Importing images from a CAD system

[Combs, Richard]

Gillian Flato wrote: 
 
> The hardware tech writers at my company use Solidworks 
> creations in their Frame docs. They told me that they don't 
> use the DXF file because they are so large. Our engineers 
> create them for 11 x 17 paper. They always convert the DXF 
> file to a high-res JPEG and then import to Frame and scale it 
> down. So yes, they lose the vector. 

Your hardware tech writers are -- how shall I put this? -- graphically
challenged. They convert a *scaleable_vector_drawing* into a bitmapped
image (and the worst possible format of bitmapped image for a line
drawing, the format they should use only for photos), and then they
*scale* the *bitmap*?? 

I don't work with CAD drawings, so I don't know much about this. I know
DXF files are ASCII text, so file size can be pretty big. But if file
size is really an issue, surely there are better solutions than
converting them to <shudder /> JPEGs. 

Richard


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Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
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rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
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