Raster to Vector Conversion with Descartes 2004

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Raster to Vector Conversion with Descartes 2004

• Kevin van Haaren
• HNTB Corporation
• kvanhaaren_at_hntb.com

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Agenda

• Working with raster data
• Capabilities
• Prior to Conversion
• Drawing Lines
• Shortcut Keys
• Auto Conversion
• Converting Text
• Working with Nodes
• Questions Answers

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Working with Raster Data

• Attach image, draw on top
• Easy
• Least flexible (hard to screen back rasters)
• Attach image, edit image, draw on top
• Poor CADD tools
• Attach image, convert to vectors, detach image
• Can be time consuming
• Accuracy issues with all methods

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Capabilities

• Not a magic one button solution
• Still involves lots of manual work
• Provides tools to help technician to redraw
  raster images
• Hand drawn images harder to work with than
  scanned computer drawn images

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Before Converting

• Raster Cleanup
• Despeckle image
• Erase unneeded parts
• Crop borders
• Locate Tolerance Configuration
• Set locate tolerance to size that doesnt cause
  two or more lines to be selected

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Drawing Lines

• Turn on Raster Snap
• Turn off Auto Convert
• Leave Erase Raster off

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Shortcut Keys

• While in vectorize tools you can use
• F2 Undo Data Points
• F3 Redo Data Points
• F5 Center view on cursor
• F6 Center view on last entered point
• F8 Spy Window

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Auto Conversion

• Decartes Place Element
• Turn on Auto Convert
• Gap Jumping (if desired)
• Poorly drawn lines
• Dotted Lines
• Only in direction specified
• Convert Lines
• All directions
• Auto-continue
• Reset continues on end nodes

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Convert Text

• Raster Manager Dialog
• Text/Cells
• Multiple Text
• Area Block
• Turn on Convert Now
• Set Orientation to Horizontal
• Use rulers to set Min/Max text heights
• Define Block
• Make Corrections
• Special Preferences