OK, I'll admit to being a total ignoramus when it comes to this computer stuff, so if you have ideas to help me, use nice, simple words, maybe at a 10-year-old level.
I've been struggling with ways to get schematics up on the BB and turned to AutoCad. I can draw stuff in AutoCad and make it more or less plot OK. However, when I export a drawing to .bmp format, the .bmp file shows a reasonable size (a couple hundred kbyte) but when I open the .bmp with another program like Paint or Fireworks, it displays blank. What am I doing wrong?
FWIW, I'm using (don't laugh) AC97, Windows 95.
I've been struggling with ways to get schematics up on the BB and turned to AutoCad. I can draw stuff in AutoCad and make it more or less plot OK. However, when I export a drawing to .bmp format, the .bmp file shows a reasonable size (a couple hundred kbyte) but when I open the .bmp with another program like Paint or Fireworks, it displays blank. What am I doing wrong?
FWIW, I'm using (don't laugh) AC97, Windows 95.
After pressing ok for the export file you must selct wath you want to export in the drawing.
You thus need to drag your mouse around the entire drawing.
And only then press enter.
You thus need to drag your mouse around the entire drawing.
And only then press enter.
SY: This may not be a direct solution, but another way is to expand your AutoCad drawing on the screen as large as possible, then do a PrintScreen. Now open the Paint application, and do a Paste. Trim the edges (I use Cut - NewFile - Paste), and you should have a presentable BMP of your drawing. The filesize of the bmp will be large, but zipping it will bring the size way down, and you should be able to post the zip to DiyAudio with no problem. Use a graphics file format conversion application if you want a GIF.
Also, I suggest that you consider something like SIMetrix for drawing your schematics.
hope this helps, jonathan carr
Also, I suggest that you consider something like SIMetrix for drawing your schematics.
hope this helps, jonathan carr
Thanks, guys! With your help, I got it.
I use Fireworks to convert and compress; that's an almost foolproof program, thus safe in my hands.
I use Fireworks to convert and compress; that's an almost foolproof program, thus safe in my hands.
jcarr said:
This is essentially the technique i use for getting my drawings onto the web. Set the screen image to correspond to the right size, take a snap-shot (OS Xs postscript display does a great job), then open in Photoshop (you could just as easily use GraphicConverter or PhotoShop Elements* or any number of other raster editors) to crop it and save it out as the smallest possible gif.
For AutoCad drawings, i import them into VectorWorks and clean them up 1st)
*(if anyone is looking for a good raster editor this has to be the best value in raster editor for either Mac or PC)
dave
OK, I know I'm gonna sound REALLY stupid, but I assume that to do a PrintScreen means to hit the PrintScreen key? If so, when I did that, exactly nothing happened. I hope I'm not like the driving student who, when instructed to parallel park, put the automatic transmission in "Park," then complained because the car wasn't parking.
Selecting before exporting worked OK, though there was a major resolution loss going to a bmp. The gif looked identical (Fireworks exports like a sane program should, the whole image), and was delightfully compact (like 5K or something). My first attempt is over at the "math" thread. It looks a little fuzzy compared to the original AutoCad image for sure.
Selecting before exporting worked OK, though there was a major resolution loss going to a bmp. The gif looked identical (Fireworks exports like a sane program should, the whole image), and was delightfully compact (like 5K or something). My first attempt is over at the "math" thread. It looks a little fuzzy compared to the original AutoCad image for sure.
SY said:
On a PeeCee you may require a screen capture program (i don't do Windows so i'm not sure)
On a Mac command-shift-3 captures the entire screen(s), or command-shift-4 gives you a set of crosshairs so that you can select what you would like to capture.
dave
Hey SY,
I had the same problem. As a former Mac owner it also seemed to me that nthing happened when I hit the print screen key.
On the Mac a screen capture makes a cute "shutter snap sound"
On the PC it just noislessly captures the image, then when you select "paste" in the "edit" menu, pastes it into the current file that is active.
So , sorry p10, PC's actually do this rather well.
Mark-an ex mac owner who wishes those Autodesks jerks hadn't canceled unix Autocad just when the MAC OSX came along (which could have used the unix version with a tad of tweaking)
I had the same problem. As a former Mac owner it also seemed to me that nthing happened when I hit the print screen key.
On the Mac a screen capture makes a cute "shutter snap sound"
On the PC it just noislessly captures the image, then when you select "paste" in the "edit" menu, pastes it into the current file that is active.
So , sorry p10, PC's actually do this rather well.
Mark-an ex mac owner who wishes those Autodesks jerks hadn't canceled unix Autocad just when the MAC OSX came along (which could have used the unix version with a tad of tweaking)
I'm grateful to all the geeks bearing gifts. AutoCad is monstrously powerful (Drafting Dan, for other Heinlein fans) but user-hostile.
SY said:
i've stopped being surprised at the places i find heinlein fans. 😎
by the way...another option for turning an autocad drawing into an image file is to 'plot to file' using the eps format. then convert the eps into whatever format you like, using your favorite image software. i believe this way you can preserve line weights, if you have them defined that is.
you could also use 'psout', or 'export' using eps format...but i'm not sure if it lets you 'window' the area you want to export.
in that case you'd have to crop the image when you go to convert it to bmp/gif/jpg.
/andrew - sometimes dreams in cad. it's scary when that happens.
Yes, this should preserve the line weight-very nice!! I'll use this for my presentations. I just got a 36" wide Postscript!!!! plotter.
Actually I ordered it from BPS. Actually it's used-but cheap- I hopes it works well..... If I ever finish a DIY project I'll invite you over to hear it!!
Actually I ordered it from BPS. Actually it's used-but cheap- I hopes it works well..... If I ever finish a DIY project I'll invite you over to hear it!!
OK, as soon as my ESLs are arrived, up, and running, SF get-together, my place. Many bottles of wine. I'll need to get rid of my wife for the day, she hates any music played above 60 dB SPL that isn't Country & Western.
SY said:
Panels are in the back of the Subaru for delivery to the UPS terminal later today. (Last interface still on my packing "bench"* -- the "paperwork" will go out with it)
*(a novel use of Dynaco A25 cabinets 🙂)
dave
Dave,
As much as I claim to hate a monopoly, HP has me convinced with their plotters. At architectural offices I have worked with their pen plotters, b&w inljets, color, etc. and the seem to NEVER wear out or give problems once set up right. So I have been using an Epson wide carridge printer for a number of years and finally realized I needed a real plotter now that my own office is finally busy. So I contacted the local huge repro house and asked if they had some used to sell. They offered me a used 24" w b&W DesignJet for $1200. I waited a week and said OK. They had sold it, so they offered me a used 36" color Postscript with ethernet card for the same price. The Designjet 755CM which seemed to retail for about 6k to 8k US bucks. I'm pretty excited. Do you know this model? Do you also feel used plotters are ok?
So my advice to those that need a plotter is contact that big blueprint company in your area. They usually lease out machines, the lease fee pays them off, so they are happy to dump the used ones at a reasonable price.
SY, Shoes for the dead!!!
When I saw you had posted , I was planning to invite you to my mythical listening party, but only if you brought some wine. You are a real gentleman to exceed my petty demands voluntarily, even before I made them! We can invite Dave too, right? He probably will hitchhike down from Canada
As much as I claim to hate a monopoly, HP has me convinced with their plotters. At architectural offices I have worked with their pen plotters, b&w inljets, color, etc. and the seem to NEVER wear out or give problems once set up right. So I have been using an Epson wide carridge printer for a number of years and finally realized I needed a real plotter now that my own office is finally busy. So I contacted the local huge repro house and asked if they had some used to sell. They offered me a used 24" w b&W DesignJet for $1200. I waited a week and said OK. They had sold it, so they offered me a used 36" color Postscript with ethernet card for the same price. The Designjet 755CM which seemed to retail for about 6k to 8k US bucks. I'm pretty excited. Do you know this model? Do you also feel used plotters are ok?
So my advice to those that need a plotter is contact that big blueprint company in your area. They usually lease out machines, the lease fee pays them off, so they are happy to dump the used ones at a reasonable price.
SY, Shoes for the dead!!!
When I saw you had posted , I was planning to invite you to my mythical listening party, but only if you brought some wine. You are a real gentleman to exceed my petty demands voluntarily, even before I made them! We can invite Dave too, right? He probably will hitchhike down from Canada
You ought to drive them down. The drink will be worth it.
EDIT: Variac, we cross-posted, great minds and all that. Let's talk about your car. It's saying, "Wash me please!" Well, if you're Mr. Common Sense, you won't believe me when I tell you that I've got an envelope that will wash your car as you drive at home to work. No overheating like the tropical fishes. No zizzing and dripping like...
EDIT: Variac, we cross-posted, great minds and all that. Let's talk about your car. It's saying, "Wash me please!" Well, if you're Mr. Common Sense, you won't believe me when I tell you that I've got an envelope that will wash your car as you drive at home to work. No overheating like the tropical fishes. No zizzing and dripping like...
VARIAC : another architect? where's your office? i'm just off union square, at hornberger + worstell.
the wine-and-sound party sounds nice. i love napa. maybe i could drag my wife and 9-month-old along? (if they'll come, that is)
/andrew
the wine-and-sound party sounds nice. i love napa. maybe i could drag my wife and 9-month-old along? (if they'll come, that is)
/andrew
Variac said:
Besides selling the plotters i have generated 1000s of plots in my work with 650C, 755 CM, and 1055CM. You will be very happy. Once you have used Postscript for plotting (actually you treat it just like a giant LaserWriter -- at least on the Mac) you won't want to go back. AutoCad thou, with its archaic printer interface, can be a bit of a pain -- but once you figure out the convolutions to go thru it should be fine (newer versions of AutoCad might be fine with it).
As for reliability -- the DesignJet 300 (the very 1st designjet) which me & my partner sold (1st one in BC) is still going fine. The only ones that were a problem were some of the early, cheap, desktop models (and some of those problems were lousy computer-based PostScript RIPs).
dave
Well, until I have finishedat least one piece of DIY gear, it's SY's party and he can invite whom he pleases- especially since it's his house and his wine and his wife, no, that's right she's out.....
Doesn't everyone like Napa? Do your wife and kid like 104dB music and geeking about speakers?
Actually I know someone at H/W but won't mention him yet as it might prejudice you against me! I now have my own little firm out of my house at Laguna and Bush near Japantown. I'm very busy, but pretty boring stuff I guess. Somehow it gains virtue when it is keeping your own business afloat!
SY: I am a pathetic 70's college student- I can't finish that quote.
somehow it is all a haze....... dripping like the .....fishes?
Doesn't everyone like Napa? Do your wife and kid like 104dB music and geeking about speakers?
Actually I know someone at H/W but won't mention him yet as it might prejudice you against me! I now have my own little firm out of my house at Laguna and Bush near Japantown. I'm very busy, but pretty boring stuff I guess. Somehow it gains virtue when it is keeping your own business afloat!
SY: I am a pathetic 70's college student- I can't finish that quote.
somehow it is all a haze....... dripping like the .....fishes?
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