importing Adobe Illustrator Drawing to trace over

[toycept]

I'd like to import into SW a line drawing created in Adobe Illustrator to use as a template to trace over and then extrude. I've converted the Illustrator drawing to a bitmap image. Can anyone direct me what to do next.....

Thanks.

John

 

[TheTick]

Adobe Illustrator allows export to DXF, which you can bring into SW. The results depend on the content of the Illustrator file, since .ai files can be a mix ov raster and vector formats. If there are a lot of vector entities (lines, splines), then DXF is a good way to go.

There is a shareware application calle Ghostscript that can convert many formats. I use this sometimes. Hijaak Pro is also a good format bender. I think it still costs less than US$150.

"When everyone is thinking alike, no one is thinking very much." --Eckhard Schwarz (1930--2004)

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

 

[rockguy]

Select a sketch plane. Go to INSERT/OBJECT. Select "create from file" and browse to the location. Copy paste may also work. There is also an insert picture tool that can be added to the sketch toolbar from the customize dialog. All three methods achieve the same thing.

 

[toycept]

Thank you both (Tick and Rock Guy).

1) I was able to open the file in SW through "insert/object. The only problem is when I try to draw (trace onto) the inserted picture, all the lines I draw wind up in the back of this picture. Once the sketch lines (circle, elipses, etc.) are drawn you can't see them, unless you move the inserted picture out of the way. Makes it difficult to edit the sketch elements. Any suggestions?

2) I was able to save (export) the original Illustrator template file as both DXF and DWG files.... however I could not get SW to open them. The icon of those files on the desktop only showed up as one of those tempory icons that SW doesn't open. Not sure why it's not showing up as a useable file.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[TheTick]

Make a DXF file from SolidWorks, and then open it in Notepad to examine the header. Do the same with a DXF from Illustrator. With some files, I have found that manually deleting header information in a text editor solves some translation issues. Last time I did this procedure, it worked fine with no "tricks".

however I could not get SW to open them. The icon of those files on the desktop only showed up as one of those tempory icons that SW doesn't open.

Did you try opening using "File --> Open", or did you just double-click and hope for the best?

"When everyone is thinking alike, no one is thinking very much." --Eckhard Schwarz (1930--2004)

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

 

[meintsi]

Try using a .tif format. Open a new part, go directly to INSERT - PICTURE.

The image will then be in the backgroud, availiable for tracing in the front view only.

To place on a plane or object face, use the INERT PICTURE icon from the toolbar, NOT from the menu tree as they given me different results.



Remember...
"If you don't use your head,
your going to have to use your feet."

 

[SBaugh]

If you insert a picture into a SW file i don't think you can remove it. At least I haven't found away yet. I have found the way to hide it though.

What you should do to trace and image:

1) Start a sketch on a plane
2) Use the Sketch Picture Icon to insert your picture - If you don't have this Icon on your Toolbar you will have to add it
3) Browse for your image and click Open
4) Scale it, Move it, do what you need to to make it the Size you want.
5) Exit the Sketch
6) Start a new sketch on the same plane
7) Start adding your sketches - You will find the Sketch lines don't disappear behind the image if you use this Sketch insert picture way

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

If you are in the SW Forum Check out the FAQ section

To make the Best of Eng-Tips Forums FAQ731-376

 

[Muggs828]

Hello Toycept (John),

I don't know if you're on a maintenance subscription service or not, but SW 2006 now allows direct import of Adobe Illustrator (.AI) files.
See they DO listen!

HTH,
Muggs

 

[smcadman]

Not sure on the released SW 2006, but when I was using the 2006 EV, I kept on getting errors importing Adobe Illustraror files. Have not tried this with the released 2006 though.

Typically I still use ACAD 2002 to trace an image, then I open the .dwg in SW as a part file. Scott's reply is the way to go though if you prefer staying in SW.

Flores

 

[SBaugh]

The new Insert picture transparency is pretty cool and makes it much easier when using an Image to trace over. - in SW06

I have not seen the Adobe Illustrator to work yet in SW06, but I only tested one file so far.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Razberryjones]

Yeah, I've been trying to open an Illustrator in Solidworks 2006 for three days, and it simply does not work, the only help I have gotten is "click File open, select files of type as *.ai, browse to file and open the file"

Just one tiny, tiny, problem... It does not work at all.

I give up...won't load 2006 until the bugs are worked out three or four months down the road.

 

[Muggs828]

It works perfectly for me!?!

Muggs

 

[toycept]

Just installed 2006 and tried the Illustrator import feature. I created a line drawing on my Mac and transferred it to the desktop on my PC. while in a new SW part drawing I went to "open" and changed file format to Adobe Illustrator and it didn't work. The reason it didn't work was because the Illustrator file name did not have .ai as the extentsion on the file name. I just added it on and I was then able to import the line drawing into the SW document. Works well.

 

[toycept]

I should have mentioned in previous post that the line drawing created on the Mac was done in illustrator and save as an Illustrator file.... then transferred to the desktop on the PC.

 

[brrian]

If you convert from .ai to dxf often, there's a utility called Bezarc (

http://www.kandusoftware.com)

that does a fantastic job of converting .ai to dxf. You have control over how accurately you match Bezier curves in the dxf--I've used it for years and couldn't live without it. Check it out.

 

[jmayberg]

I am using SW2006 the import Illustrator command doe snot work.
I then tried import object from file. When I did this I clicked the .ai file it then put an icon on my SW file. What am I supposed to do. I tried sketch and all it did was open my Photoshop / Illustrator program. How do I place these images on the SW PArt?

 

[SBaugh]

Have you tried Sketch Picture yet?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[rockguy]

I just converted some AI files for someone into SW. I'm finding you have to save the files back to AI release 9 in order for them to open in SW.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP

http://www.robrodriguez.com

SW 2006 SP 1.0EV