See Also: Vectorization settings, Vectorization Settings dialog

Line Width

Deviation Factor

Corner Snap

Pass-Thro Snap

Gap Jump Distance

Loose Ends Length

Connect Thro Nodes

Align to Current Grid

OCR On

Most of the settings on the General tab require a value in pixels. To determine a distance in pixels, display a grid and count the pixels or measure the pixel distance using Ctrl+D.

If you have Sketch selected in the Type Menu, Scan2CAD ignores all of the settings in the General Tab except Line Width, Deviation Factor and Gap Jump Distance.

Line Width

Line Width determines whether Scan2CAD recognizes outlines, center lines or both.

When Scan2CAD vectorizes a raster line that is thinner than the Line Width, the vector it creates follows the center of the raster line. When Scan2CAD vectorizes a raster line that is thicker than the Line Width, the vector it creates follows the outsides of the line.

Raster image
Vector image
Line width = 1	Line Width = 9	Line width = 25

If you set Line Width to 1, Scan2CAD identifies outlines only.

If you set Line Width to the thickness, in pixels, of most of the lines on the image, Scan2CAD identifies both outlines and center lines.

If you set Line Width to a value greater than the thickness of the thickest line on the image, Scan2CAD identifies center lines only. If you set a high Line Width be aware that you may lose drawing detail. This is illustrated in the diagram above where the Line Width setting of 25 has caused the “blob” in the raster image to be lost.

Unless you are outlining a solid raster shape a typical Line Width is 14 pixels. This is wider than the lines on most raster images which means that Scan2CAD will normally identify center lines only.

If you have Outline selected in the Type Menu, Scan2CAD ignores the Line Width and vectorizes an outline regardless.

Deviation Factor

The Deviation Factor is the maximum number of pixels a vector is allowed to deviate from the raster center line.

The larger the value, the more “smoothed” and the less accurate the resultant vector image will be and the less vectors it will contain.

Deviation Factor = smaller	Deviation Factor = larger

In the diagrams above the raster image is shown in gray and the vectors are superimposed in black.

The Deviation Factor is normally in the range of 1 to 5 pixels.

Corner Snap

Sometimes two potentially intersecting vectors are joined by a third, short vector (chamfer).

When a Corner Snap is set, Scan2CAD deletes chamfers that join potentially intersecting lines and that are shorter than the Corner Snap. It then snaps the lines together to create a corner.

Corner Snap = smaller	Corner Snap = larger

In the diagrams above the raster image is shown in gray and the vectors are superimposed in black.

A typical Corner Snap value is 8 pixels.

If Scan2CAD fails to snap together chamfered corners or snaps corners together incorrectly you may need to modify the Corner Snap angle tolerance in the Advanced tab.

Pass-Thro Snap

Where two lines cross each other untidily as in the raster image below, Scan2CAD inserts a short joining vector.

When a Pass-Thro Snap is set, Scan2CAD deletes all joining vectors shorter than the Pass-Thro Snap. This allows it to create tidy line crossings.

Pass-Thro Snap = smaller	Pass-Thro Snap = larger

In the diagrams above the raster image is shown in gray and the vectors are superimposed in black.

A typical Pass-Thro Snap value is 5 pixels.

Gap Jump Distance

The Gap Jump Distance allows Scan2CAD to produce continuous vectors despite small gaps in the raster image. Scan2CAD “jumps” over gaps in the raster image that are smaller than the value you enter.

Gap Jump Distance = smaller	Gap Jump Distance = larger

In the diagrams above the raster image is shown in gray and the vectors are superimposed in black.

A typical Gap Jump Distance is 4 pixels.

Loose Ends Length

Loose ends are vectors that are connected to other vectors at one end only and that are not part of a vector sequence.

When a Loose Ends Length is set, Scan2CAD deletes all loose ends shorter than the Loose Ends Length.

Loose Ends Length = smaller	Loose Ends Length = larger

In the diagrams above the raster image is shown in gray and the vectors are superimposed in black.

A typical Loose Ends Length is 7 pixels.

Connect Thro Nodes

If Connect Thro Nodes is off, vector lines join at intersections. If Connect Thro Nodes is on, vector lines continue through intersections.

In the diagrams above vector end points are enclosed in small squares.

Arcs, Bezier curves and Circles always continue through intersections even if Connect Thro Nodes is off.

Align to Current Grid

If Align to Current Grid is selected, Scan2CAD snaps vector end points to the nearest intersection of the grid defined by the Grid Snap Distance.

Align to Current Grid = off	Align to Current Grid = on

In the diagrams above the raster image is shown in gray and the vectors are superimposed in black.

OCR On

OCR On is only relevant if you are doing batch conversions. When you are converting normally on the screen Scan2CAD ignores the OCR On option and whether OCR is performed or not is determined by the conversion option you choose – Run Menu > OCR, Run Menu > Vectorization or Run Menu > All.

If OCR On is selected, Scan2CAD converts text using OCR when you do a batch conversion.

If OCR On is not selected, Scan2CAD converts text to lines, polylines, circles, arcs and Bezier curves when you do a batch conversion.