Help with CAD and Illustrator

[Andrew...@adobeforums.com]

Im having trouble importing DXF files into illustrator. I have saved the files in autocad 2000 format or earlier, i can open the file in illustrator, but when its finished loading, all i get is a while artboard. According to illustrator al the 30 or so layers of my work are there, they just cant be seen. How can I get my work to import correctly to illustrator?

Thanks

[R_S...@adobeforums.com]

Andrew, forgive me if its already looked at but one obvious thing, has your lines got any colour? This would show as blank artboard if there's no stroke colour or thickness to the lines. Importing dxf's can be exciting stuff in AI sometimes! I just tried importing a dxf and it came in grouped but otherwise OK.
Didn't realise CS imports ver 2000. I always use ver 14.
regards Richard

[Andrew...@adobeforums.com]

when I click double click on one of the layers it has color, but nothing shows on the artboard. I try to choose all the objects on the artboard but there is nothing there to select! I tries importing as windows meta file, and that worked, but I dont really know how much different it would be to use that instead of the dxf file.

[stan_ala...@adobeforums.com]

Andrew,

I use CAD files in Illy all the time. I don't know if you absolutely NEED a DXF file, but consider importing a pdf from your CAD program. It will come in with the proper line thicknesses and you won't have any import problems. You can turn on only the layers you need in CAD so that when imported you will have exactly what you want in illustrator. As for the DXF file, have you tried hitting CTRL Y to see if your lines are there for sure?

Stan

[Andrew...@adobeforums.com]

ctrl+y doesnt show anything at all, I just think the lines arent importing or something. I didnt realize you could export as a pdf from cad, how do you do that?
thanks

[R_S...@adobeforums.com]

Andrew - not sure what CAD youre using but can you 'Save to/as" or 'Print to' .pdf? Otherwise use a third party pdf writer and 'Print to' PDF from standard PDF printer dialog. You will find some pdf writers have different results and may not always open in AI or other graphics packages. I use BlueBeam Revu and a pdf from that wouldn't open in Corel 12 but would in AICS & CanvasX with GIS. Have you checked in Layer palette expanded to see if there is anything showing against each element? Even a line with no stroke shows as a line or shape in the little layer window. I use Win XP Pro SP2 and AICS.
Scren captures here'd be helpful - cant nut that out though?
Hang in there mate the wait will be worth it.
regards Richard

[Andrew...@adobeforums.com]

thanks for all the help, it worked as pdf when using pdf print in CAD! Now I just have one more question, but maybe I should start anew post, but ill try it here: I have a orthophoto over the area im working on, aswell as the newly imported CAD map over the same area. What I would like to do is place the jpeg on a new layer under the cad map, and then allign them so they fit over/under eachother. I have tried placing and then transforming the photo but cant get it to match up well enough to use in my presentation. Is there a way to allign them easliy? Im very new to illustrator and im amazed at the quality of the work I can get out of so I hope this can be done!

thanks

[R_S...@adobeforums.com]

Andrew this would be good on a new thread. Not sure if you use MAPublisher plugin - probably not? Is your orthohoto georeferenced? Ie have some geometrical attributes that define its place of origin, scale etc.
Can you identify two points that are common to both your CAD layer and clearly identifyable in your image. I'd suggest join 2 such points with a line in each layer and scale, rotate, move the image to suit your other data. Comparing the line info will give you parameters to use for scale, shift, rotate etc. You may have a bit of fiddling but it shouldn't take too much adjustment. I haven't given much AI detail here but not sure how much you need. The key is identical points on both layers. Scale the lines with the background data, that way you can keep track on whats happening. On a more technical side if the orthophoto isn't rectified and the terrain differs in elevation and the area is considerable then expect some areas of poor fit. regards Richard

[stan_ala...@adobeforums.com]

I agree with R Sands. To scale, don't just drag the ends, use the scale tool and define a point to scale from. line up a building then scale from that corner.

[Scott_...@adobeforums.com]

Andrew

I have been using AutoCad 2007 and Illustrator together for about a year know and have thru trial and error as well as the help of others have found a method that works for me. I work for a landscape architect and make color renderings of site plans. I don't know what type of work you are doing but this may help. Here is my checklist for preparing an AutoCad drawing for rendering in Illustrator.

1. Open the cad drawing you wish to render.
2. "save as" Save drawing under another name and save as AutoCAd 2000/LT2000.dwg
3. In modelspace, turn on and un freeze all layers.
4. Zoom extents to see everything in the drawing. This will help determine if there are entities in the drawing that are not visible.
This caused me much grief in the past.
5. Select all (control A) to select everything in the drawing--even the invisible things.
6. Erase all objects you will not need in the rendering. (raster images, copies of objects, etc.)
7. Detach all raster images.
8. Purge drawing of all unused layers and blocks.
Explode blocks if necessary and repeat purge to further remove unnecessary layers.
9. Isolate and delete hatch patterns as needed. (I used to think this was necessary but my last drawing with hatches gave me no problems)
10.In the properties palette,use Quick Select (funnel and lighting bolt symbol) to select and delete any un wanted hatch areas, extraneous points, hidden lines, spaces in text, etc.
11. Zoom extents--only what you want to take into Illustrator should fill the screen.
12. Save--if you do not save right before you go into Illustrator, curves will appear faceted. You must "save" while in modelspace!. This is key. By saving in modelspace everything stays on its correct layer. If you save while in paper space, you will still get your layers but all the drawing will be on one layer. I think this has something to do with the viewport acting as a clipping path.
13. Open Illustrator, go to File- Open. Open the .dwg file directly from Illustrator.
You may have to zoom way out or way in to see the drawing.
I know this may seem long winded and some steps may be apparent, but this has worked for me thus far.

[Tim...@adobeforums.com]

Hey Scott,

I was wondering if you'd resolved some of the issues you were having with CAD files.

[Andrew...@adobeforums.com]

thanks for all your help, its working and our project is looking alot better! We are students of urban design in Sweden and we are using ilustrator for our presentation for a new suburb in Stockholm. Thanks again for the help!

[Scott_...@adobeforums.com]

Hey Tim,

I think I have resolved most of my Cad issues to date. Now I see where Autocad has a beta version of a program called "Impressions" which may be close to doing what Illustrator does. Check it out at labs.autodesk.com. I have not downloaded it --only read about it.

Andrew

There is a great tutorial on urban planning using Illustrator at
<http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/udv/ai/index.htm>

Good Luck

[stan_ala...@adobeforums.com]

Hey Scott, good to know. I have never been able to work with dwg files well from Illy. It's good to know that can work. Unfortunately, we are still using AutoCAD 2003 :(

[Don_...@adobeforums.com]

I'm having problems exporting IllustratorCS files to Autocad (DWG or DXF format). The exported files often do not retain the font style and lines or horizontal text appear vertically, crossing over line artwork and other objects. When I use the "outline text" option during the file export process, the results look much better, except that all "closed" text letters and numbers (e.g. A, B, D, P, 4, 6, 8) now appear "filled in". Does anyone have a solution to this?

[Rick Moore]

That's been fixed in recent releases of AutoCAD

Rick Moore, AIA
www.bgkarchitects.com

>...the first time you switch on your OSNAP, and get anywhere near your
>text, your system will likely freeze up. (I speak from repeated experience
>using fairly beefy systems)

[Tim...@adobeforums.com]

Greetings to Austin! I need to get back down there and visit with some architects soon.

That's good to know. I'm on 2004, and last time I tried something like this my system locked up. I'm just finding it harder and harder to justify feeding the Autodesk monster every time they come out with a new version.

[Tim...@adobeforums.com]

I don't have a solution for you, but I would not recommend outlining your text for AutoCAD drawings...the first time you switch on your OSNAP, and get anywhere near your text, your system will likely freeze up. (I speak from repeated experience using fairly beefy systems)

There's about a gazillion points in exploded true-type and open-type fonts.

One thing to keep in mind: AutoCAD is not word processing or page-layout software, and it doesn't like heavy, complicated fonts. I would unfortunately recommend using a system font and lay out the text in ACAD. The reason you get filled P's and O's is because ACAD doesn't understand masked geometry.

If the final output is to be a polished presentation with slick typography, don't use AutoCAD - use Illustrator.

[Rick Moore]

2004? Are you aware of this:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7176880#section7
Autodesk is a lot more aggressive about making you pay for skipped releases
than Adobe

Rick Moore, AIA
www.bgkarchitects.com

[Tim...@adobeforums.com]

Yeah, I figured it would be no time at all before I got screwed out of upgrade pricing. Hah! Can you imagine - A $3,000 bit of software that's three years old is now declared antique. Autodesk, in my opinion is the worst for this kind of thing, and I don't understand why A&D firms think they need to get every new version of this software. We need to start curbing the demand for this kinda thing.

I have been noticing what appears to be a growing number of people switching to alternative CAD software, especially ArchiCAD.

Anyway, the more I think about it, the less I like Autodesk. Any bets on who will own who in the end? AdobeCAD or AutoIllustrator? It'll probably be MSCAD and WinIllustrator.

[Steven...@adobeforums.com]

>I think I'll go look for my parallel bar and pounce bag.

Interesting point as I have just stated to try and figure out AutoCAD.
Now semi retired and working in a friends office part time. The have
it on a machine and a plotter. Along with three tables with pallel's
and my friend the Arch. who still uses a T square for every thing. I'm
in between having brought in my Vamco. So now I start to try and
figure out this AutoCAD. What a mess. I come from Corel and have
learned Adobe because I had to. But to me Corel is still the
simplest. Not the best just the simplest.

I can't figure out where these AutoCAD folks came from other than the
far side of the moon. Their terms make no real sense. Their
instructions lead you into a blank page with no way out. But for what
ever reason it would seem many, many people have figured out how to
make it work. I just wish one of them would write a book on how to do
it instead of what is out there now.

[Tim...@adobeforums.com]

Steven,

Beleive it or not I think ACAD is still one of the most intuitive CAD systems on the market (ever use Bentley?). I'm just tired of Autodesk trying to repackage the same stuff every year (or sooner) and adding "smart" functions that are supposed streamline your work. My experience has been the new functions are full of bugs (and AutoCAD is notoriously buggy in EVERY release - worse than Windows IMO) and firms waste more man-hours trying to make those features work for them than they ultimately save.

If all you need is software for drafting - there's really nothing R14 won't do that the latest release or a "Desktop" version will. In fact, I'll probably switch to the LT version this time around.

Autodesk should at least be more committed to backwards compatiblity. Once you're two versions out, you're no longer compatibale with your consultants or clients, which is absurd. It's just a way of forcing everyone to play the upgrade game.

Ok, ok, I'll end my rant.

[R_S...@adobeforums.com]

If you think you've had problems with autoCAd in past then I think it'll only get worse for version 2007. Someone mentioned this in a recent conversation I had with engineering fraternity. Not sure how true it is? I do agree with comments on other CAD software and would recommend looking at other options available.
I know AI is also looked at by others in same way by others who use alternative graphics packages. Its a tough world!
regards Richard

[Verizon]

Fonts are not the same between illustrator and autocad.

You need to manually go back edit the text in autocad.

When you do the outline text you need to make the color fills to none that
way you will just get an outline of the text in autocad then do a solid
hatch fill.

Dont know why you go from illustrator to autocad. All the work I do is the
opposite. I do the precision cad work / line work in autocad then do text
layouts in illustrator.

But if you have any questions email me.

ramg...@hotmail.com

<Don_...@adobeforums.com> wrote in message
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