Raster images can only be referenced into AutoCAD drawings. If you send the drawing to someone else, you must send the image file also.
See the following Autodesk Tech Docs:
Sending images with a DWG file | Raster files in drawings
So what's this article about? You probably came here because you want to "bind" a raster image. Here are a few ways:
- Insert the image as an OLE object
- In AutoCAD, run the INSERTOBJ command.
- Choose "Create New", then choose "Bitmap Image".
- Next, Windows Paintbrush should open up.
- In Paintbrush, choose the Edit menu, then PasteFrom
- Select your existing image file (JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF, etc.)
- While still in Paintbrush, choose File, then Exit and Return to AutoCAD
- In AutoCAD, run the INSERTOBJ command.
- Use the IMAGE BIND command in Dotsoft ToolPac. This command reads the image (either an image on disk, or one that exists in the drawing) and creates AutoCAD geometry to represent the image.
- Use an standalone program such as Img2CAD. This program will accept most raster images as input, and then output one of the following: DXF, EMF, WMF or HPGL. I tested a 132,000,000 pixel TIFF file and converted it to a DXF. Depending on the options selected, the output DXF was anywhere from 52MB to 96MB in size. Quite large, but the program was able to perform the conversion in about a minute. Not bad for such a large image.
If you know about other options, let me know.
UPDATE:Raster Design 2008 allows you to embed (or bind) an IMAGE into a DWG. See this post for more details.
Labels: Add-on utilities, Raster Design, Tips
PermaLink Posted 4/26/2007 11:59:00 AM
Comment from:
Date: May 17, 2005 at 1:30:00 PM CDT
Very good, but the frame, is it always visable ?
Comment from:
Date: November 9, 2005 at 5:07:00 PM CST
If you set oleframe = 2, then you frame will dissapear when plotting, or display or... But, the OLE object can be rotated, aligned or croped??
Comment from:
Date: December 20, 2005 at 9:05:00 AM CST
does not accept tif files in paint ?
Comment from:
Date: May 28, 2006 at 6:54:00 PM CDT
I believe this method leaves a referenced image file in a temp folder. Is that not correct? Therefore sending this drawing file to another person would still require that you also send the image file.
Bill DeShawn
Keep in touch
Comment from:
R.K. McSwain
Date: May 29, 2006 at 8:37:00 AM CDT
No, this creates an OLE object, which is embedded in the drawing file.
Comment from:
Date: July 25, 2007 at 3:13:00 PM CDT
A way I have done it is to open the image in paint or whatever, and copy it to the clipboard.
Then in Autocad (2007) under [edit] select [paste special]. When the dialog box pops up select [Device Independent Bitmap] and click [OK]. Specify your Insertion Point, then afterwards you can resize the image however you like.
Comment from:
Date: January 24, 2008 at 9:10:00 AM CST