Dealing with USGS Maps

[DTOREC]

Anybody deal with USGS quarter quad maps in TIFF format? My state started requiring the QQ's to be submitted in 24x36 paper, and be a certain resolution, and it's unworkable. Files are too big. I used to be able to just get the 8.5x11's and mark them up using Bleambeam. Not anymore. Anybody ever import TIFF to autocad?

 

[CarlB]

We routinely insert tiff images in AutoCAD. It is one of the supported image file types. What problem are you having; what size is too big?

If large file size is the problem, you could clip out area of interest using some other program, even MS Paint.

 

[cfee]

Is it the TIF file size that's too big? CarlB is right- we also routinely insert TIF files into our ACAD as both backgrounds and to be inside a T-Block for printing. Some TIF files howver, CAN be MEGABYTES in size. I've seen maps at 20-30 Mb (the largest I've encounteresd to date). While cumbersome, they're still workable. Disk capacities are fast catching up,too.

Sometimes I've been able to convert them to JPG with very acceptable results and were able to reduce them in file size significantly. I use IRFANVIEW for this, but any would probably do. We also use cropping where appropriate. IRFANVIEW and its plugins are free for personal use and about $15/seat commercial so its a VERY usable solution. Just don't give in to the temptation to use the free version at work. We ALL deserve a paycheck, right ?

Good luck and let us know of your success ?

C.F.

 

[DTOREC]

I got it to work just fine. The USGS map TIFF file was 84 Mb. With the help of the map folks and some other references, I followed the external reference route. Once the entire collared map and my notes were added, I was able to print it to PDF, and the resulting file was only 8 MB. I had multiple view ports set up, so I even had a highly-zoomed in region of the map, at great resolution. A was able to plot that, and it came out perfect.

Thanks for the tips.

One thing I learned: don't waste time trying to finagle with the maps you can download for free, particulary when couple quads have to be blended and bound with collars. Much more cost effective and faster to have that work done by someone else.