17 Reasons To Choose Scan2CAD For Raster To Vector Conversion

Updated Jul 18, 2017
By
PublishedDec 22, 2010in News
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Before Vectorization

  1. Raster cleanup – a key to successful vectorization
 

Cleaning up a raster image can mean the difference between an unusable vectorization and a successful one.Scan2CAD contains comprehensive raster cleanup tools including tools for erasing areas of dirt, removing speckles and filling lines that are full of holes.Scan2CAD’s cleanup tools work interactively with a Preview Window. As you move a slider bar, you can see the effect your cleanup will have on the image.


Use the slider bar to change cleanup settings, while viewing the results in the Preview window.
  2. Thresholding – another key to successful vectorization
 

The threshold is a setting that determines which parts of a drawing are turned to black and which are turned to white when it is scanned. It can determine the success or failure of a raster to vector conversion.If you load a grayscale or color image into Scan2CAD, you can use Scan2CAD’s threshold settings to get the best possible quality raster image.

Original grayscale image
A poorly thresholded image loses detail
Scan2CAD’s thresholding tools with slider bar and Preview Window make it easy to select an optimal threshold.

Vectorization

  3. Recognizes a wide range of easily edited drawing entities
 

Scan2CAD recognizes a wider range of drawing entities than most converters:

  • Continuous lines
  • Dashed and dashed-dot lines
  • Polylines
  • Arcs
  • Circles
  • Bezier curves (which can be exported as splines, polylines or arcs)
  • Lined hatch patterns
  • Arrows
  • Text (OCR – edit recognized text in your CAD program)

By recognizing all these drawing entities Scan2CAD creates a DXF file that is easier to edit.

For example:

Difficult to edit Easy to edit

A DXF file where a dash line has been converted to a single dash line vector is easier to edit than one where every dash in a dash line has been converted to an individual line.

 
  4. Creates straighter lines, neater joins and corners
 

Scan2CAD resolves many of the difficult recogntion problems that produce poor results in other converters.For example:Below is part of the sample raster image Floorplan.tif that is supplied with Scan2CAD. Floorplan.tif is a good quality raster image that no raster to vector converter should have an excuse to convert poorly.

Below is Floorplan.tif converted by another raster to vector converter we downloaded from the web.

Below is Floorplan.tif converted by Scan2CAD. In this screenshot, arcs are shown in pink and lines are shown in red. The little boxes mark vector ends.

As you can see, Scan2CAD has created fewer, straighter vectors with neater corners. Scan2CAD’s conversion will be much quicker to edit than the other raster to vector converter’s, and will save you more redrawing time.

 
  5. Fidelity to the original raster image
  Many converters do an initial “quick and dirty” vectorization and then “post process” it to give the final result. During the post processing, vectors are often smoothed and juggled around so that they no longer follow the detail on your raster image.Scan2CAD works on the basis that every conversion must follow the raster image as closely as possible. Its vectorizations stay true to the original detail.
  6. Flexible settings – get the best vectorization on any image
  Many raster to vector converters limit user control in favor of a simplified interface.However, all raster images are different. If you want a good vectorization, there is no “one size fits all”. Vectorization settings that work on one drawing may be completely useless on another. Scan2CAD provides flexible settings that allow you to get the best possible vectorization on any image.The Real World Guide to vectorization, supplied in Scan2CAD’s Help Menu, tells you how to select the best settings for any given image.

After Vectorization

  7. Immediately see and manipulate results on-screen
  Some programs export the conversion before you can see it. You have to open it in a CAD program to view the result. But what if, as is often likely, the first result is bad and needs to be done again? It’s back to your converter … and back to CAD again.With Scan2CAD there is no to-ing and fro-ing if you need to fine tune your raster to vector conversions. You can immediately see the effect of adjusting the settings in front of you on-screen. Once you have the best result, simply save it for editing in CAD. It’s the most practical way to convert – and save more time!
  8. One click SnapTidy vector editing tools
 

Scan2CAD includes SnapTidy vector editing tools that are specially designed for editing vectorizations. With SnapTidy tools you can grab several disjointed vectors within a defined box and snap them into alignment.For example:

Before One click After
  9. Save to the correct scale
  The vectors can be saved to the DXF file at the correct scale.

Batch Vectorization and Command Line

  10. Convert multiple raster images in a batch
  Note: To do batch conversion you need the Pro version of Scan2CAD.Scan2CAD’s batch process converts all the raster images in a folder to DXF. The batch process can include pre-conversion raster cleanup operations such as speckle and hole removal.
  11. Command line – automate virtually any Scan2CAD function
  Note: To use Scan2CAD’s command line you need the Pro version of Scan2CAD.Scan2CAD’s command line support allows you to run Scan2CAD from other applications and automate virtually any sequence of Scan2CAD commands.

Compatibility

  12. Standalone – works with all CAD, CNC and GIS programs
  Scan2CAD is a standalone solution. No matter what PC CAD, CNC or GIS program you use, you will be able to load the DXF file that Scan2CAD produces into it for editing.

Sharing

  13. Share Scan2CAD
  Scan2CAD’s flexible licensing options include USB Stick and Floating / Concurrent Licenses that allow you to share a single copy of Scan2CAD:USB Stick License
Work anywhere – in the office, at home, on-site – or let a colleague use your copy of Scan2CAD. The license is saved onto your own USB stick. Install and run Scan2CAD on any PC the USB stick is plugged into.Floating / Concurrent Network License
(Pro version of Scan2CAD only)
Each license can be used on any workstation, so long as it is not already in use on another workstation.

At present our sharing options are available at no extra cost!

More information on Scan2CAD license types—link not live yet.

Support, Documentation and Development

  14. Free technical support and maintenance upgrades
  Technical support and maintenance upgrades are free of charge.We do charge for major upgrades but upgrading is optional – once you have bought a copy of Scan2CAD you can continue to use your existing version indefinitely.
  15. Optional printed manual if you want one
  Most companies do not produce printed documentation any more. However we know that many of you still like a printed book, and we can optionally provide a comprehensive wire bound Scan2CAD manual.
  16. A 15 year track record
  We have been developing Scan2CAD for 15 years. We are committed to its continued development and improvement.
  17. Individual and unique – start from a position of strength!
  Unlike some of our competitors, we write all our own conversion code. We don’t use SDKs (software development kits) to make programming shortcuts.SDKs are great levellers, making every solution that uses them as good or as bad as the other. We don’t want to be only as good as other converters. We don’t want to be dependent on third parties whose technology might be average or slow to be fixed when bugs are found. We want to control our development and be responsive to your needs.We want to provide you with the best possible solution for raster to vector conversion, please feel free to contact us to find out how Scan2CAD will meet your requirements.
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