Scan2CAD raster to vector eNewsletter - September 2009

"Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery ... Today is a Gift ... which is why it's called the Present." - Bill Keane.

What's in this Newsletter

Current version

The current version of Scan2CAD is v7.6i.

If you are a registered user of Scan2CAD v7, you can upgrade to v7.6i free of charge - click here for more information.

If you are a registered user of Scan2CAD v6.1 or earlier, you can upgrade to v7.6i at the upgrade price - click here for more information.

You can see which version of Scan2CAD you have by going to the Help Menu then choosing About Scan2CAD.

Who's using it? - Scan2CAD aids in cutting shapes for marquetry

In his previous job as the senior designer for a big cabinet company, Bob Baldwin had always felt that there was room for more innovation in cabinet design. He is now pursuing his vision. With the help of Scan2CAD Bob is giving life to his own beautiful and unusual kitchen cabinet designs ...

Click here to read more.

Raster to Vector Agony Aunt

I (Andrea Tribe) have been involved with Scan2CAD since it was first released in 1995. During that time I've learnt that selling and supporting raster to vector conversion software is a constant exercise in education. People are trained to be engineers, to be architects, to use CAD software. But they are not often taught about raster images or how to scan a drawing. This can lead to disastrous raster to vector conversion results.

We've started a new website (blog - how I dislike that word!) which aims to provide helpful information about scanning, raster images, raster to vector conversion and related subjects so that those of you who need to do conversions will have the best possible chance of success. Some of the information will be general and will apply to any raster to vector converter. Some will be specifically about Scan2CAD.

The website is called Raster to Vector Auntie and is located at
http://www.rastertovector.com

A recent post is an interview with Jean Haney, co-founder and president of Visual Integrity. Visual Integrity is the developer of PDF2CAD software, which converts vector PDF files into CAD format. The interview can be found here.

Scanners4CAD - large format scanner news, views and buying advice

www.scanners4cad.com

The Scanners4CAD large format scanner comparison chart has been updated with the latest new scanner from Contex - the 24" XD2490, now the lowest priced large format scanner available.

Click here to receive the latest version of the Scanners4CAD large format scanner comparison chart.

Other recent news items and articles at Scanners4CAD include ...

DISCUSSION: Do A1 / D-size large format scanners present a viable CAD solution?

NEW SCANNER: New 24" Contex XD2490 offers price, performance and pedigree

DUPLEX SCANNING: Image Access introduce large format duplex scanning

PORTABILITY: GEI introduce carrycase for Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40

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Deskan Express FAST PARTS

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IDEAL Online PlanRoom

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LARGE FORMAT SCANNERS AND PLOTTERS (US and Canada)

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LOOKING 4 AN AFFORDABLE CAD SCANNER?

New SmartLF Ci 40 - Accurate. Compact. Innovative. Affordable.
The right CAD scanner for you, at the right price.
www.colortrac.com

PDF2CAD

PDF2CAD converts vector PDF files to DXF.
Find out more and download a fully working demo:
www.pdf2cad.com

Quick tip - thresholding

Along with resolution, the threshold is the most important setting you need to choose when scanning a drawing for raster to vector conversion. Choosing the correct threshold can make the difference between raster to vector conversion success and failure.

On our new Raster to Vector Auntie website we've created a video that explains what the threshold is and how to set it.

Click here to view it.

And finally ...

In a previous issue, Andrea wrote about the Grand Union Canal at Hanwell (writes Steve Hannath). During the summer I was lucky enough to visit another of the UK's civil engineering treasures - the Tarr Steps clapper bridge which spans the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park.

The Tarr Steps clapper bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the UK. Experts cannot agree if the bridge was built in the Bronze Age - it connects several ancient hill forts, barrows and a stone circle in the area - or as late as 1400 AD. Local legend has it that the bridge was built by the Devil himself.

Tarr Steps
Tarr Steps clapper bridge.

English Heritage has ignored doubts about the origins and age of the bridge and designated it as a Grade I listed structure "of outstanding architectural or historic interest". A "clapper" bridge takes its name from the Latin word "claperius", a "pile of stones". It is an ancient form of bridge construction, only a few degrees more modern and sophisticated than throwing boulders into a river to create stepping stones. Indeed, there are several places near Tarr Steps where Ordinance Survey maps indicate that the River Barle can be crossed using stepping stones.

Tarr Steps
Unmortared slabs form the pavement while other slabs placed at an angle against the supporting pillars protect the bridge.

Tarr Steps
 

With 17 spans across 50 metres (55 yards), Tarr Steps clapper bridge is the largest example of its type. Large stones or pillars have been placed at intervals across the river with unmortared slabs of stone laid on top of them. The top paving slabs weigh between 1 and 2 tons each and sit about 1m (39") above the normal water level. The largest paving slab is over 2.4m (8') long and about 1.5m (5') wide. A distinctive and interesting feature of the bridge's construction is the use of slabs placed at an angle against the pillars to deflect the force of the river against them and also to divert floating debris.

When first built, the bridge was probably a taller and a more impressive structure. Silting is believed to have raised the level of the river bed, making it easier for the Barle to wash over the top of the bridge. Over the years much damage has been caused to the bridge by flood debris, like uprooted trees battering into the bridge. Following a flood in 1952, a steel cable was strung across the Barle upstream of the bridge to snare floating debris. Even so, in recent years floods have washed some of the top paving stones up to 46m (50 yards) downstream. All the slabs are now numbered in order to facilitate their replacement.