I have a series of hand drawn image, architectural details that I would like to format onto my template sheets. Is this possible?
Thanks
That’s possible on Mac but not on Windows. You can make a screenshot from the PDF and save it as a PNG or JPG and insert that.
2 Likes
or, depending on the tools you use to read pdf on your pc, export into a jpg or png. or even a tiff. might be a better resolution than a screenshot.
but other than that, what Dave said.
2 Likes
I can’t just take the pdf file (as originally scanned) and insert?
Not on Windows. You can see this for yourself if you look at the insertable file types.
PDF is not in the list.
Thanks Dave. Will try that and see how that works. Assume that if I do a screen shot of the scaled drawing will stay at the scale drawn? Anyway, this still sounds promising.
I see that and realize that this is your work around.
There’s no scale for inerted images anyway. On Mac, PDFs come in as raster images and there’s no scale for them. The size raster images initially insert at depends on their resolution, not a scale. You can resize your image to adjust the scale if needed.
It’s not my work around. You need to somehow create an image file in a format that LayOut can use for insertion.
Sorry, meant that as my work around to make this work for my current needs. For construction documents, it is helpful to present the drawings at the scale shown on the title (3" = 1’-0" as an example). I do get it, there are tools within sketch up layout that can be used to do these drawings through the software here. I just haven’t mastered the skills needed to do what I can by hand in a fraction of the time than what it will take me on this system. Thanks again for your suggestions and maybe I just need to try a bit harder to master the scaled drawing tool on layout.
1 Like
So, I have hand drawn several of my window details; head, jamb, sill. As you suggested, I made a screenshot of one of the full 8 1/2 by 11 size drawing sheets, saved as a jpg and inserted onto layout page. It comes out to be very close if not on the mark for the scale of the original drawing (in this case, 6"= 1’-0"). Maybe beginner’s luck!
Thank you Dave, very much, for this quick response. This could easily save me a ton of time re-drafting on the computer what I have already completed by hand.
1 Like
Good. You might need to resize the image to get it closer to the right size but then again, maybe the scale isn’t critical if it’s a hand drawn image.
What I think makes this work is that I am drawing the details on a sheet of 8-1/2 by 11 and the image is cropped to that exact (or as close as possible) paper edge. And while a builder is not supposed to use a scale on the actual drawings, it is the first thing that happens when there is a question of dimension. And yes, with my type A, I might want to fine tune the image to come even closer to the scale indicate.
Anyway, this was a huge help and I very much appreciate your time.
1 Like
I do this continually. I get model vehicle plans which I get scanned into a PDF (by an office supplier).
I use “Kofax Power PDF” (though any reliable PDF processor will do) to save as JPEG (JPG images) per page.
I then import each image individually and align the pages side by side.
I then take a measurement (or chose one in the diagram) and set up guide lines either end of the selected line. Using the Tape measure tool I extend on the line and type in the actual measurement (usually imperial). SketchUp will re-scale all the pages to the correct length (1:1 scale)… and of course then I convert to the more realistic metric.
You just need to ensure that when you import the image, they are “stretched/aligned” exactly. If you lose alignment, delete and re-import
At the end, if mesaurements are critical, I confirm measurements with a known entity on each page.
@DaveR Out of curiosity if I place a PDF in my copy of Layout on Mac and then send the LO file to collaborate with someone working on PC, what happens to the PDF?
It gets replaced with a gray rectangle with a red X through it.
Ouch. Thank you for your knowledge. I wasn’t expecting that as an outcome!
1 Like
Thanks for the additional info. Sounds like an effective system.
It’s annoying when I get LO files with PDFs inserted into them. I’ve figured out how to work around it but it’s a PIA. I think there are better options available for getting the information from most PDFs into LayOut but they aren’t quite as quick as inserting the PDF.
1 Like
I had been considering them for recycling illustrations, but if there are compatibility issues between platforms then the PDF option is probably best avoided for the sake of the recipient. I was kind of hoping LO would convert or freeze them. I might have to consider the bitmap option if there is a real need…
1 Like
If your content works as a raster image, converting to one of the raster types that LO can display on PC is a good idea.