6 Replies Latest reply on Oct 1, 2014 1:50 PM by Jared Andrews

Convert .pdf lines to sketch

Jared Andrews Sep 30, 2014 9:45 AM

Is there a way to import a .pdf file and convert the lines to a sketch? I was thinking i had seen this before but did not find it when i searched.

thanks

Re: Convert .pdf lines to sketch

CHAOFENG LI Sep 30, 2014 10:14 AM (in response to Jared Andrews)

Firstly save PDF file as JPG, then use "sketch picture" & "auto trace", if the resolution is high enough, you can get the sketch.
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Re: Convert .pdf lines to sketch

Eddie Pellegrin Sep 30, 2014 10:58 AM (in response to Jared Andrews)

Just in case you didn't know this, "Auto Trace" is an add-in and if it's not turned on, you will not see the arrow under the sketch picture command that leads to the "Auto Trace" feature.
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Re: Convert .pdf lines to sketch

Jamil Snead Sep 30, 2014 1:25 PM (in response to Jared Andrews)

If the pdf has vector lines you can use another program to convert it to a dxf. I use Inkscape, which is free. Then your import into SW is perfect.
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Re: Convert .pdf lines to sketch

Chris Dordoni Sep 30, 2014 1:27 PM (in response to Jared Andrews)

Inkscape (free) can import PDF files and export any vectors to DXF. Adobe Illustrator will do this too.
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Re: Convert .pdf lines to sketch

Deepak Gupta Sep 30, 2014 2:48 PM (in response to Jared Andrews)

Try Able2Extract to convert PDF into DXF and then import in SOLIDWORKS.
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Re: Convert .pdf lines to sketch

Jared Andrews Oct 1, 2014 1:50 PM (in response to Jared Andrews)

Thanks for all the responses, i realized the auto trace was on a .jpg not a .pdf was my confusion. i was able to make it work but it had a fair amount of extra lines or lines that did not follow

I tried Able2Extract and it converted some of the lines but not all. It may be because its a logo and some of it ended up hatched. Inkscape converted everything as i needed it done.

thanks again, all good methods i think depending on what you are doing
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