Typing vector text over poor quality raster text

When the text on your raster image is simply too poor quality to convert to vector text using Scan2CAD's OCR, the easiest way to convert it is to type new vector text over it.

To do this, we suggest you vectorize the drawing in the normal way. Then, for each piece of text, delete the unwanted vectors that have been recognized over it and type the new vector text. Once you've typed the new text, you may need to edit it, change its size or move it. Finally, you may want to erase the raster text beneath.

Erasing unwanted vectors

Typing new vector text

Editing vector text
Changing vector text size
Moving vector text

Erasing the raster text beneath

Erasing unwanted vectors

Suppose you've vectorized a drawing that contains poor quality raster text:

The text will vectorize to lots of short vectors:

Before you can type new, clean vector text over the raster text, you need to delete the unwanted vectors. To do this:

  1. Ensure the Vector Edit, Erase and Area Icons are selected:

    If they're not, select them by clicking on them.

  2. Drag a box around the area of vectors you want to erase:

    It doesn't matter that the raster text is also enclosed within the box. As you are in Vector Edit mode, only the vectors will be deleted.

Typing new vector text

  1. Ensure the Vector Edit, Draw and Text Icons are selected:

    If they're not, select them by clicking on them.

  2. Click at the bottom left of the raster text you want to write over:

    The Vector Text Edit dialog appears. If it appears partially over the raster text you want to write over, drag it out of the way.

  3. Type the text into the dialog.

  4. Press [Enter] or click OK to exit the dialog.

    The vector text you have typed appears over the raster text:

Editing vector text

  1. Ensure the Vector Edit, Draw and Text Icons are selected:

    If they're not, select them by clicking on them.

  2. Click on the text you want to edit. The Vector Text Edit dialog appears.
  3. Edit the text in the dialog.
  4. Press [Enter] or click OK to exit the dialog.

Changing vector text size

  1. Ensure the Vector Edit, Draw and Text Icons are selected:

    If they're not, select them by clicking on them.

  2. Click on the text you want to change the size of. The Vector Text Edit dialog appears.
  3. Edit the Height value in the dialog.
  4. Press [Enter] or click OK to exit the dialog.

Moving vector text

  1. Ensure the Vector Edit and Move Grab Point Icons are selected:

    If they're not, select them by clicking on them.

  2. If grab points are off, press G on your keyboard to turn them on. Pressing G toggles grab points on and off. If you need to make the grab points bigger so you can see them better go to the View Menu and choose Grab Point Size.

    Grab points OFF:

    Grab points ON:

    The text's grab point is the gray box at the bottom left.

  3. Position the cursor over the text's grab point and drag the text to its new position.

    If the text doesn't move, try increasing the Grab Snap Distance. You can do this by pressing the Period key on your keyboard (also marked >) or by using Vector Edit > Grab Snap Distance.

Erasing the raster text beneath

  1. Ensure the Raster Edit, Erase and Area Icons are selected:

    If they're not, select them by clicking on them.

  2. Drag a box around the raster text you want to erase:

    It doesn't matter if your newly-typed vector text is also enclosed within the box. As you are in Raster Edit mode, only the raster text will be deleted although initially it will look as though the vector text has been deleted as well.

  3. Press B on your keyboard or click on the View Both Icon to re-display the vector text:

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