WiseImage 6.0 for AutoCAD
Tutorial
with Screenshots, Demos and Samples
This tutorial provides a series of practical examples, which look at the most
important features of WiseImage Pro 6.0 for AutoCAD. At the end of each
exercise we refer you to the appropriate section of the Quick Start guide, which
will provide a brief description of those features just covered. We recommend you
complete all exercises from this tutorial in conjunction with the Quick Start
guide. Note that this tutorial does not contain information on all WiseImage for
AutoCAD commands, settings, and features.
1
Getting started ----------------------------------------------------- 4
Loading a Raster File -------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Scanning with WiseImage --------------------------------------------------------- 4
Loading Raster Images ------------------------------------------------------------ 4
Creating New Raster Images ------------------------------------------------------ 4
Saving raster images -------------------------------------------------------------- 4
AutoCAD Save---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Raster Snap ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5
Tuning the raster snap ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Lesson 1. Enhancing raster images ------------------------------ 6
Speckle Remover ------------------------------------------------------------------ 6
Four point correction--------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Separating by size ----------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Deskewing-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Smoothing-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Lesson 2. Setting UCS, eliminating distortions using
calibration--------------------------------------------------------- 11
Setting a new origin -------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Calibrating raster images --------------------------------------------------------- 11
Define real points ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
Specify measured points -------------------------------------------------------------------------12
Saving the Document ------------------------------------------------------------- 12
Lesson 3. Correction and Binarization of Color Images ------ 13
Correcting a color image by histogram ------------------------------------------ 13
Binarizing a color image ---------------------------------------------------------- 13
Improving the monochrome layer obtained after binarization ----------------- 14
Thinning --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
Lesson 4. Raster selection -------------------------------------- 16
Information------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16
Raster selection ------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Lesson 5. Editing Raster Images ------------------------------- 22
Editing raster objects ------------------------------------------------------------- 22
Using tracing for editing ---------------------------------------------------------- 24
Method 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24
Method 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
Rasterizing vector objects -------------------------------------------------------- 25
Lesson 6. Editing raster data using AutoCAD commands ---- 26
Move the Raster data ------------------------------------------------------------- 26
Mirror the Raster data ------------------------------------------------------------ 27
Copy the Raster data ------------------------------------------------------------- 27
Rotate the Raster data------------------------------------------------------------ 28
Create an array of the Raster data----------------------------------------------- 28
Stretch the Raster data ----------------------------------------------------------- 28
Lesson 7. Tracing------------------------------------------------- 30
Tracing lines, arcs, circles and hatches ------------------------------------------ 30
2
Tracing polylines ------------------------------------------------------------------ 32
Tracing polylines with orthogonal segments------------------------------------- 33
Tracing raster outlines ------------------------------------------------------------ 34
Tracing raster symbols ----------------------------------------------------------- 35
Training the program to recognize symbols -----------------------------------------------------35
Tuning tracing parameters & tracing ------------------------------------------------------------36
Tracing color raster images ------------------------------------------------------ 37
Tracing raster polylines on a color image -------------------------------------------------------37
Lesson 8. Automatic Vectorization ----------------------------- 38
Tuning vectorization -------------------------------------------------------------- 38
How to specify the types of entities to recognize -----------------------------------------------38
Setting the geometry of the image --------------------------------------------------------------38
Separating vector objects by width to different layers and colors -----------------------------40
Tuning text recognition---------------------------------------------------------------------------40
Saving vectorization settings for future use-----------------------------------------------------41
Running Vectorization ------------------------------------------------------------ 41
Correcting vectorization results -------------------------------------------------- 42
Correcting recognized texts ----------------------------------------------------------------------42
Lesson 9. Symbol Recognition in Automatic Vectorization -- 43
Training to recognize symbols---------------------------------------------------- 43
Tuning vectorization parameters ------------------------------------------------- 43
Running vectorization------------------------------------------------------------- 44
Lesson 10. Search and Replace --------------------------------- 45
How to search for vector objects and replace them with other vector objects 45
How to search for raster objects and replace them with vector objects ------- 46
3
Getting started
During this introduction you will gain the basic knowledge required to work with WiseImage for
AutoCAD – using WiseImage commands, loading and saving raster files, using the running Raster
Snap and Snap on Demand.
Loading a Raster File
You can load an existing raster image, create new ones and scan raster images directly into the
program.
Scanning with WiseImage
You can scan directly into AutoCAD with WiseImage, if you are using a CONTEX scanner or a
scanner with a TWAIN-driver.
If several supported scanners are installed, choose one with the Select Source command from
the rFile menu, then start the Acquire command. The subsequent dialog will depend on what
scanner and driver version you have.
Loading Raster Images
In AutoCAD 2000/2000i/2002/2004 you can use the AutoCAD command - ImageAttach - or
choose Raster Image from the Insert menu.
In AutoCAD LT2000/2000i/2002/2004 you must use the rOpen command of WiseImage instead.
Creating New Raster Images
To create a new raster image choose New from the rFile menu and specify its properties, such as
size, type, resolution, etc.
Saving raster images
To save a raster image, use the rSave or rSaveAs commands.
AutoCAD Save
The AutoCAD Save or SaveAs command creates a DWG-file (or saves changes to an existing
file), which includes one or several links to the raster files in use. The Insert menu command –
Image Manager displays a list of all raster images, including the name and path of the
corresponding raster file. If you have created a new raster image or modified an existing raster
file with WiseImage you will be asked you if this image should be saved to a file.
4
Raster Snap
WiseImage allows you to snap to characteristic points of
raster objects.
To turn on raster snap, from the rImage menu choose
Snap and then Raster Snap On. You can also use
running snap and snap on demand modes.
Running Raster Snap uses the same settings from Object
snap as AutoCAD Vector Snap.
You can choose Raster Snap on demand by right-clicking
with the Ctrl key pressed.
Tuning the raster snap
IMPORTANT: Raster snap quality is influenced by your image quality.
You can tune raster snap using the R2V Conversion Options dialog box.
Choose Conversion Options from the rConvert menu and go to the Options tab.
Specify the following values:
Max Width – the maximum width of a raster
object, whose characteristic points you want to
snap to. (The value of this parameter should be
slightly greater than the maximum width of the
raster line.)
Accuracy – a parameter corresponding to your
raster image quality. Use higher values for
images of good quality and lower values for
images of poor quality.
5
Lesson 1. Enhancing raster images
During this lesson you will learn ways of enhancing raster images. Using examples, you’ll find out
how to remove speckles from a raster image, separate an image by size, apply the Smoothing
filter, deskew a scanned image and apply four-point correction.
Speckle Remover
Create a new AutoCAD drawing.
Using the Open command from the rFile menu, load the Sample1.tif file from the Lesson_1
folder.
To enhance the raster image let’s apply the Speckle Remover filter, then four-point correction to
eliminate the distortions.
• To remove speckles choose Speckle
Remover from the Filters menu.
Estimate the max speckle size on screen
(using the measure tool ).
To help select a speckle, use Zoom and Pan
(see the commands of the View menu).
• Click Apply.
Fig.1-1 The original document Fig. 1-2 After removing speckles
Four point correction
• To eliminate distortions choose 4 point
Correction from the Image menu.
Specify the frame size in the Width (265 mm)
and Height (180 mm) fields.
• Press the Measure Frame button and
specify the four corners of the document frame
one by one.
• Press OK.
6
Fig. 1-3 Specifying 4 frame corners Fig. 1-4 After 4-point correction
• Save the corrected image using Save or Save As from the rFile menu.
• As you have applied all required operations to this image, you can now:
o Erase the saved image. To do this, you need to select it by clicking on the frame with
the cursor, and then press Erase.
o Unload the image using AutoCAD Image Manager. To open Image Manager, choose
Image Manager from the Insert menu. Select the image from the list, and then press
Detach.
o Close the AutoCAD document (with or without saving it); to save the document choose
Save or Save As from the rFile menu.
View Speckle Remover and 4 point Correction demo
Separating by size
When applying the Speckle Remover filter, you can accidentally remove small important objects,
whose size is close to the speckle size. If this happens, an alternative is to use the operation of
separating raster particles by size. The principle of this operation is similar to speckle removing,
except speckles are not removed but transferred to a new raster image.
Create a new AutoCAD drawing (if you have closed the previous one).
Choose Open from the File menu. Open the Sample2.tif file from the Lesson_1 folder.
• To separate the speckles from the raster image
choose Separation by Size from the Images
menu.
Estimate the max speckle size on screen (using the
measure tool ).
• Choose a color and (if needed) a name for the new
image that you want to transfer the raster speckles
to.
• Click Apply.
7
Fig.1-5 Original document Fig.1-6 After separation
In figure 2 one of the centerline fragments that were incorrectly
transferred to the speckle layer, is marked with an arrow.
Perform the following actions to bring the fragments back to the
original image:
Select the fragments that were incorrectly transferred to the speckle layer.
• On the Raster Select toolbar press the Add
button (to add data to the selection).
• In this example, it is best to select the raster
fragments using the tool - Select Raster
Floodfill - press the corresponding
button on the Raster Select toolbar.
• In the Select Image dialog select the
checkbox for the image containing the
speckles. Press OK.
• Use the mouse cursor to specify
the particles to be transferred
back to the original layer.
• Choose Merge from the rEdit menu. The selected
particles will be merged with the original layer.
• You can unload the speckle image using, for example, AutoCAD Image Manager. Choose
Image Manager from the Insert menu, then select the speckle image from the list and press
Detach.
Deskewing
To deskew the image with automatic definition of the rotation angle, choose Deskew from the
rImage menu, and then select Auto.
8
Fig.1-7 Before deskewing Fig.1-8 After deskewing
• Save the raster image and close it as described above on page 7.
View Separation & Deskew demo
Smoothing
Create a new AutoCAD drawing.
Choose Open from the File menu. Open the Sample3.tif file from the Lesson_1 folder.
• Choose the
Smoothing filter
from the Filters
menu.
Use the sliders –
Medianing &
Threshold – to
achieve the best
results in the preview
window.
INFORMATION: You can change the position of the preview window using the Preview Area
button located on the WiseImage toolbar.
Fig.1-9 Before applying Smoothing Fig.1-10 After applying Smoothing
• Save and close the raster image as described above on page 7.
9
View Smoothing demo
INFORMATION: For detailed information on enhancing raster images see the section Enhancing
Scanned Images of the Quick Start guide.
10
Lesson 2. Setting UCS, eliminating distortions using calibration
During this lesson you will learn how to set up a User Coordinate System (UCS), and eliminate
distortions of a raster image using calibration.
Setting a new origin
Choose Open from the AutoCAD File menu. Open the utrecht.dwg file from the Lesson_2-3
folder.
Specify the coordinate of the bottom-left grid node on the
raster image.
• From the AutoCAD Tools menu choose New UCS, and
then Origin.
• Use the cursor to specify the bottom-left grid node.
Calibrating raster images
Calibration is used to eliminate arbitrary (both linear and non-linear) distortions of raster images.
The original image must contain points with known coordinates. These points are called real
points. You can use the nodes of a rectangular grid as real points (if you work with mapping
materials) and/or other points, whose coordinates are known or can be calculated.
The points that correspond to the real ones on the distorted image, are often located with some
displacement. These points are called measured points, as their coordinate value can be
measured on the raster image.
The purpose of calibration is to transform the raster image so that the measured points
coincide with the real points.
Define real points
You can use the rectangular grid nodes as real points on this image.
A grid is defined by three parameters: start point (coordinates of bottom-left node), cell size (by X
and Y axis), and grid size (by X and Y axis).
Define the calibration grid:
• From the rImage menu choose Calibration and then –
Define Grid button.
• In the Calibration Grid dialog specify:
Origin – coordinates of the bottom-left node – 0,0
Cell –cell size: X-size-32, Y-size-32
Size –grid size: X-cell-2, Y-cell-2
• Press the Preview button to make sure the grid was
defined correctly.
• Press OK
11
Specify measured points
• Press the Next Point button of the Calibration
dialog. WiseImage places the first point from the list
in the screen center (point 1) and highlights it with
grips.
• Move the grips to the grid node on the scanned image
(in point 2) – in doing so you specify the measured
point.
• Press N (next) to move to the next calibration pair. (P
(previous) – to move to the previous one). Specify the
measured points for all real points from the list.
1 2
Choose a calibration method
• From the combo-box of Calibration Method select
Choose automatically or, if needed, another
calibration method from the list. Evaluate the error of
the selected method by pressing the Estimate
button.
• Press Apply.
Saving the Document
• You can save the calibrated image by choosing Save or Save As from the rFile menu.
• You can save the AutoCAD document with the calibrated image using Save or Save As from
the File menu.
View Calibration demo
INFORMATION: For detailed information on this subject see the corresponding sections of the
Quick Start guide.
12
Lesson 3. Correction and Binarization of Color Images
During this lesson you will learn how to correct color images by histogram, binarize a color image
and correct binarization results.
Correcting a color image by histogram
Using correction by histogram you can tune the image brightness, hue and contrast. You can
apply automatic correction by histogram or tune the parameters manually.
Choose Open from the File menu. Open the utrecht.dwg file, created during the previous lesson
from the Lesson_2-3 folder
–or–
Open a new AutoCAD document – with the Open command from the rFile menu open the
Utrecht.tif document from Lesson_2-3 folder.
• Choose Equalize from the Image menu.
During this exercise we will use manual correction by histogram. To correct an image manually
you need to specify three values: lightest and darkest levels and image gamma (which defines the
position of the middle brightness value relative to the current threshold values) – for each channel
or for Master channel.
• In the Equalize dialog box choose Master from
the Channel list.
• The lightest level is set using the light
eyedropper , with which you can specify the
colours to turn white. (click on one of the
darkest pixels in the white part of the image).
All pixels that are lighter that the specified
value, will turn white.
• The darkest level is set using the dark
eyedropper , with which you can specify the
colours to turn black. (click on one of the
lightest pixels in the black letters).
All pixels that are darker than the specified
value will turn black.
• Move the middle marker of the Histogram (setting the image gamma) to obtain the best result
in the preview window.
Moving the middle slider to the left increases the gamma value; the image becomes lighter.
Moving the middle slider to the right reduces the gamma value; the image becomes darker.
• When you achieve a result you are happy with in the Preview window, press the Apply button.
Binarizing a color image
Binarization allows you to extract pixels of specified colors (or colors close to them) to a
monochrome layer. To do this, you need to specify colors on the original image to transfer to
another layer.
13
During this exercise we use binarization to obtain a monochrome layer of roads, which are yellow
on this image.
• Choose Binarization from the rImage menu.
• Choose the binarization method – Range; Open
the Range tab in the Binarization dialog.
• Chose a range method – by HSV and channel –
Hue in the corresponding lists of the Range tab.
• Specify a Layer and its color on which the new
monochrome image will be placed.
• Using one of these
eyedroppers
specify a range of colors
that form the roads; these
colors are added to the
Colors list. The estimated
binarization results are
shown in the preview
window.
INFORMATION: The first
eyedropper is used for
specifying a color for a specified
pixel, the second eyedropper is
used for specifying the
averaged color of all pixels
adjacent to the specified by
you; the third eyedropper is
used for specifying the
averaged color of pixels
contained within a polygon
defined by you.
• You can delete incorrectly selected colors by pressing the Delete button.
• Tune the results using the sliders located in Ranges.
• You can delete small speckles that appear using the Noise Reduction slider – move it
towards the right, and observe the changes in the Preview window.
• When you achieve satisfactory results in the Preview window, press Apply.
• You can save the binarization template for future use. To do this, press the Template button,
choose Save, and in the Save template File dialog specify a name and location, and then
press the Save button.
Improving the monochrome layer obtained after binarization
To improve the monochrome layer obtained after binarization, you can apply some of the
WiseImage tools for enhancing monochrome images.
Let’s apply the Hole Remover and Smoothing filters to correct text areas.
To make this operation easier, turn off the visibility of the AutoCAD layer that contains the color
image.
Hole Remover
14
• Choose Hole Remover from the Filters
menu.
• Clear the Auto estimating checkbox,
then press the Measure Max Size
button and specify the largest hole on the
image.
• Press Apply.
Smoothing
• Choose Smoothing from the
Filters menu.
• Using the sliders – Medianning &
Threshold – achieve the best
result in the Preview window.
• Press OK.
Before applying Smoothing After applying Smoothing
Thinning
If needed, you can apply the Thinning filter
to make the obtained roads thinner.
• Choose Thinning from the Filters menu.
• Specify Number of Passes = 1.
• Press OK.
View Color Tools demo
INFORMATION: For detailed information on these subjects see the following sections of the
Quick Start guide: Correction by histogram, Separating color and greyscale images to
monochrome layers, Filtering Monochrome Images.
15
Lesson 4. Raster selection
To perform operations such as modifying an object’s properties, you first need to select data to
apply commands to. During this lesson you will learn how to select raster, vector and hybrid data
for further editing.
Information
When selecting data, you must define these three selection parameters:
• Selection type – raster objects or area selection
Use object selection, if you want to edit the properties of a selected object or modify it using
grips.
In all other cases it is better to use area selection.
• selection mode – add data to selection, remove from selection or single selection
• selection method
The selection tools are located on the Select and More Select toolbars.
• Selection type – raster objects or area selection.
On the Select toolbar press the appropriate button to select:
Object selection (raster objects with “grips”)
Area selection (the result – area selection)
• Selection mode – add data to selection, remove from selection, or single selection
On the Select toolbar press the appropriate button to:
Add data to selection
Remove from selection
Single selection (every new selection deselects previously selected data)
Deselect all selected raster data
• Selection methods
Inside window
or polygon
The result always represents raster area selection
Isolated data by
picking
The result always represents raster area selection
Raster objects
(lines, arcs,
circles)
With the Enable Raster Object Producing button
pressed, the result represents raster objects with
“grips”
16
Raster objects
(lines, arcs,
circles)
With the Disable Raster Object Producing button
pressed, the result represents raster area
selection
Raster
segments
The result always represents raster area
selection
Segment – means a raster line of arbitrary shape, limited by intersection
points with other raster lines or endpoints.
Isolated raster
fragments
The result always represents raster area selection
Raster selection
Choose Open from the rFile menu. Open the Selection.cws document from the Lesson_4
folder.
To tune the selection parameters, choose
Conversion Options from the rConvert
menu. Then open the Options tab from the
R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• Measure the width of a
raster line using the
Measure Value ruler,
located near the Max
Width field.
Set the value of Max Width slightly greater
than the measured width (i.e. if the
measurement result is equal to 1.35 – enter
1.5 in the Max.Width field).
• Set the Approximation Accuracy slider to the Low position.
• Press OK.
17
Select the raster circle by picking.
• Press the Select Raster Object Auto button.
• The Select Single & Enable Raster Object
Production modes are usually used by default –
so in this example, you do not need to press the
appropriate buttons.
• Complete the command by pressing Enter and
click on the selection – the selected circle will
obtain “grips”.
• Open the AutoCAD Properties toolbar.
• Change the line width in the Width field.
• Change the line radius in the Radius field.
• Change the coordinates of the circle center in the
Center X field.
• Unselect the circle by pressing the Unselect All
button on the Select toolbar.
Select fragments of the raster line and circle using
Forced Selection.
• Press the Select Add button (to add data)
• Press the Select Raster Line button, and then
select several fragments of the raster lines by
specifying two points on each line (start & end
points).
• Press the Select Raster Arc, and then select the
raster arc by three points (start, middle & end)
• Complete the command by pressing Enter and
click on the selection – the selected objects will
obtain “grips”.
18
To obtain area selection when selecting the circle,
press these buttons on the Select toolbar:
• Select Raster Object Auto
• Disable Raster Object Production
• Select Single (usually used by default)
• Specify the circle by clicking it with the cursor.
Select the raster dimension lines.
• Press the Select Raster Fence button (with
object type recognition), and then cross all the
raster objects to select.
• The Select Single with Enable Raster Object
Production mode is usually used by default – so
in this example, you do not need to press the
appropriate buttons.
• Complete the command by pressing Enter and
click on the selection – the selected lines will
obtain “grips”.
NOTE: In the above example, you can modify the properties
of objects or apply commands to all selected objects at once.
If you want to work with each selected object separately:
• Open the AutoCAD Options toolbar by choosing Options
from the Tools menu
• Open the WiseImage Pro tab
• Clear the Selection grouping checkbox in the
Additional settings section.
Now, you can modify properties and apply
commands separately for each object included in the
selection.
19
Select raster data with crossing window.
• Press the Select Raster Cross Window button
(with object type recognition), and specify a
window on screen by two points.
• You can use either Enable Raster Object
Production, or Disable Raster Object
Production.
TIP: Having selected a group of objects, if you now
want to deselect some of them, we recommended
you use area selection – press the Disable Raster
Object Production button.
Select raster objects inside window
• Press the Select Raster Inside Window button
(with object type recognition), and then specify
a window on the screen using two points.
• You can use either Enable Raster Object
Production, or Disable Raster Object
Production.
• You can use either Select Single or Select Add
mode.
Select isolated raster objects (texts) inside window
• Press the Select Raster Inside Window
(floodfill) button on the More Raster Select
toolbar, and then specify a window on the screen
using two points.
Choose Open from the rFile menu, and load the
Selection2.tif file from the Lesson_4 folder:
Select raster lines of arbitrary shape by fence
• Press the Select Raster Fence (linefollow)
button on the More Raster Select toolbar.
• As the document now comprises two raster
images, the Select Image dialog appears, and
you need to specify the image on which to select
data. Select the checkbox for Selection2 and
press OK.
20
• Cross the curves to select with a fence.
• Complete the command by pressing Enter.
TIP: If you want to add other segments of the
polyline to the selection, press the Select Add
button on the Select toolbar, and repeat the
selection process.
TIP: If you want make the selection faster – delete
coordinate lines first and then repeat the selection
process.
View Raster Selection demo
INFORMATION: For more detailed information on this subject see the section Raster
Selections of the Quick Start guide.
21
Lesson 5. Editing Raster Images
During this lesson you will learn about the different methods of editing raster images within
WiseImage. We also take a look at using the Tracing operation as a means of editing a raster
image.
Let’s look at this example of modifying a section of the raster image.
Before editing the raster image After editing the raster image
Editing raster objects
Choose Open from the File menu. Open the Image.dwg file from the Lesson_5 folder.
• Select the raster circle. Complete the
command by pressing Enter and clicking on
the selection – the selected circle will obtain
“grips”.
• Open the Properties dialog (choose
Properties from the Tools menu)
In the corresponding fields of the Properties
dialog:
Change the radius from 9.16 to 7 mm.
Change the line width to 0.6 mm.
22
• Select the line and move it to the new
position, as shown.
• Do the same for the second line, so that it
touches the opposite side of the circle.
When executing these operations you can use
the snap on demand function to snap to the
raster objects.
INFORMATION: To turn on running snap (to snap to raster):
• From the rImage menu, choose Snap and then Raster Snap On;
select Running Snap in the Object Snap tab of the Drafting Settings dialog of AutoCAD
To turn on snap on demand to the raster:
• Simultaneously press Ctrl and the right mouse button, and choose Raster Snap from the list.
• Select the arc, using forced selection of arc by three
points. Move and stretch it by grips.
• Select the next line and move it, as shown.
23
• Select the highlighted lines one by one and, using
the grips, stretch them to the circle edge.
Using tracing for editing
Method 1
As a result of the modifications to the circle &
surrounding lines, the hatch needs repair. To
correct the hatch you can trace it in Smooth
Raster mode.
• Open the Raster To Vector toolbar, press
the Trace hatch and Smooth Raster
buttons. Before tracing After tracing
• Cross the hatch lines by fence. Click to
complete the operation.
24
Method 2
If you want to control the properties of a traced hatch you
can use:
• Make Vector and Erase Raster mode.
Press the Trace hatch and Make Vector and Erase
Raster buttons on the Raster To Vector toolbar. Now
cross the hatch by fence again.
• You can select the vector hatch, and then edit it using
AutoCAD’s Properties dialog.
If needed, you can rasterize the edited vector hatch.
Rasterizing vector objects
To rasterize vector objects:
• Choose V2R Options from the rConvert menu.
• Choose the color of your on screen vectors from the list,
and in the Line Width box assign a width for the line
when converted to raster.
• Press OK.
• Choose the vector hatch.
• Choose Vector to Raster from the rConvert menu.
View Edit Raster demo
INFORMATION: For detailed information on these subjects see the following sections of the
Quick Start guide: Editing data selected with object selection methods, Raster snap,
Tracing, and Rasterizing Vector Data.
25
Lesson 6. Editing raster data using AutoCAD commands
During this lesson you will learn how to use AutoCAD commands to edit raster data.
Choose Open from the File menu. Open the Raster_Edit.dwg document from the Lesson_6
folder.
Select the object as shown in the picture using the
inside window tool.
• Open the Raster Select toolbar.
• Press the buttons Select Raster Inside
Window (object type recognition) and Select
Add.
• Outline the object with a rectangle as shown in
the picture.
TIP: When performing the commands described below you can use running snap or Snap on
demand. See page 23 for information.
TIP: After performing each command described below return the document to the initial state
using the UNDO command of AutoCAD.
Move the Raster data
• Open the Modify toolbar of AutoCAD, and then choose
Move.
• Select the object to move – click on the frame of the
selected detail.
• Specify the base point of displacement.
• Specify the second point of displacement.
• To deselect press the Unselect all button on the
Raster Select toolbar.
26
Mirror the Raster data
• Select the raster detail as described above.
• Press the Mirror button on the AutoCAD’s Modify
toolbar.
• Select the object to Mirror – click on the frame of the
selected detail.
• Specify two points of the mirror line.
• Specify whether the source object should be kept or
deleted.
• To deselect, press the Unselect all button on the
Raster Select toolbar.
Copy the Raster data
• Select the raster detail as described above.
• Press the Copy button on the Modify
toolbar of AutoCAD.
• Specify the base point of displacement (you
may choose multiple points).
• Specify the second point of displacement.
To deselect the initial selected object, press the
Unselect all button on the Raster Select
toolbar.
To merge the objects created by copying –
select them, click on their frame(s), and then
run Merge from the rImage menu.
27
Rotate the Raster data
• Select the raster detail as
described above.
• Press the Rotate
button on the Modify
toolbar of AutoCAD.
• Specify the base point.
• Specify the rotation angle
equal to 900
• Move the selection to a new
position.
To deselect the original object,
press the Unselect all button
on the Raster Select
toolbar.
Create an array of the Raster data
• Select the raster detail as described
above.
• Press the Array button on the
Modify toolbar of AutoCAD.
• Define the array type – rectangular or
polar.
• Set the other characteristics of the array
by following the AutoCAD command
line.
To deselect the initial object, press the Unselect all button on the Raster Select toolbar.
To merge the objects created by copying – select them, then click on their frame(s), and then run
Merge from the rImage menu.
Stretch the Raster data
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• Select the three raster lines indicated in the first picture. Press the Select Raster Object Auto
button, in Select Add mode, and specify the lines on the screen one by one.
• Press the Stretch button on the Modify toolbar of AutoCAD.
• Select the objects to stretch by AutoCAD Crossing Window, as shown in picture 2 (the outermost
points of the diagonal lines should be located outside the rectangle).
• Specify the base point of displacement.
• Specify the second point of displacement.
To deselect the original object, press the Unselect all button on the Raster Select toolbar.
View AutoCAD Edit demo
29
Lesson 7. Tracing
During this lesson you will learn about tracing modes and commands, how to use the Trace
operation for editing raster images and tracing raster symbols and scanned color images.
Create a new AutoCAD drawing.
Using the Open command from the rFile menu load the Trace_1.tif document from the
Lesson_7 folder.
Tracing lines, arcs, circles and hatches
Let’s use Image 1 to try out tracing of raster lines, circles and hatches.
Before tracing you need to tune the tracing parameters. Choose Conversion Options from the
Convert menu.
Define Max.Width. Using
the Measure Value button
measure the width of the
widest trace line.
Set this parameter value slightly greater than
the measured width (e.g. if the measured width
is 1.35, increase this value to 1.5 in the
Max.Width field).
Set the Accuracy slider to Low.
Set orthogonalization mode for vector lines –
select the Orthogonalization checkbox, and in
the Base Angle field specify 00.
Set separation of vector objects by color and width – for example, thin raster lines are to be
traced with red vector lines with a width of – 0.5mm, and thick raster lines – with blue vector
lines with a width of – 1mm.
INFORMATION: To implement such separation you need to know raster lines widths – you can
measure them using the above mentioned Measure button. In this example, the width of thin
lines is equal to 0.25mm, thick lines – 1.35mm.
Open the Separate tab. In the End field
you see a value of 1.5 – i.e. the
maximum width of raster lines, specified
by you in the Max.Width field of the
Options field.
Divide this interval into two, for example,
from 0 to 1mm, and from 1mm to
1.5mm.
To do this, enter ‘1’ in the text field, and
press the New Interval button. The
original interval will be separated into
two new intervals.
In the Width field specify the width for the vector objects created from tracing raster lines whose
widths belong to the interval, limited by the values in the Start and End fields.
Specify the width for vector objects equal to 0.5 for the first interval, and 1 for the second.
In the Color field, redefine the color of resulting vector objects: red – for the first interval, blue –
for the second.
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Open the Raster To Vector toolbar.
Choose the tracing mode – Make Vector and Erase
Raster by pressing the Make Vector and Erase
Raster button.
You can trace the centerlines with automatic
definition of the object type – press the
Trace Auto button, and then specify with the
cursor the centerlines one by one.
To trace the hatch press the Trace Hatch
button, and then cross all hatch lines by fence.
Change the tracing mode – press the Make Vector
and Keep Raster button.
Press the Trace Auto button, and then specify with
the cursor the smaller circle, and the two remaining
raster lines inside the circle.
It is better to trace the two large circles using the
Forced circle trace method – press the Trace Circle
button, and then specify two opposite points on the
first circle and then do the same for the second circle.
View Tracing demo
31
Tracing polylines
Create a new AutoCAD drawing.
Using the Open command from the rFile menu, load the Trace_2.tif document from the
Lesson_7 folder.
Before tracing you need to tune the tracing parameters. Choose Conversion Options from the
rConvert menu.
Open the Options tab.
Define the Max.Width
setting. Using the Measure
button, measure the width
of the thickest polyline. Set
the value of this parameter
slightly greater than the
measured width
(e.g. if the measured width is 0.59 – specify 0.8
in the Max.Width field).
Set the Accuracy slider to the High position.
With this set to high, the vector polyline will
match the raster curve as close as possible.
INFORMATION: You can place objects obtained as a result of tracing on a pre-defined layer
(using AutoCAD tools).
Create a new AutoCAD layer – Polylines, for example.
Open the Separate tab, and then choose
Polylines.
You can also specify a color for vector objects
in the Color field and a width in the Width
field.
Select the Use Table checkbox.
To estimate the tracing direction automatically,
select the Auto Detect Direction checkbox in
the Trace tab, and a waiting time in the
Pause field.
Open the Raster To Vector toolbar.
Choose a tracing mode – for example, Make
Vector and Keep Raster by pressing the Make
Vector and Keep Raster button, and a
tracing command – Line Following.
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Specify a point on the raster curve– the
program tracks this curve up to the nearest
intersection with another raster line, and then
indicates by a cross the most probable tracing
direction. If you are happy with the offered
direction, press the Space key (alternatively,
the program will continue tracing after the
pause expires).
If you are not happy with the direction suggested by the program, specify the right direction on
the screen.
To change the tracing direction, cancel the last step or segment, draw a freehand polyline
segment or pan to the center – use the right-button menu or the AutoCAD command line.
Tracing polylines with orthogonal segments
If you want to obtain a polyline with orthogonal segments:
• Open the Trace tab of the
R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• Select the Line Follow
Orthogonalization and Auto estimate
base angle checkboxes.
• See page 30 for information on tuning the
other tracing parameters.
Open the Raster To Vector toolbar.
Choose the tracing mode – for example, Make Vector and
Keep Raster by pressing the Make Vector and Keep
Raster button, and the tracing command– Line Following.
Specify points on the raster objects, which you want
to convert to vector polylines with orthogonal
segments.
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Tracing raster outlines
Let’s study how we trace raster outlines, using Image 3 of the Trace.cws file from the Lesson 7
folder.
Before tracing outlines you need to tune the tracing parameters. Choose Conversion Options
from the Convert menu.
• Open the Trace tab of the
R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• As we are going to trace contours with
orthogonal segments, select the Line
Follow Orthogonalization and
Auto estimate base angle checkboxes.
• Select the Auto Extend Vectors
checkbox – the program will consider the
width of the raster line that limits the
contour.
• Select the Export single contour
checkbox – the program will ignore the
contents of the closed contour.
• Open the Options tab of the
R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• Set the Max Break value equal to 0 mm
to prevent incorrect definition of the
contour border in cases where objects
inside the contour are located closely to
its border.
• Set the Approximation Accuracy slider
closer to the Low position to prevent the
program from creating segments by
mistake due to the variable line width.
• Open the Raster To Vector toolbar.
Choose a tracing mode – for example, Make Vector and Keep
Raster by pressing the Make Vector and Keep Raster
button, and the tracing command – Trace Outline.
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Click one by one the points inside the raster
contours, as shown.
View Tracing Polylines demo
Tracing raster symbols
Using the Open command from the File menu load the AutoCAD Trace_3.dwg document from
the Lesson_7 folder.
Raster symbols are recognized in accordance with
patterns stored in special template libraries. To recognise
a raster symbol, you need to create the corresponding
vector template. This can be done using vectorization,
tracing, or simply by drawing vector objects over the
raster symbol
In this example, vector templates have already been created with automatic vectorization. Vector
objects are grouped in blocks.
Training the program to recognize symbols
Select the first vector block.
• Run the Train Symbol command from the rConvert menu.
• Press the Create Symbol from selection button – the new
symbol will appear in the Train Symbol dialog.
• Press the Save As button of the Train Symbol dialog.
• Save the template with the name – tech_1.
INFORMATION: By default, templates are stored in the Shapes
folder. To save new symbols, you can create a new subfolder with
the name – Technology, for example.
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• Choose Create in the AutoCAD command line (do not close the
Train Symbol dialog)
• Select the next vector symbol.
• Press Enter to complete the selection command – the second
selected symbol will appear in the Train Symbol dialog.
• INPORTANT: Specify the connection lines for this symbol using
the Select connection lines button . (Connection lines are the
lines of variable length, with which a symbol is connected to other
objects).
• Press the Save As button of the Train Symbol dialog.
• Save the template with the name – tech_2.
• Repeat the same actions to train the program to recognize all other vector blocks, assigning
them the names tech_3, tech_4. Remember to specify any connection lines!
• Close the Train Symbol dialog.
Tuning tracing parameters & tracing
Choose Conversion Options from the rConvert menu.
• In the Recognition tab of the R2V Conversion
Options dialog select the checkbox next to Symbols.
• Open the Symbols tab of the R2V
Conversion Options dialog.
• Select the checkbox next to the newly
created group of symbols – Technology, or
for each individual symbol which is presented
in the scheme.
• Choose Strategy – Standard.
• Set the Accuracy slider to the Low position.
• Select the Fixed Scale checkbox; set the
scale equal to 1.
• Choose the orientation – Horizontal and
Vertical.
• Press OK.
• Open the Raster To Vector toolbar.
• Choose a tracing mode – for example, Make Vector and
Keep Raster by pressing the button Make Vector and
Keep Raster, and the tracing command –
Trace Symbol.
36
• Click once on each unit in the raster image.
Try to click on the central point of each raster element.
Tracing color raster images
Tracing raster polylines on a color image
Create a new AutoCAD drawing.
Using the Open command from the rFile menu, load the Trace_color.tif document from the
Lesson_7 folder.
Before tracing a polyline you need to tune the tracing parameters. Choose Conversion Options
from the rConvert menu.
See page 32 for information on tuning the parameters for tracing polylines.
However there are some differences when tracing color polylines:
• The Max.Width setting should be measured exactly on the color boundary of
a raster polyline. Set the value of this parameter slightly greater than the
measured width (i.e. if the measured width is 0.24 – enter 0.4 in the
Max.Width field).
• In the Separate tab, enter 0.2 in the Width field, and
select the checkboxes against the Width and
Use Table fields.
• Open the Raster To Vector toolbar.
Choose a tracing mode – for example, Make Vector and Keep
Raster by pressing the Make Vector and Keep Raster button,
and the tracing command – Line Following.
Tracing polylines on a color image is the same as tracing
polylines on a monochrome image; See page 33 for more
information.
INFORMATION: For detailed information on tracing see the Tracing section in the Quick Start
guide and also the corresponding sections of the User’s Guide.
37
Lesson 8. Automatic Vectorization
During this lesson you will learn how to tune vectorization and text recognition parameters, to
vectorize raster images according to these parameters, and correct vectorization results.
Tuning vectorization
Create a new AutoCAD drawing.
Using the Open command from the rFile menu open the Mech.tif file from the Lesson_8 folder.
You can use one of the pre-defined templates or tune the parameters yourself. During this lesson
you’ll tune the parameters yourself.
Automatic vectorization is tuned in the R2VConversion Options dialog. To open this dialog,
choose Conversion Options from the rConvert menu.
When tuning vectorization you need to specify the following parameters:
1. The types of raster entities to recognize.
2. The image geometry.
3. Whether you want to separate vectors onto different layers.
4. Text recognition parameters (if you use the OCR module – set word patterns for text
recognition).
How to specify the types of entities to recognize
• Open the Recognition tab of the R2V Convertion Options dialog.
• Select the entities, which you want to obtain after vectorization of the
loaded image – to do this, select the corresponding checkboxes.
The additional parameters for recognized objects, such as line type,
arrows, hatch angle, and others are located on the second level. Click on
“+” to get access to these parameters.
Specify the following types of entities to recognize on the image –
Sample1.tif:
Lines – Line types & Arrows (as there are different line types and
dimension lines with arrows in this image).
Arcs & Circles – Arrows (as there are dimension arcs with arrows
in this image).
Test Areas – OCR (as we intend to recognize texts using the OCR
module).
Hatches – 45º (as there are hatches with an angle of 45º in this
image).
Setting the geometry of the image
• Open the Options tab of the R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• Using the appropriate Measure buttons, specify:
38
Min Length – the minimum length of a raster object to be
recognized.
Max Width – the maximum width of raster lines. Set the value
of this parameter slightly greater than the measured line width
on your drawing.
Max Break – the maximum length of break in a raster line to be
ignored. Set the value of this parameter slightly greater than the
distance between dashes in dashed lines.
Text Height – Set the value for this parameter equal to the
maximum height of upper case raster text symbols.
Arrow size – the size of dimension arrows in your image.
Outline an arrow of average size with a rectangle, as shown in
the figure.
• Move the Accuracy slider to the Low position. This makes the vectorization procedure less
sensitive to the drawing errors.
• To make the lines orthogonal, select the Orthogonalization checkbox and set the value of
Base Angle to 0°.
The appearance of the Options tab after
tuning is complete.
39
Separating vector objects by width to different layers and colors
The criterion for separating vector objects to different layers and/or colors is the width of the
original raster lines. You can define widths of the resulting vector objects and separate them to
different layers and/or colors.
Let’s separate the resulting vector objects by width to different colors:
Specify a width of 0.5mm and the color red for vector objects produced from vectorizing raster
lines whose width is less than 0.8mm.
Specify a width of 1mm and the color blue for vector objects produced from vectorizing raster
lines whose width is more than 0.8mm.
• Open the Separate tab of the R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• Select the Use Table checkbox.
• Add a new separation interval by
entering 0.8 in the New Interval field
and pressing the button.
• Set the parameters for each interval:
In the Width field, enter a width of 0.5
for thin lines; and 1 for the thick lines;
In the Color field, select red for thin
lines and blue for thick lines.
• Select the checkboxes for each interval.
Tuning text recognition
WiseImage features various ways of handling raster texts – you can use either the built-in or
external OCR modules, recognize raster text areas, or replace raster text with vector polylines and
outlines.
In this example you will learn how to use the built-in OCR for recognizing text and creating the
corresponding text objects.
• In the Recognition tab, we have already selected the Text Areas checkbox and recognition
method – OCR, and in the Options tab, we have specified Text Height.
• Open the Texts tab of the R2V Conversion Options dialog.
• In the Orientation field choose Horizontal and Vertical from the list.
• Select the Standalone Letters checkbox, as they are presented in this example.
• Set patterns for recognizing text inscriptions, which are presented in the drawing:
Text Pattern Text Pattern
%D %1E
%D%1S %1S%D
2x%2D%1S M%2D
2x%D %E
40
• Enter the patterns one by one in the Patterns
field, and press the Add Pattern button
after each one. To help you, standard patterns
can be selected from the right-button menu.
If you enter a pattern incorrectly, choose it from
the list, and then press the Delete Pattern
button.
• Select the Patterns checkbox to use the
specified patterns when recognizing text.
• If you want to define the height for recognized
texts (e.g. 6mm) enter this value in the
Height Table field and select the corresponding
checkbox.
• Choose default.ocr from the Template File list.
• Select a special layer for recognized texts (e.g., Texts) in the Place to Layer field.
• Press OK to save the vectorization settings
Saving vectorization settings for future use
If you want to save the settings for future use press the Template button and choose
Save.
Specify a name for a template file in the File Name field of the Save Template File
dialog.
To load a previously saved template file, press the Template button, choose Load and
specify a file to open.
Running Vectorization
To run vectorization, choose Raster 2 Vector from the Convert menu.
Original raster drawing Vectorization result
41
Correcting vectorization results
Correcting recognized texts
To correct recognized text:
• Choose OCR Text Corrector from the
Convert menu.
• The first recognized text is displayed
on screen. Check it and correct it in
the OCR Text Corrector dialog, if
necessary.
• Use the four buttons located on the
left of the dialog to move between the
recognized texts.
• To change the text height and to correct its position, use the Height and Move
buttons.
• To accept the corrected text and move to the next one, press the Accept button.
To delete the recognized text, press the Delete button.
• When you have finished checking all texts, the following message will be displayed in the
AutoCAD command line:
’No more objects to correct. Command completed’.
View Auto Vectorization demo
42
Lesson 9. Symbol Recognition in Automatic Vectorization
During this lesson you will learn how to train WiseImage to recognize raster symbols when
vectorizing.
Choose Open from the File menu, and then open the Symbols.dwg file from the Lesson_9
folder.
Our task is to recognize units of the electric scheme when vectorizing – replacing them with the
corresponding vector blocks.
You need to train the program to recognize raster symbols.
Training to recognize symbols
To recognise a raster symbol, you need to create a corresponding vector template. In this
example we are going to use the existing vector blocks contained within the document as vector
templates.
• Select the first vector block.
• Run the Train Symbol command from the rConvert menu.
• Press the Create Symbol from selection button – the
selected vector symbol will appear in the Train Symbol dialog.
• IMPORTANT: Specify the connection lines for the symbol using
the Select connection lines button . (Connection lines are the
lines of variable length, with which a symbol is connected to other
objects).
• Press the Save As button of the Train Symbol dialog.
• Save the template with the name elec_1.
INFORMATION: By default templates are stored in the Shapes
folder, located in the program directory. To save new symbols you
can create a new sub-folder with the name, ‘Electr’ for example.
• Choose Create in the AutoCAD command line (do not close the Train Symbol dialog).
• Select the next vector symbol.
• Press Enter to complete the selection – the second selected block will appear in the Train
Symbol dialog.
• Repeat this procedure for all symbols contained in the document with the names - elec_2,
elec_3, elec_4, elec_5, elec_6, and elec_7.
• Close the Train Symbol dialog.
Tuning vectorization parameters
Choose Conversion Options from the rConvert menu. Note that the vectorization parameters
are already stored in the Symbols.dwg document file. So, in this example we are only going to
tune the symbol recognition.
To turn on symbol recognition, do the following:
43
• In the Recognition tab of the R2V Conversion
Options dialog select the Symbols checkbox.
• Open the Symbols tab of the R2V
Conversion Options dialog.
• Select the checkbox for the newly
created group of symbols Electr, or
for each individual symbol whose
raster representation is present on
the image.
• Set Strategy – Smart
• Set the Accuracy slider to the Low
position.
• Select Fixed Scale, and set the scale
equal to 1.
• In the Orientation field, specify
Horizontal and Vertical.
• Press OK.
Running vectorization
To run vectorization, choose Raster To Vector from the rConvert menu.
Original raster drawing Result of vectorization with symbol recognition
View Symbol Vectorization demo
INFORMATION For detailed information on these subjects see the section Working with raster
symbols in the Quick Start guide, and also the corresponding section of the User’s Guide.
44
Lesson 10. Search and Replace
During this lesson you will learn how to search for raster objects and replace them with other
raster and vector objects. You will also learn how to search for vector objects and replace them
with other vector objects.
How to search for vector objects and replace them with other vector objects
Choose the Open command from the File menu, and open the Search_Replace_V_V.dwg file
from the Lesson_10 folder.
Our task is to vectorize this image, and then replace the specified vector objects with different
ones.
Convert the raster image to the vector format using the vectorization procedure. This document
already contains pre-defined vectorization parameters, so all you need to do is choose
Raster To Vector from the rConvert menu.
Vectorised raster Draw a vector symbol for
image fragment replacement.
.
• Choose Search and Replace from the rEdit menu.
• From the Find What list of the Search and Replace
dialog, choose Vectors.
• Select the vector objects you want to replace (using the
AutoCAD selection tool – inside window).
• Press Enter when the selection is complete.
• If required, specify a new position of the Item Origin
– or –
press Enter
INFORMATION: During the search and replace process WiseImage matches the origins of the
replacing object and the replaced object.
You can specify any position for the origin of the replaced and/or replacing objects.
• The selected objects will appear in the Find What field of
the Search and Replace dialog.
• From the Replace With list of the Search and Replace
dialog, choose Vectors.
• Select an object, with which you want to replace the
original object (using the AutoCAD selection tools – specify
the previously created rectangle).
• Press Enter to complete the selection.
• If required, specify a new position for the Item Origin.
– or – press Enter
45
• The selected objects will appear in the Replace
With field of the Search and Replace dialog.
• Select the Erase checkbox– to erase the original
vector objects.
• Set the Accuracy slider to the middle position.
• Press the Replace All button.
After vectorizing raster image After search and replace
How to search for raster objects and replace them with vector objects
Choose Open from the File menu, and open the Search_Replace_R_V. dwg file from the
Lesson_10 folder.
Our task is to replace specified raster objects with vector objects.
In the top-left corner the search and replace objects are shown.
• Select the raster object, which you want to replace.
Use one of the WiseImage raster selection tools – We suggest using the
Select Raster FloodFill button , located on the Raster Select toolbar.
Click once anywhere on the object you want to replace.
• Choose Search and Replace from the rEdit menu.
• From the Find What list of the Search and Replace dialog, choose Raster Selection.
• If required, specify a new position for Item Origin – or – press Enter.
• The selected raster object will appear in the Find What field of the Search and Replace dialog.
46
• From the Replace With list of the Search and Replace dialog, choose
Vectors.
• Select the vector object, with which you want to replace the original raster
object (use the AutoCAD selection tools to select the block).
• Press Enter to complete the selection.
• If required, specify a new position for the Item Origin – or – press Enter.
• The selected vector object will appear in the Replace With field of the Search and Replace
dialog.
• Select the Erase checkbox– to erase the original
objects.
• Set the Accuracy slider to the middle position.
• If there is any raster selected in the document,
press the Unselect All button , located on the
Raster Select toolbar.
• Press Find – the program zooms to the first
symbol it finds to replace.
If necessary you can move the replacing object
(using the Move button ), change its scale
(using the Scale button ) or rotate it by an
arbitrary angle (using the Rotate button ).
• If you are happy with the position of the replacing
object, press the Replace button – the
program will move to the next symbol.
• If you want to replace all objects without editing
press the Replace All button .
Original raster image After search and replace
INFORMATION: For detailed information on this subject, see the Search and Replace section of
the Quick Start guide, and also the corresponding section of the User’s Guide.
47