View Vector Image and View Vector Colors tools, you can isolate the vector elements of the PDF, allowing you to judge the PDF Import Settings you need to use. You can then re-import your PDF, and all vector elements in your file should appear correctly.

Then, use the View Raster Image tool to show only the raster elements of your PDF. Follow the steps in the raster PDF to AutoCAD section above to vectorize these raster elements. Now, all elements in your PDF file should have been successfully converted to vector. All that’s left to do is save your image as a DXF or DWG file—and you’re done!

We hope this guide has covered everything you need to know on converting from PDF to AutoCAD. If you’re still curious, though, feel free to leave any more questions in the comments!

This guide covers everything you need to know about scanning a design into the computer, and converting the resulting raster file into a CAD-friendly vector format.

When would paper to CAD conversion be used?

There are several instances where paper to CAD conversion becomes necessary.

One common scenario involves old technical drawings or architectural plans. Your studio may have won a contract to develop part of a site further. The trouble is, all of the previous plans were drawn on physical paper, rather than on a program like AutoCAD. In such an instance, you could begin by manually drawing the designs in your preferred software, and going from there. However, this would require a huge commitment of time and energy, which would be better spent editing the initial design to the client’s new specifications. A more efficient method would be to use the technological advances that are present in Scan2CAD, which allow you to automatically convert a scanned paper drawing to a CAD format.

The same principle applies to hand-drawn sketches, or any other design that has been produced on paper.

Why do you need conversion software?

Only vector graphics are suitable for designing in CAD. Source: University of Connecticut

When you scan your drawing—either onto your computer, or directly into Scan2CAD—you will be able to save it as a raster file. Raster file formats are commonly used display on the web, but are not suitable for use within the context of CAD design. Their lack of structure means that you cannot edit individual entities without affecting the image as a whole. Furthermore, if you increase the image size, this can cause the drawing to lose quality and appear fuzzy or pixelated.

In order to use your scanned paper drawings for CAD design purposes, you will need to convert blueprints to CAD compatible vector format, such as DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) or DWG (Drawing). Unlike raster images, vector files are capable of holding masses of data about each individual element. This data is readable by CAD software, and is invaluable when collaborating on an important project.

Vectors also benefit from resolution independence: however far you zoom into the file, you will never see a loss of quality. Furthermore, whereas raster graphics are made up of pixels, vector graphics are made up of objects, such as lines, arcs, Bezier curves or polygons. You can edit each of these entities individually without affecting the rest of the image, granting the designer much more freedom.

There are 2 methods to convert blueprints to digital: manual tracing and automatic tracing. The term ‘tracing’ refers to the process of drawing over raster images with vectors. While humans can understand design more effectively than technology, we’re more prone to inaccuracy. Tracing by hand with a graphics stylus or mouse is also very time consuming. Automatic tracing, on the other hand, is performed by raster-to-vector software like Scan2CAD. You may have to touch-up raster images prior to conversion, but the process is very quick: it takes mere seconds.

With Scan2CAD, you can opt to convert a scanned drawing to a wide range of different vector formats—most commonly DXF or DWG. We’ll look at the differences between the two, and how to vectorize your drawing a little later.  

Scanning your drawing

Can you scan any drawing?

Conversion software is only able to work with what it’s given. When assessing whether your drawing is suitable for scanning, you need to be aware of both size and clarity.

Some drawings are simply too small to be scanned, however much you try to offset this with resolution. Others are too faint, or too dirty, to be cleaned up well enough to produce a credible scan. You also need to be aware of obscured lines. If too many lines are overlapped by text, no software would be able to make sense of the information. Therefore if your aim is to convert blueprints to digital, ensure you have a suitable quality drawing and scan.

What type of scanner can you use?

You can scan directly to Scan2CAD: all you need is a compatible scanner. These include any Twain- or WIA-compliant scanner, or, if you have the pro version, a Colortrac SmartLF scanner, or an HP Designjet T2300 eMFP.

Simply start by loading your design directly from your scanner into Scan2CAD. If a dialogue box appears, choose appropriate settings, and then instruct the software to Scan.

It makes little difference which of these scanners is used, although the latter model does offer you a preview within the software; use this to check whether your scan is fit for conversion. If not—if your drawing is skewed, for instance—rescan until the image is optimal.

If you don’t have access to any of the scanners mentioned, you can still convert your drawing to CAD: it will just add a couple of extra steps. Simply scan your drawing onto your computer as normal, load it in Scan2CAD, and vectorize.

When scanning your drawing, it’s important to save it as a lossless format. TIFF is an ideal format; other lossless formats include BMP and PNG. You should avoid lossy formats, such as JPEG, which sacrifice image quality for smaller file sizes.

Scanner Settings

Color

Most scanners give you the option to scan in color, grayscale, or monochrome. In most cases, the best option to convert hand-drawn plans to digital is to scan your drawing in monochrome. This separates your image into just two colors—black and white—which means that Scan2CAD can easily separate out the design in the foreground from the white background.

If scanning an image as a monochrome image, it’s worth checking your scanner’s threshold settings. These determine which parts of your image are scanned as black and white respectively. If they’re set too high, text may “bleed”, and speckles may appear in the background. Set them too low, and your image may lack detail. It’s possible, however, to simply scan your image in grayscale, then separate the colors out into black and white using Scan2CAD’s thresholding tool.

Resolution

High resolution doesn’t automatically produce a better scan; the important thing is to find the resolution that is most appropriate. But you should also be aware that while you can decrease image resolution after it has been scanned, you cannot increase it. As a general rule, you should be looking at a resolution between 200 and 400 DPI; smaller images, such as logos, may require higher resolution. If your scan appears pixelated, this is a key sign that you need to increase the resolution. Likewise with characters within areas of text, and the spacing of entities—you want clear white space to be visible between them.

This latter issue may need a combination of resolution and threshold adjustments, and you should experiment with both until the image is optimal.

Pre-conversion clean-up

Using the Deskew tool on very skewed images usually results in a significant loss of quality

Before you convert hand-drawn plans to digital, ensure that you have not missed any basic errors. Check that the whole drawing has been scanned and that it is as straight as possible. While Scan2CAD does provide a deskew tool, using it may result in a loss of quality. See our comprehensive guide for optimal raster-to-vector conversion results for more areas you should watch out for.

If you do need to clean up any of the image, there are a number of tools available to you. Other than deskew, you can also fill in missing gaps in lines. Use the Remove Holes function for small holes, or Flood Fill for larger gaps. Opting to Smooth lines will get rid of stray ‘hairs’ from your lines, and if there is a small amount of dirt in the background, you can ‘Remove Speckles’ to eliminate marks.

It’s best at this point to work through the full quality checklist, zooming in to ensure you haven’t missed anything that will become an issue during vectorization.

Converting to vector

DXF or DWG?

To convert from a simple image to a file that contains important design data and that can be easily edited in CAD software, you’ll need to convert your drawing from raster to vector. With Scan2CAD, you can choose between numerous vector formats, notably including DXF or DWG. Both formats allow you to edit individual entities and reuse them, should you so wish. This can save time in the future when creating CAD files with similar elements to those in this file. What’s more, neither DXF or DWG files are resolution dependent: however far you zoom in or out; whatever size you view the image, the drawing’s quality will be retained.

But while DXF files are supported almost universally by CAD programs, making them ideal for collaboration, the DWG format is native to AutoCAD. If you don’t own this software, don’t panic—you may still be able to view and edit a DWG without AutoCAD.

You may prefer this format if you are keen to edit the drawing using native AutoCAD entities, or if you are only going to be sharing the file with those who use the same software. If you are unsure which to go for, take a closer look at the qualities of each of these vector file types. And remember, it’s not the end of the world if you get it ‘wrong’: you can always convert your DWG to a DXF, or vice versa, at a later date.

How to vectorize your drawing

Whether you’re looking to convert your scan from a TIFF or a PDF, and to a DXF or DWG, the process is the same:

1. Open the scanned image into Scan2CAD
2. Clean the image (if required) using Scan2CAD’s image cleaning tools
3. Convert the image using Scan2CAD’s Vectorization and OCR 
4. Export the converted vector image to DXF or DWG for your CAD software.

It really is as quick and simple as that! And, if you’ve got a mountain of hard copies that you need to scan, there’s no need to convert each one individually. Use the Batch Processing tool to automate the process, while retaining control on pre-conversion optimization.

A floor plan drawing converted to DXF in Scan2CAD

What about Paper to CAD Conversion Services?

If converted your paper designs to CAD yourself seems like too much work, you could look into paper to CAD conversion services. These service providers will require you to send them your paper copies and they will subsequently scan and convert your drawings to your required format.

Paper to CAD conversion as a service is not without its issues. In fact, we created an article for those who wish to make an informed decision on whether or not to outsource conversions: CAD Conversion: Do It Yourself Or Outsource? Most notably, outsourcing conversion is not a zero-work option. You will need to consult with the conversion service providing detailed specifications of the conversions you require and you should carefully check the accuracy of all delivered files. Finally, outsourcing is not an option for the majority of companies who have a policy of protecting their client’s drawings.

Useful resources

If you need more support on converting your scan to vector, then you may find the following pages helpful:

• Converting from TIFF to DXF — Your ultimate guide
• Ultimate Guide: TIFF to DWG Conversion
• Ultimate Guide: PDF to DXF Conversion
• Ultimate Guide: PDF to DWG Conversion
• FAQs: DXF Conversion

If you want to have a go at converting a paper drawing to CAD without the commitment of paying, you can enjoy a no-strings-attached, 14-day trial of Scan2CAD without spending a penny. You’ll soon realize why it is the ultimate market-leading vectorization software.

1. It’s necessary for collaboration

If you’re used to dealing with CAD programs like AutoCAD or SolidWorks, you might not immediately see the need for converting PDF files into a compatible format. However, clients are likely to have limited expertise in this area, and may well send files as PDFs. Often their reasoning is sound: PDF is a widely supported file type, so they can be sure anyone receiving the file will have the capacity to access it. They might have no concept of the fact that you can’t just open it and get on with edits and additions. Alternatively, they may be well aware of potential issues, but unable to do anything about them, not having access to CAD software themselves.

You might also start out with a PDF if the drawing has originated from a hard copy. Perhaps it is an old architectural plan of a building, or maybe there’s a hand-drawn sketch you wish to work on. Whatever the reason, you need it on your screen. And when scanning it into the computer, you will be able to save the file as a PDF, but not as a format that is more CAD-friendly.

The difficulties that arise when attempting to edit PDF files makes it often imperative to convert it into a format such as DXF. DXF files are useful because not only are they compatible across CAD software, they can take you from design to manufacturing very easily. As vector files, they contain information that is able to be read by CNC machines, ensuring accurate production of your initial design.

2. Not every part of a PDF file will necessarily need converting from raster to vector

PDFs can contain elements of both raster and vector graphics; the latter referring to parts of the file that are compatible with CAD work. These entities are made up of lines, as opposed to the pixels that form a raster image. Such elements will not undergo further vectorization, but can be imported into your new file all the same.

It is possible to determine which entities of your PDF are raster, and which vector, but to save time and confusion, the software is able to identify them for you. You may decide to load just one of these types, but equally you can load all entities within the file.

You will also be given the option of converting any of the raster graphics into vector. Restrict the vectorization to raster text, lines or shapes—or, to enable them to be used more effectively for CAD or CNC, choose to convert them all. And forget time consuming manual tracing; instead of mouse or graphic pad, Scan2CAD will trace these entities entirely automatically.

Once vectorized, the editing suite allows you to alter any part of the image easily for your desired outcome.

3. It’s very quick and very easy

When converting a PDF into a DXF format, there’s a lot that needs to happen—but, thankfully, not by you.

Simply load your file, and decide which parts of it you wish to convert: you may wish to use only certain pages of your original PDF file, for instance. You’ll also be able to choose different vectorization, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and export settings. To make things even simpler, the software will pick up on individual aspects of your file(s) and display options that are specifically relevant to them.

Then you’re ready to save into DXF format. The whole conversion take just a few clicks of your mouse, and is completed within about half a minute! Suddenly those PDFs you’re sent from clients don’t seem so much of a bother, do they?

For more detailed instructions of the process, see our step-by-step guide to converting your PDF file to a DXF.

4. There are ways you can improve the outcome of your PDF to DXF conversion

During the PDF to DXF process, there are several things that could go wrong. However, with a few pointers, you can reduce susceptibility to all of the most common DXF conversion problems.

Right from the get-go, you will face decisions that will affect the quality of the output. First off, you need to make sure that your input image—the PDF—is scanned into the software in as optimal a manner as possible. Scanning in black and white, where color is not a requirement to your image, proves a big help to the software. It can convert monochrome shapes much more accurately than those that are colored, or even grayscale, which can still include nearly 300 different shades in between black and white.

Ensuring your scan is correctly aligned is another easy way to improve your chances of a successful scan. Although you can use the deskewing tool a little later, such technology can reduce quality—and why bother, when you can manually eliminate the need up-front? No need to worry about it being positioned the wrong way round, though; you can rotate your PDF easily on Scan2CAD.

While there is a whole checklist of things you can do to improve the scanning process, you’ll likely need to work on the image on-screen too. This includes checking that that the lines are thick enough to be recognized (although not thick enough to run the risk of producing multiple lines) and adjusting the color settings of your image.

After the conversion itself, there is a little more to do: the process does not end with a click of the button. Post-vectorization editing is a crucial step that can make all the difference to the quality of your DXF file output.

5. Scan2CAD will recognize text and numbers, although you can give it a helping hand

Optical Character Recognition is a useful piece of kit that can trace over letters and numbers and convert them into editable text. The technology comes in particularly handy when vectorizing old plans, which often contain handwritten labels and notes.

Applying certain settings can be beneficial to the process. You can, for example, choose to split characters that may have bled into each other in their native, raster state. There’s also complete flexibility in how OCR is used: the settings you opt for needn’t apply across your whole document if you don’t deem them suitable.

You can also lend the OCR technology a bit of a helping hand. With handwritten or unclear fonts, it is possible that lettering could be vectorized into a series of lines or arcs, rather than text. Not ideal. So, why not type over the words, and erase the writing beneath it? And remember, if it’s not legible to you, the computer doesn’t stand a chance!

6. You can convert as many PDFs as you like in one go!

What happens when you’ve got multiple PDF files that you need to use within CAD? It rather depends on which converter you opt for. Poor converters, as well as limiting the quality you’ll achieve, will only let you upload one graphic at a time. This is impractical for many users, who require a more extensive use of the service.

Scan2CAD, on the other hand, lets you use the automatic batch conversion option to save time and increase productivity.

Handy for multiple PDF to DXF conversions, there’s no need to upload your PDFs one at a time. It’s a no-corners-cut shortcut: get the same benefits that you enjoy with individual files, including the option to specify your required upload and vectorization settings.

7. You can do it all for free

There are many file converters available online—and you can even find some of these offering the service for free. However, you need to beware of various issues common to many of them. Poor quality is likely to abound: you may find that the output file is watermarked, or a very large in size. Any letters or numbers contained in the PDF may be vectorized as separate entities, leaving words jumbled and totally unreadable. There is also an increased risk that your digital security will be compromised; the risk of malware is not one to be taken lightly, and this is why we warn against the use of cracks.

And if safety and quality weren’t enough, there are various other pitfalls to conversion freeware. They do not tend to offer comprehensive editing suites, which are necessary to optimize your PDF to DXF conversions, nor advanced tools such as OCR.

However, with Scan2CAD, you get all of this (and more) and can even take advantage of a free 14 day trial. During this period, you will have access to the full, professional version of the software. That way, you can test out all of the features we’ve discussed, without committing with your wallet.

And if, and the end of that time, you do decide that paying for the ultimate vectorization software is indeed worth it, you can enjoy the benefits of this market-leading program for as long as you need them.

If you’re new to the Scan2CAD blog, and would like more advice to aid you in all your CAD needs, check out our tips section, featuring more handy hints and tricks on everything from student resources to building the ultimate CAD PC (and with much more in between).

1. Raster images: they’re everywhere!

Photos are stored in raster file formats

The vast majority of the images you see online will be contained in a raster file format. What this means is that they are made up lots of individual pixels—the smallest part of the image, or picture element. Pixels contain information about color; each may be a unique shade, enabling the image to display not just block colour, but smooth transitions and blends between different shades.

The number of pixels contained within each image is fixed, and determines the pixel density. Optimal Pixels Per Inch (PPI) depends on the type of image, but will lead to the greatest resolution—so long as your device can display that level of detail. So, when the image is at its true size, it will retain sharp edges and clear detail.

Reducing the size of the image will not generally cause any visible problems, but enlarging it is a whole different matter. The expanded grid of squares can cause lines to become jagged, creating pixelation and the effect of blurriness. Simply increasing the number of pixels will not solve this issue, either, as your device will scatter pixels indiscriminately throughout the image.

The greater the amount of pixels, though, the greater the raster file size. Even compressed files like JPEGs can take up a lot of space, reflecting the huge amount of data stored within it.

2. Vector files are more functional

A vector graphic of a bridge

Where raster files, such as photographs or detailed pictures, can be found in general use everywhere and anywhere, vector files are much more common within CAD-design specific industries. Their make-up and function is completely different. 

Vector images do not possess pixels. Instead, they are made up of various types of lines, mapped from one coordinate to another. Their ‘location’ is determined by mathematical formulae; in practice, this means that—unlike raster files—they are resolution independent. They can be scaled, so objects within the image will hold their shape and clarity, whatever size they are viewed at.

They include different information to that held within raster files, and are contained in formats such as DXF, DWG or PDF.

3. Conversion is all about usability

JPEGs, GIFs, PNGs and TIFFs are all common raster file types. And they do their jobs well. JPEGs, for instance, are a great choice for a photograph: the format is able to store a huge amount of colours, which enables it to portray a high level of detail.

So why would you ever choose to change them? Well, as we’ve already discussed, a raster file might look impressive when viewed at the size in which it is stored, but zooming in or increasing the size will degrade the image. The pixels that perform so well at their original size suddenly become the file’s downfall. Converting from raster to vector enables scalability—where the image will remain sharp however far you zoom in—and comparable files tend to be much smaller in size.

But that’s not all. Vector files are also much more useful to many of the functions for which CAD is used. They contain a wide range of information crucial to this type of design.

Raster files are not suitable when designing for CNC

When the end goal of your design is fabrication in CNC, there is no other choice than to convert your image to vector. Tools like laser cutters, milling machines and CNC routers are not able to follow raster files, which do not hold any of the information they require. Instructions are easily contained within vector files, though: the points, mapped from A to B to C (and so on), tell the machine where exactly it needs to cut.

So, vector files are much more versatile, easier to work on in common CAD software like AutoCAD and SolidWorks, are suitable for CNC design, and never lose quality. That’s certainly enough to persuade us of the benefits of converting files out of a raster format.

4. There are 2 types of vectorization

When you’ve established why you need to vectorize your image, you need to decide how best to go about it.

Manual vectorization refers to the process of tracing a raster image into a vector file by hand, using a mouse, tablet or graphics pen. As a human’s understanding is superior to that of a computer, images need not be of perfect quality, so long as you are able to determine where the lines are supposed to be drawn. It is, however, time consuming. Complex images coupled with an inexperienced tracer is not a very efficient use of time.

Automatic vectorization, on the other hand, is tracing performed by a computer program. Conversion software, like Scan2CAD, can detect elements that make up the raster file, such as lines and edges. It is able to redraw these as vector entities, although you may have to optimize the image first.

See more of the pros and cons of each type, to figure out whether you should use manual or automatic image tracing.

5. Prepare to encounter difficulties

We cannot accurately determine information like scale from this photo

Depending upon the image you wish to vectorize, you are likely to face challenges during the process.

Some raster files are simply not suitable for vectorization. Unlike for most design, in this process, there is such a thing as resolution that is too high. Software will be unable to determine distinct objects within detailed photographs, for example. Photos of 3D objects, like buildings, are also likely to contain missing information: scale, for one.

But images with limited colour (preferably monochrome) and maximum quality, such as technical drawings, are perfect material for raster to vector conversion. Logos are another strong contender, so long as the logo is isolated (no noise in the background).

Files contained in formats like JPEGs and GIFs that use lossy compression—meaning a reduction in quality when the file size is reduced—should also be avoided. TIFF files, on the other hand, allow for lossless compression—and are far more suited to vectorization.

6. Useful tools you’re going to need

As well as checking that your image is suitable for tracing, you can make use of other pre-vectorization processing techniques, to really get the best out of the conversion.

Scan2CAD offers a number of tools to improve your end results. If your image has too many colors (and this includes shades of grey in areas that might appear black or white), the software will detect them as different entities, and vectorize them as such. Before your conversion, there is the option to reduce colors automatically. It is possible to avoid eliminating necessary differentiation by taking advantage of the option to choose the number of remaining colors.

Additionally, particularly when scanning hand drawn images, you may find that lines are faint or broken. Thickening your lines and removing holes will enable the software to scan these more effectively.

For aspects to your image that  are recognisable to the human eye, but proving a struggle for the software, you can even try a bit of manual tracing. The Pen tool is a handy feature to outline specific objects, although if the image is too busy, success will remain limited.

Scan2CAD also includes tools like Optical Character Recognition (OCR); some subscriptions are also able to support recognition of (legible) handwriting. This is particularly useful for plans, maps and technical drawings, where labels are critical to understanding.

These are just a few of the tools on offer; we’ve got a whole post dedicated to more of the top raster effects with which to optimise your vector conversion.

7. There’s a lot going on in the background

A simple click of the button? The software works a lot harder than you do

The actual raster to vector process might take you just a click of a button, but there is a wealth of activity going on behind the scenes.

Conversion programs first need to find the lines. We’ve already seen how difficult it is for software to accurately read raster images—that’s why we’re vectorizing in the first place! So there needs to be a way in which the program can establish where it needs to trace.

Fortunately, there is more than one. Line thinning involves algorithms that strip back lines until they are just a single pixel deep. Alternatively, contours may be matched, and lines determined by the way they connect around different areas.

The success of each system depends on the image you’re starting with. Noise is a particular issue for the line thinning technique, while contour-based methods are unable to accurately map lines where they meet each other. A combination of methods is often the best way to ensure optimal results.

Finding the lines is the tricky part, but in order to finish conversion, the software needs to use vector elements to redraw the image. These include lines, arcs and Bezier curves. When complete, the image should look like a complete drawing—although some more post-processing may be necessary. You can learn all about that, and more detail about the whole process of vectorization here.

So there they are: the top things we think you need to know about vectorization. But Scan2CAD’s conversion isn’t just a one-way street. If you’re wanting to go from vector to raster, look no further than our guide on rasterization.

Can I convert this scanned technical drawing to vector?

This engineering schematic is a terrible candidate for raster-to-vector conversion

Nope, not this one! It is common for folks to scan a floorplan or technical drawing and convert it to vector, so that the drawing can be used in another CAD application (such as AutoCAD). However, you cannot achieve that with this image above. First, it’s a very poor quality JPG file – zoom in and you’ll get a blurry, distorted mess of pixels. Lots of data would also have been lost when the JPG file is saved, as JPG uses file compression to minimize the file size. Secondly, the image holds up to 16.7 million colors. Ideally, it would be just black and white. If there are too many colors (such as many shades of gray), vectorization software would pick out different zones of colors as different vector elements. Finally, the text is completely unreadable, even to the human eye. The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software would find it almost impossible to read and retype this into vector text.

Meanwhile, this floorplan would be converted to vector without a hitch!

Instead, you need to use a technical drawing that looks like this one. This floor plan that is perfect for vector conversion.

• It is clear of any noise (such as speckles).
• The image is in pure black and white.
• The text characters that make up the labels of the floorplan are also well-isolated from each other (i.e. the characters do not touch or overlap).
• Another best practice is to save the image as a TIFF file format. Click to download the sample floorplan.tif generated by Scan2CAD.

Can I convert this photo for 3D CAD use?

Image source: nps.gov

Don’t bother trying to scan a photo of a house to create 3D vector plans of the building. It is simply not possible; no one can write software to achieve that—ever! Consider all the information that is missing – one cannot tell the scale of the house from the photo without making some assumptions, and the image doesn’t reveal the part of the house that faces away from the photographer. A more realistic option is to work with a skilled designer to create a 3D vector plan, using the photo as inspiration. There are also 3D scanners that can be used to construct 3D models, but this doesn’t sit in the realm of raster-to-vector conversion.

Can I trace the outlines of shapes from photos?

The left-most image is completely unsuitable. The middle image is somewhat more suitable, but the right-most image is ideal

Check out the image above, on the left. Automatic vectorization software cannot trace clean outlines of these individual flowers—the image is simply too busy. If you’re looking to achieve this, your best bet may be to manually trace the image—for example, by using the Pen tool in Scan2CAD.

A better option could be to find an image of a single flower, with no overlap, such as the image in the middle above. Using such an image, you could then increase the threshold until you remove any unnecessary detail, leaving you with a usable outline.

The ideal candidate would be the image on the right. As it is a silhouette, made up of only two colors, with no distortion, it’s perfect for vectorization.

If you’re looking to create a more photo-realistic vector image, rather than an outline, then this is possible with Scan2CAD. We opened the original image, seen below on the left, in Scan2CAD, and reduced the number of colors in order to create an image with solid regions of color. We then created a simpler vector image from the original.

Using Scan2CAD, you can alter a number of settings during the vectorization process, such as vector definition, profile and types. You can see the effect of changing each setting in the Live Preview window which appears in your dialog box. Learn more about vectorizing pictures and photos in our User Manual.

Can I convert these logos into vector format?

It is best to use the clean logo file on the right, instead of a photo of the logo against a full background (left). Do note, however, that the logo on the right needs some cleaning. The image looks great viewed at this scale, but when you zoom in a little closer, you’ll notice some blurred lines and distortion. We recommend using Scan2CAD’s Color Segment tool to reduce the colors.

Can I reverse-engineer these tools from a scan?

Image source: Into The Woods blog and Alloy Artifacts

You will not yield an accurate vector outline of the tool from the image on the left. There are two main problems. First, the photo was not taken directly above the tool, therefore the different aspects of the tool are not shown in the correct scale. Secondly, the image does not have a clear contrast between the tool and the background. You should try scanning or photographing the tool on a clean, white background. As an extra tip, try your best to minimize the shadows in the photo.

The photo on the right gets extra credit because they included a ruler as reference of measurement. Another tip could be to scan the tool with a piece of graph paper in the background. We’ve also written a step-by-step guide on How to Reverse Engineer a Part from a 2D Scan.

We hope that this post has shed some light on what conversion software can do, and what it can’t. Here are some resources that you might find handy:

• Find out what is and isn’t possible when converting photos to CAD
• Check out our Raster quality checklist to help you choose the right image to begin with
• Learn about our top 10 raster effects to clean and optimize your raster image before conversion

Scan2CAD is the market-leading vectorization software, and comes complete with a full raster and vector editing suite. Plus, a blog covering all the latest news—from Top 3D CAD models to CNC Projects to CAD Freeware. You can try out all of Scan2CAD’s features for yourself, with our 14-day free trial.

This guide covers everything you could possible want to know about the GIF to DXF conversion process—from what conversion is, to how you can get the best results. Plus, we’ll show you how you can get Scan2CAD free for 14 days—letting you convert as many files as you want.

Table of Contents

• What is a GIF file?
• What is a DXF file?
• Why convert from GIF to DXF?
• How does the conversion process work?
• Why you should avoid online conversion tools
• Problems with GIF to DXF conversion
• How to get the best results
• Using Scan2CAD to convert GIF to DXF
• Features offered by Scan2CAD

What is a GIF file?

GIF, or Graphics Interchange Format, is a bitmap image format that was developed in 1987. It was created to provide a color image format, and has since become widespread. The format is popular for use with simple web graphics due to its wide support and portability.

GIFs have an 8-bit color depth—that’s 256 colors. This is a rather limited color palette compared to other formats such as JPG which has a 24-bit color depth (16 million colors). This limitation makes the GIF file format rather unsuitable for image types like photographs, but it does suffice for simpler images like graphics or logos. Whilst GIFs do make use of lossless compression, their resolution is still too low for most complex images. In fact, the quality of a GIF can be so low that the noise can cause problems when it comes to vectorization.

Fun fact: did you know that the pronunciation of GIF has caused a lot of confusion? The creator, Steve Wilhite, intended it to be pronounced with a soft ‘j‘ sound like ‘jail’. However, many other people have adopted the pronunciation with a harsh ‘g‘ sound, like ‘gift’. 

What is a DXF file?

DXF, or Drawing eXchange Format, is a vector file format which was created by Autodesk with the intention of becoming an exchange medium between different CAD programs. Unlike the DWG file format, DXF is not a proprietary file format. It’s an open standard, so it’s supported by practically every CAD program on the market. You can view DXF files using a wide variety of programs, including AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator and, of course, Scan2CAD. This wide compatibility and support has made the DXF format the de facto format for collaboration and sharing in the CAD industry.

DXF images are smaller than their raster counterparts, as they don’t need to store color information for every single pixel. However, they are larger than the DWGs, as the DWG file format is binary whereas DXFs are made up of ASCII text. 

Want to know more about the DXF file format? Check out our DXF FAQs and the DXF file specification. 

Why convert from GIF to DXF?

• For scaling an image. Rasters are made up of pixels, so they become blurry and undefined when you rescale or zoom in. Vectors, however, are infinitely scalable. This means you can rescale or zoom in to a vector image without any loss in quality. For more information, check out our article on the differences between rasters and vectors.

• For sharing. DXFs can be shared across a multitude of programs which means that you’re not limited in any way. Since practically every CAD program on the market comes with support for DXF, you can collaborate with any designer, with no hassle.

• To edit a drawing. Trying to edit a raster image is like painting. You can’t edit specific elements of the image; any changes you make will affect the image as a whole. Vector file types, however, are easy to edit because they’re made up of individual vector paths. You can even take individual elements from a DXF file to reuse in another!

How does the conversion process work?

The process of converting a raster to a vector is otherwise known as vectorization. This process involves tracing over the raster image with vector lines. This can be completed manually or automatically.

Manual Tracing

Image source: graphicdesign.stackexchange.com

Traditionally, manual tracing was the only way you could create a vector representation of a raster image. This would involve creating a vector layer on top of the raster, and then tracing over it with vector lines—this could be done with a mouse or a graphics pen. 

There are advantages to this method. It has the benefit of human understanding—only a human would be able to fully understand what the image represents. If you have an old, faded electrical diagram, you’d know exactly where the lines were. In comparison, a computer would falter, as it can only work off of lines it can detect. Essentially, this means that it’s possible to manually trace an image of any quality. However, this method is not without its disadvantages—it can be a very time-consuming process, particularly for more complex images. Consequently, many designers opt for the more time-efficient method of automatic tracing.

Automatic Tracing

This process involves using a raster-to-vector conversion program to instantly convert your raster image. Your chosen software will detect the lines and edges present in your GIF. It will then redraw them as vector lines, curves, polygons and other vector entities. You simply have to load your image into the program, and you can produce a vector in a few mere clicks. Some advanced programs, such as Scan2CAD, even have the capability of recognizing raster text within an image using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tools—it can then redraw the raster text as vector text.

Of course, automatic conversion can have setbacks. The program you use won’t have the same level of understanding of the raster as you do. The image you want to convert will have to be very clear and of high quality. Even then, you usually need to complete a lot of pre- and post-processing work. Still, it is a very cost-effective method—saving hours of work and cutting conversion time to mere seconds. Don’t believe us? Check out the process below!

For more information, check out our article covering the differences between manual and automatic tracing. You can also get a more in-depth look at the conversion process by learning how to automatically trace an image. 

Why you should avoid online conversion tools

It can be very tempting to pick the first online conversion tool that you come across. After all, there are dozens of online conversion tools available—and they all promise to convert your file quickly, with no downloads necessary. 

There are many limitations to these types of tools, however. Firstly, you can only convert a small number of files. And don’t even think about attempting to convert anything with a large file size. Not to mention that you won’t be able to get a high-quality result. Plus, if your image contains any text, it probably won’t be converted into editable vector text—and even if it is, it probably won’t even be arranged into logical strings. 

The text on the left was converted using Scan2CAD. The text on the right was converted using a different CAD program, and hasn’t been correctly reassembled into strings.

Worse still, online converters can be unsafe and have a number of security risks. There’s the danger of someone stealing your work, and you have to think about the probability of a virus or trojan infecting your system. Check out the 5 pitfalls of online file converters for more information.

In the long run, it really isn’t worth taking the risk. Software like Scan2CAD, however, keeps your files and your system safe and secure. It runs locally, and it can offer effective and precise conversions. 

Problems with GIF to DXF conversion

Firstly it should be noted that animations aren’t useful when creating CAD designs. Therefore if you’re converting an animated GIF to DXF the conversion software will pick the first frame of the animation and ignore all subsequent frames.

It’s not possible to merely convert your image to a vector straight away—you have to prepare the image before you convert it. You have to have a high-quality image for vectorization to work successfully. However, GIFs, as with many other raster file types, suffer from a variety of ‘common problems‘ that can affect your chances of gaining optimal vectorization results. 

Don’t bother converting any raster image that sports any of these problems…

Failure to address these types of issues before vectorization means that your resulting vector image won’t be of a high standard. Don’t worry—Scan2CAD has some top tips to help you optimize your raster and the get the best possible vector output.

How to get the best results

• Use a different file format than GIF. GIFs suffer from a range of issues. They’re typically low in quality, so the noise will cause problems for vectorization. For optimal conversion results, Scan2CAD recommends saving your image as a TIFF. TIFFs use lossless compression and are of high resolution—they’re the perfect file format for vectorization. Of course, it’s not always possible to use a different file format. In this case, you can take other measures to optimize your GIF before vectorization.

• Thresholding. This tool enables you to divide your image cleanly into black and white pixels—eliminating the issues caused by grayscale images or compression artifacts. There are two types: 
  • Simple thresholding: this applies to the whole image.
  • Adaptive thresholding: this applies to different parts of your GIF file.

• Cleaning tools: Scan2CAD comes with a range of cleaning tools that can help you eradicate most of the issues affecting GIFs. 
  • Thicken lines: this will fix broken or dithered lines.
  • Remove holes or speckles.
  • Smooth: this will remove ‘hairy’ edges surrounding your image.

These tools are just a small example of the many cleaning features that Scan2CAD offers. Take a look at our raster quality checklist to see how you can fix any issues. You can also check out our top 10 raster effects to optimize your raster before the conversion process. 

Using Scan2CAD to convert GIF to DXF

Scan2CAD can convert your GIF to a DXF in mere seconds—it boasts of the fastest conversion process out there. And it couldn’t be simpler!

• Load your GIF in Scan2CAD. This is like loading a file in any other program. Click File > Raster > Load and select your GIF.

• Choose the settings. Scan2CAD comes with vectorization settings, each of which are individually tailored to produce optimal results for a specific type of image. Select the type menu, and choose the appropriate setting.
  Tip: check out Scan2CAD’s handy guide for all vectorization settings. 

• Convert your image. To vectorize your image you can click:
  • : which converts lines, curves and shapes to vectors.
  • : to convert raster text to vector text. 
  • : which converts the entire image (lines and text) to vectors.

• Save your vector as a DXF. Click File > Vector > Save As. 

Features offered by Scan2CAD

Scan2CAD is a two-in-one solution. It’s a raster to vector converter, and a PDF to vector converter. Its primary focus is the conversion of technical drawings—ranging from engineering drawings, to architectural drawings and even site plans—to usable and editable vector images. 

It comes with a wide variety of market-leading innovative features and capabilities. It has an extensive raster and vector editing suite, to help you optimize your image before and after vectorization. That’s not all. Scan2CAD has batch processing capabilities, so you can automatically convert hundreds of files—in one click! Plus, its Smart OCR feature allows you to train the software to recognize unusual fonts—and even handwritten fonts.

With Scan2CAD, you can rest assured knowing that you’re using a safe and secure program. It comes with flexible licensing, 24/7 support and it supports no fewer than 33 file types—so you can convert more than just GIFs! You won’t be able to find such capabilities anywhere else.

Don’t believe us? Read up on why Scan2CAD is the ultimate vectorization software.

Interested in converting from GIF to DXF? Try out Scan2CAD’s free 14-day trial and make use of its full range of professional features with no limitations—no watermarks and no obligations. You can also convert using a wide range of different file types—check out how to convert BMP to DXF.

You can either convert from raster to vector manually or using an automated computer algorithm. When converting manually, an artist would need to trace over the raster image using drawing software, a tablet, and a stylus (or even a mouse, if they were incredibly proficient!). Alternatively, a computer programmer can write an algorithm: a set of rules or instructions that a computer follows in order to perform a calculation. Read on to learn how this process works.

To a human, vectorization appears to be a single process. From a computer’s point of view, however, it is a combination of several smaller algorithms, each of which controls a specific part of the process. The software uses these algorithms to analyze the raster image, before creating a vector representation of it. The procedure involves three main stages: pre-processing, processing, and post-processing.

Step 1: Pre-processing

The purpose of pre-processing is, quite simply, to prepare the raster image for vectorization. The type of pre-processing work that needs to be done depends on the type and quality of the input image. Here are a few techniques that the vectorization software employs to produce optimum vector output:

• Reduce color. Vectorization works best when the initial raster image has as few colors as possible. To achieve this, grayscale images are binarized, and all gray elements in the image are converted to black or white pixels. Meanwhile, the software reduces the number of colors present in a color image to the minimum possible.

• Reduce noise. You may not be able to notice the effects of noise when viewing your raster image, but it can have a serious impact on the quality of your vector output. There are many reasons why noise appears in a raster image—especially in scanned images—from the low quality of your original sketch, to paper defects, non-optimal threshold settings, or non-uniform lighting in your scanner. Vectorization software, meanwhile, removes dust, speckles and unwanted spots. Noise pixels are identified by comparing them with the neighbouring pixels—shapes and objects are structured, whereas noise pixels are random and usually smaller in size. Filters use rules to accept or reject the pixel; smarter algorithms can analyze the local pixel neighbourhood and define the filter dynamically.

• Increase threshold. Thresholding involves dividing the shades of gray in an image into black and white pixels. This creates a sharp distinction between a white background and black foreground, making the image easier to vectorize.

Check out the difference threshold levels make to your image! You can include as much or as little detail as you want.

Step 2: Processing

This stage is where the conversion from raster to vector happens. First, the program finds the lines in the raster image, where each line is essentially a chain of pixels. There are two main approaches to “find the line”:

Here’s a comparison between both thinning-based and contour-based methods. Image source: www.loria.fr/en/

Again, the type of method we’d use depends on the type of image. For example, thinning-based methods are very sensitive to noise. Contour-based methods, meanwhile, are more noise-tolerant, but rely on complex matching schemes. Many programs also apply two-step vectorization procedures that combine a few methods. There are also other methods such as orthogonal zig-zag, run-length encoding and sparse pixel tracking.

After the program “finds the line”, the program approximates the lines found into a set of vectors. It creates a vector-based representation using elements like text, polygons, circles, arcs, Bezier curves and lines (including dotted lines, dash-dot lines, arrows and polylines).

Step 3: Post-processing

In this stage, the software seeks to analyze and interpret the vector data. The goal here is to remove noise from the vector model, recognize objects, and recover entities from vector data. There are various goals to achieve in this step, including:

• Filling gaps
• Classifying vectors
• Eliminating false branches
• Rectifying right-angled corners
• Finding the best position for junction points
• Simplifying vectors using polygonal approximation
• Checking for duplicates and removing/merging identical vectors that are lying on top of each other
• Lengthening vectors and combining multiple vectors into a single vector

One example of post-processing: the software converts two lines into a polyline

There you have it! When you convert an image from raster to vector, there’s a whole lot going on in the background—all of which is controlled by pre-programmed algorithms. From a user’s point of view, though, it only takes a single mouse click.

If you need to convert to DXF, then you need to choose the right conversion software. Enter Scan2CAD, the market-leading DXF file converter. Having been on the market for almost two decades, thousands have already put their faith in Scan2CAD to help get the job done. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to convert to DXF with Scan2CAD, and how to get the software completely free for 14 days.

The Ultimate DXF File Converter

Scan2CAD is a two-in-one solution, which lets you convert from raster or PDF to DXF. The software supports a wide range of raster file types, including (but not limited to) JPEG, TIFF, GIF and PNG.

Converting your image with Scan2CAD takes just 4 simple steps: 

1. Scan or load your raster image
2. Optimize your raster image using the editing suite
3. Convert your raster to DXF 
4. Perfect and make final edits

Scan2CAD’s conversion process makes use of automatic tracing. It detects the lines and edges of your raster image and redraws them as vector lines, curves, polygons and other vector entities. 

Scan2CAD also includes Optical Character Recognition (OCR) which detects and recognizes text in images, and automatically converts them into editable vector text. Scan2CAD also stays a step ahead of other converters thanks to its neural networks. These work in the same manner as the human brain, and can be taught to recognize unusual fonts and even handwritten text. For a full list of all the OCR features available with each Scan2CAD package, check out our OCR details page.

Time-Effective Conversion Process

Once you’ve scanned in the raster image you want to convert—or created it in another program—then all you need to do is load it into Scan2CAD, ready for conversion. After you load the image, it takes just seconds to convert from raster to vector, thanks to Scan2CAD’s one-click vectorization process. To convert, just follow these simple steps:

1. Load your file into Scan2CAD by clicking on File > Raster > Load
2. Choose an appropriate image type from the list of vectorization settings in the Type menu
3. Convert your image! To convert, just click the  button to convert lines, arcs, and curves; click  to convert text; or click  to convert both.
4. Save your image as a DXF. Just click on File > Vector > Save As > DXF.

For a more in depth process, check out how to convert a PDF to DXF, or how to convert a PNG to DXF.

Full Editing Suite

In addition to its conversion capabilities, Scan2CAD also offers users an extensive raster and vector editing suite. There’s no need to use a different program—Scan2CAD can convert and edit images, ready for use in CAD, CNC, GIS and CAM programs!

Users can clean up and optimize images before conversion using raster editing tools, to combat common raster issues such as those in the image below:

Common issues with raster images which can affect conversion

Scan2CAD’s specialized tools are designed to eradicate these issues, and maximize your image to its fullest potential. We advise following our raster quality checklist before any conversion, to ensure that you make the most out of your raster image.

Tip: for a quick and easy guide to the process, visit our list of the top 10 raster effects! 

After conversion, users can perfect their vector image using our suite of vector editing tools. You can cut, copy, paste and move elements in your vector image—or add or delete vector entities and text—and get the best possible results.

Convenient

Scan2CAD is one of the most fully-featured conversion programs on the market. With market-leading vectorization and smart OCR, you can get great results when converting from raster to vector. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Scan2CAD also comes complete with a full raster and vector editing suite, enabling you to optimize your raster image before conversion, and add those finishing touches afterwards to get a perfect vector output. Not only that, but you can benefit from our batch processing capabilities to automate conversion for hundreds of files in just a few clicks!

With Scan2CAD, you can rest assured that you’re using a secure program. Online file converters, meanwhile, may promise the earth, but come with a host of security risks and other issues. When you’re dealing with important designs and information, that’s a risk you can’t afford to take. Scan2CAD however, keeps your files safe.

To put it simply, Scan2CAD offers you more for less.

Try It Out For Free

When you’re downloading a new program, it may be tempting to download a cracked copy. However, downloading a Scan2CAD crack can compromise the security of your files and system.

So, is there a 100% secure way to try out Scan2CAD for free? The answer is yes!

Download our free trial and you can make the most of Scan2CAD’s full range of features, completely free for 14 days—with no limits. There are no watermarks, no restrictions—simply download the software and convert as many files as you like. Click on the image below to start your download now!

At the base of every GIS is a map. This map can either be stored as a raster or vector image. Whilst both have their pros and cons, there are some clear advantages to choosing a vector image. Want to know more? Read on to learn about how industries use GIS; why you should choose a vector image; and how to convert your raster image to one of the most popular vector formats around: DXF. 

What is GIS?

A Geographic Information System is a piece of software that allows a user to view and analyze map data. It enables the user to view both geographic information and data about the demographics of a certain area side-by-side. It also makes it possible to overlay the data with custom fields—for example, to display store opening times next to its location on a map.

A screenshot of GRASS GIS, an example of a Geographic Information System

Who uses GIS?

Whilst GIS was once niche, it has recently exploded into the mainstream. It’s easy to see why: geographic information is crucially important for both the public and private sector; for businesses and for individuals. Before the widespread adoption of GIS, there was thus a gap in the market for software which could analyze geographic data. With faster processing speeds and cheaper file storage, GIS became commercially viable and widely adopted.

Nowadays, a wide range of industries use GIS: insurers, railway companies, retailers, and many others. As a reflection of its ubiquity, learning to use GIS is now a key component of many college programs.

Vector images and GIS

In order to understand the geographic data, GISs include maps. These maps may either be raster images or a vector images. When used in a GIS, raster images act as a backdrop. It is not possible to edit or remove individual elements within a raster image—the user is restricted to making edits which affect the image as a whole, such as inverting the colors of the map. As with other raster images, they also face the issue of not being scalable due to their resolution dependency. This means that when you zoom into a raster image, it will lose quality and become pixelated.

The image on the left is a vector map of the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. On the right is a zoomed-in section of the map, which has maintained its quality.

Vector images, meanwhile, are much more dynamic. Whereas a raster image is made up of pixels, vectors are composed of lines, points, polygons and text:

• Polygons are two dimensional, so you can use them to measure a perimeter or area e.g. the boundary of a town. 
• Lines are one dimensional, so you can only use them to measure length and represent linear features e.g. streams or streets. 
• Points have zero dimensions, so you cannot use them for measuring. Instead, they are used to represent discrete data points/points of interest e.g. a city location or a church. 

These elements appear the same at any scale, meaning you can zoom into or out of the image whilst maintaining quality. Essentially, vectors are infinitely scalable. You can also edit individual elements within a vector image, as well as certain classes of elements. This means that you could color a certain building, or all buildings within the image. You can also add or remove certain elements from the image—for example, you could remove all text from the image. It is also possible to link geographic data to a specific element within the image using vector graphics. All of this means that when it comes to a map for GIS, vector is best.

Want to find out more about rasters and vectors? Check out ‘Explained: Raster versus Vector‘ for more information. 

DXF and GIS

Whilst CAD and GIS are different technologies, they both have a common basis: displaying a physical entity in digital space. Though CAD drawings are typically oriented at (0,0), it’s possible to incorporate latitudes and longitudes into your design. This means CAD graphics can be incorporated into GIS applications, bringing with them the possibility of depicting buildings with much greater detail than is normally possible with GIS.

There are many CAD formats on the market, but one of the best CAD formats to choose for use with GIS is DXF. Created by Autodesk, DXF is an open standard. This means that it is publicly documented and can be used in software without a licence. This means that all CAD programs on the market support DXF. It’s essentially a ‘neutral’ vector format. Not only that, but a number of GIS programs support the format, including GRASS GIS, ArcGIS (from Esri) and gvSIG.

How to convert to DXF

Converting from raster to vector can be a tricky process. In the past, the only way to create a vector representation of a raster image was to manually trace over the lines. Not only was this a time-consuming process, there was no guarantee of good results.

The arrival of vectorization software changed all of that. Now, Scan2CAD makes it easy to convert to DXF in just a few clicks. It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3:

      1. Open your raster file in Scan2CAD.

      2. Select the right vectorization settings.

      3. Convert your image in one click!

With your image successfully vectorized, you’re now ready to save it as a DXF. And that’s it! It might seem incredibly easy, but the process is actually remarkably complex. Learn more about how Scan2CAD converts images to DXF, or take a look at our frequently asked questions about DXF conversion.

Need to convert from raster to vector for use in GIS applications? Scan2CAD is the software for you. Convert to DXF in one click using the market leader in vectorization. Try out all of Scan2CAD’s features completely free for 14 days with our free trial.

DWG

About DWG

DWG stands for Drawing, and is the native file format for AutoCAD, the most popular CAD software on the market. First created in 1982, DWG has become one of the most ubiquitous CAD formats on the market.

DWG is a proprietary format, meaning that developers must have a licence to use the format in their software. This means that some CAD programs do not support DWG. It is not an open standard, and there is no public documentation of the format. DWG supports all standard vector entities, in addition to specialist AutoCAD entities, such as dynamic blocks. It is possible to use DWG for both 2D and 3D graphics. DWG file sizes are typically small, as the format is binary.

When should I use DWG?

DWG is most suitable for use with AutoCAD. As AutoCAD’s native file format, it has full support for its software-specific entity types. There are, however, other programs capable of opening DWG files.

If you work primarily or solely with AutoCAD, DWG is the best choice. This is especially true if your designs are in 3D or make use of software-specific vector entities. However, you should also think about fellow designers with whom you collaborate. If you do not need to share images with users of other CAD software, use DWG. Otherwise, consider DXF.

Pros

 Native file format for AutoCAD

 Supports the full range of vector entities, including AutoCAD-specific elements

 Binary file format, which means smaller file sizes

 Supports both 2D and 3D graphics

Cons

 Proprietary format which is not publicly documented

 Not supported by some CAD programs

 Not supported by web browsers

Learn more about DWG conversion by checking out our Ultimate Guides to converting JPEG, PNG and TIFF files.

DXF

About DXF

Like DWG, DXF is a vector image format, created by Autodesk for use in AutoCAD. However, whilst the primary purpose of the DWG format is to be used in AutoCAD, DXF files are intended to be shared. DXF stands for Drawing Exchange Format, and it is an open standard whose documentation is publicly available. As a result, almost all CAD programs on the market support DXF imports and exports.

Because DXF is intended to be exchanged across a range of programs, it does not support some entity types specific to AutoCAD. This simplicity means that DXF is a suitable format for conversion to CNC code. However, it also means that for some purposes, DXF is becoming outdated. It does not support 3D graphics, and some programs cannot load DXF line widths. It is also made up of ASCII text, which is a less efficient way of storing data than binary. This means that DXF files are typically larger in size than DWGs.

When should I use DXF?

When converting from raster to vector, DXF is often a good choice. The entity types present in a vectorized image are typically quite simple, and are well-supported by DXF. Visit our overview to learn more about converting to DXF.

DXF is the perfect file format for collaboration. If you use a CAD program other than AutoCAD, or you work with designers who do, then DXF is the right choice. This is because, unlike DWG, DXF enjoys near-universal support across CAD software. Its simplicity also makes it a good choice for CNC applications.

For those who want to make use of AutoCAD’s dynamic blocks (and other specific entity types) should avoid DXF. It’s also worth noting that DXF doesn’t support 3D graphics and is larger in size than DWG.

Pros

 Open standard

 Publicly documented

 Supported across almost all CAD programs 

 Has simpler entity types, meaning that CNC machines can process DXFs without losing information

Cons

 Lacks support for more complex entities

 2D graphics only

 Some programs do not support DXF line widths

 Larger file size than DWG due to being made up of ASCII text

 Not supported by web browsers

Learn more about DXF conversion by checking out our Ultimate Guides to converting JPEG, PNG and TIFF files.

Which other vector file types should I be aware of?

DWG and DXF are the most common formats in the CAD industry, but they’re not the only vector file types around. In some situations, you may wish to use one of the following file types instead:

PDF

One of the most ubiquitous file formats on the planet, PDFs are used to store both raster and vector data. Users can open PDF files simply by downloading Adobe Reader – or simply view them in a web browser. Because of their near-universal support, CAD users will often use PDFs to send images of drafts and designs to other users. However, PDFs support only a limited range of vector entities, and they are not usually editable. In order to edit a PDF, you would first need to convert it to another vector format. To find out more, check out our Ultimate Guides to PDF-to-DXF and PDF-to-DWG Conversion.

DWF

If you’re thinking that this name seems a bit familiar to DWG or DXF, you’d be right. DWF, or Design Web Format, is another format from the Autodesk stable. With DWF, users can view, review, and print design information without knowledge of AutoCAD. As DWFs undergo a high degree of compression, they are also faster and smaller to open than other CAD formats. However, it is not normally possible to edit DWFs without conversion back to another CAD format.

SVG

Whether you’re a CAD pro or just starting out, you may already have encountered Scalable Vector Graphics. SVG is one of the most commonly-seen vector file formats online, and is used extensively on Wikipedia. This is because its small file size makes it a perfect choice for embedding in webpages. It’s also possible to scale an SVG to any size without losing image quality. Almost all browsers support it, so if you’re planning to use the image on the web, SVG is the way to go.

Scan2CAD supports all of these file types – and more. In fact, Scan2CAD supports no fewer than 33 different file types. Together with its image editing suite and OCR technology, it’s no wonder that Scan2CAD is the market leader in vectorization. Want to try it for yourself? Download our free trial and get unrestricted access to all of Scan2CAD’s features for 14 days.

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format, and is seen as the go-to format for high-quality graphics. Despite its high quality, however, TIFFs have some limitations. Like all raster image files, they are hard to edit and lose quality when scaled. In order to avert these issues, users can convert their TIFF to a vector image format such as DXF.

This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how to convert TIFF to DXF.

Table of Contents

• What is a TIFF file?
• What is a DXF file?
• Why convert from TIFF to DXF?
• When would TIFF to DXF conversion be used?
• Case study: Facilities management
• Should I use an online converter?
• How do I convert from TIFF to DXF using Scan2CAD?
• How does the conversion work?
• How to get the best results

What is a TIFF file?

TIFF was created in 1986 as an attempt to create a common image file format for use with desktop scanners. Over time, TIFF evolved from a monochrome format to one which supports true color. To be technical, this means they have a 32-bit color depth, and support over 16 million colors and transparency. While the format is owned by Adobe, it is not proprietary. This means that its specification is publicly available, and the format can be used by everyone without the need to purchase a license.

TIFF is a raster graphics format. This means that it is made up of individually-colored pixels. The format is lossless, which means that a TIFF file can be edited or compressed without losing quality. For this reason, it is often used for storing large, high-quality images. For applications where image quality is of the utmost importance, TIFF is therefore the file format of choice. Meanwhile, you’re likely to run into issues when converting GIF to DXF due to that format’s low resolution. 

Despite the many advantages of using TIFFs, there are also some downsides. The high quality of the image comes with a file size to match: the file size of a compressed TIFF may be over 50 times larger than an equivalent JPEG. In addition, most web browsers do not support TIFFs.

What is a DXF file?

DXF is a vector graphics format primarily used in computer-aided design. It was created by Autodesk to serve as an exchange medium between different CAD programs – DXF stands for Drawing Exchange Format.

Unlike DWG, which was also created by Autodesk, DXF is not a proprietary file format. As a result, it is supported by almost all CAD programs on the market. You can view DXF files using a range of programs, including AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, and, of course, Scan2CAD. This wide support means that DXF is the industry’s format of choice for collaborative editing.

While raster images have to store color information for every single pixel, a DXF only stores the necessary information to produce the lines and text in the image. This means that the file size of a DXF image will usually be much smaller than its raster equivalent. DXFs are, however, usually larger than DWGs. This is because DWGs are binary files, whereas DXFs are made up of ASCII text.

Why convert from TIFF to DXF?

Whilst TIFF is the gold standard for storing high-quality images, it still has some drawbacks. As a raster image format, TIFF faces the some of the same issues as other formats, such as PNG or JPEG. A TIFF file is made up of pixels, which means that entities within the image cannot be easily edited. Raster images have no structure, so it is impossible to separate out an individual line or piece of text. Any edits you make will therefore affect the entire image. It is also difficult to zoom into or scale the image without it becoming pixelated.

Vector graphics formats like DXF avoid these problems. One of the key reasons to convert to DXF is that vector files are easily editable and endlessly scalable. Entities within a DXF can be edited individually, and the image can be scaled without loss of fidelity. In addition, DXF also has advantages over other vector formats. Using DXF means that you can be sure that your file will be supported by whichever CAD package you use. This stands in contrast to DWG, which is unsupported by some CAD programs. As DXF is so widely supported, it’s the perfect format for editing and collaboration.

Interested in converting to DWG instead? Learn how to convert from TIFF to DWG in our ultimate guide.

When would TIFF to DXF conversion be used?

TIFF images are widely used in the graphic design, engineering and publishing industries thanks to their high quality and lossless compression. However, TIFF is unsuitable for some design purposes, notably those involving printing.

Printers generally use a much higher resolution than computer screens. A printer typically uses 600 dots per inch whereas computer screens use around 72 dots per inch. Therefore, an image that looks fine on screen may have too low a resolution for printing. As a result, it may end up looking grainy or pixelated when printed. With vector images, this problem is eliminated, because there are no pixels to worry about. When you print a vector image, it will appear crisp at any size.

Some of the most common graphic design applications for vector images include:

• Sign making
• Fabric printing
• Embroidery
• Animations
• General graphic design (e.g. magazines)

Vector graphics are commonly used for signs, such as these airport signs, as they retain their quality at any scale and are easily replicable

Even outside of these fields, Scan2CAD recommends saving your raster images as TIFF files for optimal results. This is because TIFF preserves image quality, whereas JPEGs degrade upon compression, leaving the image with artifacts.

Case study: Facilities management

One example of TIFF to DXF conversion comes from the field of facilities management. A leading US insurance company was initially attracted to Scan2CAD for its editing prowess, rather than its vectorization capabilities. However, the usefulness of being able to convert from TIFF to DXF soon became apparent for the company. The company regularly handles paper drawings, which can be scanned and saved as TIFF files. Some parts of these drawings – such as fire equipment, sprinkler systems, power points, and hazards – must be converted into a vector format so that they can be edited in the company’s in-house CAD program. Scan2CAD enables the scanned TIFFs to be converted to DXF quickly and simply.

The company’s CAD supervisor writes: “I received a color PDF from a client. As it was PDF’d directly from CAD it was of very good quality. When I saved it as TIFF within Acrobat it resulted in a 363 Mb file at 200 dpi. Scan2CAD was able to open the TIFF and reduce the colors from 16.7 million to 8 in a few minutes. I then used the View/Edit Palette feature to ensure that some of the lighter colors that needed to be saved were converted to black. Then I reduced the color depth to 1-bit. I selected the Site Plan option under Type, tweaked a couple of settings, hit the VEC button and had a near perfect vector translation in a few seconds. My guess is that we reduced the total project time by nearly a day on something that would normally take about 32 hours to create from scratch“.

You can read the full case study here, or visit our user testimony section for more examples of how conversion helps businesses.

Should I use an online converter?

The short answer here is no.

When comparing an online TIFF to DXF converter to a local application that runs on your PC, such as Scan2CAD, there’s simply no competition. Scan2CAD is faster, more efficient and more accurate than any online conversion tool on the market.

Vectorization is an incredibly complex process from a technical standpoint. This means that it requires plenty of computer processing power to complete a conversion from raster to vector.

For a local application, this isn’t a problem—but online converters have stretched resources, and can’t devote the same amount of computing power. So, they cut corners, and convert your image in a simplistic manner. They are unlikely to properly capture the detail in your TIFF file, leaving you with a DXF file that’s useless for editing purposes.

Unfortunately, the risks of online conversion don’t end there. Online converters come with a host of security and privacy risks, potentially putting your intellectual property in danger, and leaving your system open to being compromised. Choosing Scan2CAD, meanwhile, means you’re choosing a program that keeps your files 100% secure.

Keeping your files and system secure is vital. Downloading a crack could put them in danger. Find out why downloading a cracked copy of Scan2CAD could harm your computer and business.

How do I convert from TIFF to DXF using Scan2CAD?

Converting from TIFF to DXF is an incredibly simple process. In just a few minutes, you can transform your TIFF into an editable vector following these easy steps:

• Load your TIFF in Scan2CAD. This is much the same as opening a file in any program. Just click File > Raster > Load, and select your image.

• Choose your settings. Scan2CAD comes loaded with a range of vectorization settings, each of which produces optimal results for a specific type of image. Using the Type menu, select the settings most appropriate for your desired results.

• Convert your image. To vectorize your image, you can either click:
  • , which converts lines, curves, and shapes to vectors,

   

  • , which converts raster text to vector text, or

   

  • , which converts the entire image (both lines and text) to vectors.

   

• Save your vector as a DXF file. Just click File > Vector > Save As.

How does the conversion work?

While raster and vector files both display graphics, they work in completely different ways. Raster images (like TIFFs) are composed of pixels, and have no structure. A vector image (like a DXF), on the other hand, is made up of paths. You can think of this like a set of instructions, that tells the software what to display. Since these formats are so different, the only way to convert from raster to vector is by image tracing.

Tracing an image can be done by hand, but this is an extremely time-consuming process. This is where Scan2CAD comes in. Scan2CAD works to automatically detect lines, curves, and text within the image. It then traces over them with vector lines and text. This process is much quicker than tracing the image manually. However, there are limits to what automatic tracing software can achieve. As such, it’s important to be realistic about what can be achieved with vectorization. Luckily, there are steps you can take to ensure you get the best possible results with your image.

How to get the best results

One of the most common problems in vectorization is poor image quality. The phrase “garbage in, garbage out” is never more true than in image conversion. So, make sure your image is up to scratch before you try to convert it. Even if you think your image looks ready to convert, there may be problems with it that aren’t so easy to see. Some common issues with raster images include:

Scan2CAD’s Raster Quality Checklist can help you avoid or fix many of these problems. You can also check out our full rundown of the top 10 raster effects to optimize your vector conversion.

This article forms part of our Ultimate Guide series. You can also check out our articles on how to convert to DXF from PNG, PDF, or DWG.

Interested in trying out Scan2CAD? Get complete access to Scan2CAD completely free for 14 days with our free trial.

These PDF files contain valuable information required for your CAD work. However, in order to extract the information and make edits to the drawing, you’ll need to convert PDF to DXF or DWG. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Scan2CAD, the market leading file conversion software that you can download for free. With its 20-year track record and clients such as Shell, BBC and Intel, it’s the file conversion brand that you can trust.

1. Highly Accurate PDF-to-DXF conversion

Scan2CAD can extract both raster and vector information contained within your PDF file, including vector entities like polylines, polygons and text; as well as embedded raster images and metadata. It also includes an OCR text recognition engine to extract text from images. Scan2CAD also lets you…

• Save vector entities on one single DXF layer or on multiple layers (each layer defined by either color or type)
• Automatically retain any user-defined line types (such as dashes and dots) when converting vector PDF files. It also preserves line width information, which is especially handy when converting electrical diagrams
• Save vector files in the correct size and scale
• Save vectors as True Color (i.e. the exact original color)

The most powerful feature in Scan2CAD has to be our raster to vector conversion engine. The software comes pre-loaded with automatic settings for a wide range of drawings, including architectural, electrical, and mechanical drawings, amongst many others. This enables the software to create the most accurate vector entities possible, giving you optimal results.

Scan2CAD’s raster-to-vector conversion engine comes in handy when dealing with circles and arcs

The PDF file format only supports a limited number of vector entities – and these don’t include arcs or circles. As a result, any circular shapes are converted into short lines or Bezier curves. This output is incredibly difficult to edit. If your drawing includes arcs and circles, be sure to choose software like Scan2CAD that can replace the short lines or Bezier curves with true arcs and circles that are easy to edit.

These circles were imported from a PDF using another conversion program. Instead of appearing as two vector circles, they have been reproduced as a series of small vector lines, making them very hard to edit in CAD.	These circles were imported from a PDF using Scan2CAD. Scan2CAD detected them and reproduced them as easy-to-edit vector circles. Just select the Make Vector Circles option when importing your file into Scan2CAD.

2. CAD & CNC-ready files

After vector conversion, you can export your file as DXF or DWG (and a number of other vector file types). These are the two most widely-used CAD file types in the industry. Not only that, but Scan2CAD is able to read and write files from many different versions of DXF and DWG files. It supports DXF files pre-R14 and DXF R14/LT97 and later, and it supports DWG files for all versions between R12 and R2007-2010. As for input, Scan2CAD accepts both single page and multi-page PDF input. What’s more, when importing your PDF, you can choose to import raster images only, vector images only, or both – and whether it’s a scanned document or a drawing file that’s saved as PDF, Scan2CAD can convert your file to DXF. You can even rotate the PDF page when loading it! After you’ve vectorized your files, they’re ready for use in CNC machining.

Still deciding which CNC machine to start with? Check out our guide to the best CNC kits for beginners!
download scan2cad for free here

3. Full set of vector and raster editing tools

Scan2CAD is an end-to-end file conversion solution. Using just one program, you can scan, edit, and convert your image. You can clean up raster images and prep them for optimal raster-to-vector conversion. After conversion, there’s an entire suite of vector editing tools, meaning you can cut, copy, move, and paste elements within your image, draw new vectors, add text, and more. This can be useful for optimizing poor raster images before conversion, e.g. converting GIF to DXF. 

Scan2CAD comes with a complete suite of raster and vector editing tools

4. Convenient

Using Scan2CAD’s intelligent conversion software can you save hours of precious time. Once you experience the convenience of using raster-to-vector conversion software, you’ll never go back to tracing over raster images manually on your CAD software.

Scan2CAD also supports batch processing so you can automate conversions of thousands of files in a few clicks! All you have to do is select the files or folders you want to convert and choose the right settings. Learn more about batch conversion and automation here.

Scan2CAD is leaps and bounds ahead of competitors when it comes to dealing with raster images. Other conversion software will simply extract the raster images from your PDF, potentially leaving you with a huge number of different raster images for each page of your PDF. It’s not very efficient, and it makes it really hard to edit. Scan2CAD, meanwhile, saves all the raster images on one page as a single image, letting you get on with editing it as normal.

5. Safe and secure

There are plenty of online conversion tools promising great results, absolutely free! It sounds too good to be true – and unfortunately, that’s because it almost always is. Uploading your files to an online tool might not only leave you with a poor quality image – it can compromise the security of your file, leave your company’s intellectual property vulnerable, and comes with the risk of malware being downloaded to your PC. Check out our article on the problems of online file converters to find out more – and find out why it’s better to stick with Scan2CAD.

Try every feature for free

Try the full version of Scan2CAD with our free 14-day trial. This trial version allows you to try every single feature in the professional version of Scan2CAD, all for free. Unlike some other free PDF to DXF and PDF to DWG converters, there are no watermarks printed onto your output files. Click on the image below to download your unlimited trial now.