Hi all,
I buy a block plan from ‘buy a plan’ in the uk when compiling a planning application. I buy the plan in PNG format @ A4 size. When I then import into layout into a A4 template the scale seems to be wrong. The planning officer keeps rejecting my submission because of this. Can anyone please advise on a solution.
Dan
I don’t know about Britain but in our parts you can get those maps in a CAD format like DWG that can be imported into SketchUp at full scale. Raster images are always a hit and miss, but you can get it to nearly right size with the Tape Measure tool. If you have imported into an empty file, measure something with a known length with the tool and immediately type the real length of the feature, including the unit used. Then click OK to the dialog that asks if you want to resize the whole model.
Are you an architectural services provider or homeowner?
Architectural service provider
I use MapServe and buy a DWG and then use that for my site/block plans which I import into Layout.
But of course submitting via the Planning Portal the Location Plan can be created there – which perhaps you’ve done.
DM me and I could look at what you’ve done and maybe work something out with you…?
I also bought the block plan as DWG file, however I only have DWG viewer, but I believe now that I can open in viewer convert to CAD 2013 which makes a copy that I can then import into layout.
The planning department are happy with the location plan I created in the planning portal, it’s the block plan that they don’t provide, plus I need to draw the proposed extension on the block plan.
FWIW, if you are importing a raster image into LO it will come in based on its size at 96 pixels per inch. a Scale as in a vector drawing or a SketchUp viewport has no meaning.
Thank you Anssi, I will try this method.
I’m a bit lost with that are you saying I can resize a PNG file to scale in LO?
Thank you Paul, so my process would be if the block plan DWG is 1:500@A4
I use A1 size template/title block for my drawings, therefore could I use this size for the A4 block plan or would I use a different size template/titleblock
Yes – I used to do that, but I now import straight into Layout, although depending on how you see it, it might not be as good as DWG > SketchUp > Layout.
In Layout – File > Insert > Model Space.
This brings the DWG into Layout as a scaled drawing group so you would need to set the scale.
And there would be some clean up to do – remove gridlines, and the text is tiny!
An alternative which doesn’t seem to work for me any more is to select Import as a SketchUp model reference
You then need to set the viewport in the Model Inspector to *Active and turn off Background.
If this works for you then you would be able to turn the DWG layers on/off in the Model Inspector Tags panel.
Thank you Paul this is super helpful, I’ll try this tonight. Regarding your template size in LO. Could I import it into a A1 size template even though the original is bought at A4 size, I’ve tried so many options I’ve confused myself, and it still be to scale for the planning department. I need an accurate solution as they are proving difficult.
At Mapserve there’s a minimum cost which I think gets you at least one hectare, for most of my projects (urban) one hectare is sufficient.
Importing this DWG into Layout, sheet size will depend on the scale.
Typically a good size urban semi and it’s curtilage will fit on A3 at 1:200 or 1:250 for a site plan.
You can resize an imported raster image in LayOut. There are ways to adjust the size of the image to meet specific dimensions. My point is that when you insert an image into LayOut the initial size on the paper is based on 96 pixels per inch or 37.8 pixels per centimeter. It’s entirely possible the image won’t insert at the desired size.If the image is a higher resolution image will wind up larger when inserted into LayOut so you would need to adjust its size.
Maybe this is all moot for you now since it sounds like Paul has you sorted with the vector file.
Here’s a recent 1:200 existing site plan where I inserted the DWG directly into Layout.
I set the scale to 1:200 and adjusted it to fit what was needed for the planning application on the A3 sheet; then used the super useful new trim tool to remove the surplus linework around the sheet. I then used Layout drawing tools to alter the drawing to my obsessive needs.
Of course if the site was too large for A3 I would have then considered if 1:500 was a suitable scale for the application and if not then gone up to A2 or larger.
Open Layout > set page size A4 > open document settings > grid > set major grid 1mm > set minor grid off > set colour of grid lines to dark shade > close document settings. View > show grid on > arrange > snap object off > snap grid on > insert block plan > use scale handles to scale to outer edges of grid.
OR
Import image to any page, scale horizontal > type in 210mm > scale vertical > type in 297mm.
This is now set to your A4 plan size at the scale defined on the contained plan.
