Inserting an Image from File

In this Task

• An image will be inserted into the editor which will form the ‘underlay’ of the conceptual sketch.
• The border of the image will be changed to an ‘invisible’ line pattern.

Associated Tasks

• Using the Properties dialog box to change the line properties of the inserted image.

Before you Start

• A sample image of a floor plan is supplied for this task. Download this image to a suitable location on your hard drive.

Take Note

• The successful completion of this task requires the use of the House Template – Metric template. This is a standard TurboCAD template which can be used when using the New from Template option.
• When inserting the image into the drawing, the image frequently appears at the incorrect orientation. Use the Selector Shell to rotate the image or the Edit | Copy Entities | Mirror tool to flip the image across a horizontal or vertical axis.

Conceptual Sketching

Conceptual sketching, also referred to as ‘tracing’ is a fast and convenient method of capturing design intent by using a photograph, image or hand drawn sketch as an underlay in the current drawing.

This image is inserted into the workspace onto a specific layer which can be locked, allowing sketch elements to be drawn onto this object. Accuracy is not required during the initial sketch process, other than using auxiliary geometry and magnetic points to align endpoints of lines. The outline of the sketch, once captured, can be moved within the editor where more accurate detailing can be done.

In this task, a floor plan will be sketched over an image which is imported into the workspace. The correct geometric scaling and precise placement of objects will be done after the initial conceptual design is captured.

New from Template

File | New | New from Template

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Start a new drawing using the New from Template option. Select the House Template Metric template, shown below.

Starting a new drawing using the House Template

This template contains styles (Doors, Windows, etc) and settings such as layers for Walls, Doors, Windows etc.

Insert Image from File

Insert | Picture | From File

 

Inserts an image file into the workspace at a size determined by the user.The aspect ratio of the inserted image can be maintained on insertion.

A sample image for this task is supplied. Download the image here and save it to a suitable location on your hard drive.

Select Insert > Picture > From File, then browse to the downloaded image.

Uncheck the Keep Aspect Ratio option, shown by the arrow below as the exact size will be input.

At the prompt > Define the first corner of the image, click any point in the workspace which will represent the upper left corner of the image, then drag the cursor slightly towards the lower right corner of the image, no left click

TAB to the Width field and input a value of 12000.

TAB to the Height field and input 12000, press enter. The PPI will default to a specific value.

The width and height ratio shown above provides an approximate PPI scale of the intended sketch.

This action inserts the image into the workspace so the conceptual sketch can be created using approximate lengths and angles. Use the Zoom Extents tool to view the entire drawing.

Invisible Line Pattern

Applying an Invisible Border

The image has been inserted onto the Layer 0. The default line pattern for this can be changed to ‘invisible’ so as to remove the border of the image.

Double click onto the newly inserted image, then select the Pen options at the left of the dialog box.

Scroll down the Pattern options until the style for ‘$Invisible’ is found. Select this style then click OK to close the dialog box.

Changing the properties of the line pattern to ‘invisible’

Press the keyboard ESC key to cancel the selection.

TAKE NOTE

The Line Pattern drop down at the top of the editor, shown below can also be used to change the style of a line. Refer to the Video Animation for this task for more information.

Setting the Line Pattern to ‘invisible’

The result is shown below.

Image inserted into the editor