Hi, I'm trying to vectorize old drawings so I can import them to AutoCAD using PDFIMPORT command, so that I can edit them. It only works on vectorized images. The problem is that when I open a raster .pdf scan of a drawing in Inkscape, group it all together and try using Path/Trace bitmap it doesn't find an object to vectorize. If I convert raster pdf image to .png first and then try to Path/Trace bitmap then I get vectorized (I think?) copy of an image, but I can't ungroup it, I think I would need to see individual paths to be able to edit the image in AutoCAD. Can you recommend me a working workflow which I could use in a situation like this?
Pdf is a print ready format which can contain both vector and raster content. And as a result it usually can have a not so trivial structure, and there is not an universal standard on how every pdf is built up.
Much depends on your original pdf. If you open it, you may need to oungroup objects multiple times just so that the embedded raster images can be separated.
After that, you can select those objects and run the trace bitmap on them.
When the objects are vectorised, remember to delete the raster image.
If you can attach a pdf example you are working with we can give you a more focused answer on the steps necessary.
Beginners' Questions Exporting vector .pdf from inkscape to AutoCAD
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Hi, I'm trying to vectorize old drawings so I can import them to AutoCAD using PDFIMPORT command, so that I can edit them. It only works on vectorized images. The problem is that when I open a raster .pdf scan of a drawing in Inkscape, group it all together and try using Path/Trace bitmap it doesn't find an object to vectorize. If I convert raster pdf image to .png first and then try to Path/Trace bitmap then I get vectorized (I think?) copy of an image, but I can't ungroup it, I think I would need to see individual paths to be able to edit the image in AutoCAD. Can you recommend me a working workflow which I could use in a situation like this?
Hi.
Pdf is a print ready format which can contain both vector and raster content. And as a result it usually can have a not so trivial structure, and there is not an universal standard on how every pdf is built up.
Much depends on your original pdf. If you open it, you may need to oungroup objects multiple times just so that the embedded raster images can be separated.
After that, you can select those objects and run the trace bitmap on them.
When the objects are vectorised, remember to delete the raster image.
If you can attach a pdf example you are working with we can give you a more focused answer on the steps necessary.
Thank you for help, I've managed to figure it out.