AutoCAD Tips & Tutorials

Creating JPEG and PNG files

Did you know that you can save a drawing in JPEG and PNG format for display on the Web? In Releases 2004 and later, use the JPGOUT or PNGOUT command. In AutoCAD 2000i and later, you can also create JPEGs using the Publish to Web feature. In Release 2000, use the following method.   Here I provide you with a complete tutorial. In short, you use one of the raster devices provided with AutoCAD 2000 and create a PC3 file for it in the Add-A-Plotter Wizard. Then you plot to a file. Here are the steps in detail to create the PC3 file:

1. Open the drawing you want to save.
2. Choose File > Plotter Manager to open the Plotters folder.
3. Double-click the Add-A-Plotter Wizard icon.
4. Introduction page: click Next.
5. Begin page: choose the option you use for your regular AutoCAD plotting (My Computer or Network Plotter Server). Click Next.
6. Plotter Model page: under Manufacturers, scroll down and choose Raster File Formats. Under Models choose the format you want to save to: JPEG or PNG are suitable for the Web. Click Next.
7. Import PCP or PC2 page: click Next.
8. Ports page: AutoCAD automatically sets you to plot to a file, which is what you want.
9. Plotter Name page: shorten the name, for goodness’ sake to JPEG or PNG. Click Next.
10. Finish page: Click Edit Plotter Configuration if you want to change the default resolution (click Media) or background color (click Custom). (You can change the resolution when you plot.) Unfortunately, you can’t create a transparent background. Click OK to close the Plotter Configuration Editor.
11. Click Finish to close the Wizard.

Now you’re all set up. Here are the steps to create the file:

1. With the drawing open, click Plot on the Standard toolbar.
2. On the Plot Device tab, choose your new PC3 file from the Plotter Configuration drop-down list. (You might get a warning about the paper size, which you can ignore, because you’re plotting to a file.) In the Plot to File section, make any desired changes to the file name and location.
3. On the Plot Settings tab, you can play around with the settings. I had the best luck with Scaled to Fit. Try a Full Preview to be sure. You can change the resolution (in pixels) and the Plot Area.
4. Click OK and you’re done!
   
   
   Or
   Creating a WMF
   To save objects to a Windows metafile
   1. From the AutoCAD command prompt type: WMFOUT
   2. In the standard save as dialogue, select a folder and filename to save.
   3. Select objects:  Use an object selection method and press ENTER when you finish selecting objects
   The selected objects are saved to a file in Windows metafile format. To insert the WMF into a Microsoft Word document, drag and drop the file you’re your word document
   
   Or
   Creating a JPG
   1. From the AutoCAD command prompt type: JPGOUT.
   2. In the Create Raster File dialog box, select a folder, enter a file name, and click Save.
      AutoCAD appends the .jpg extension to the file name.
   3. Select the objects you want to save.
   The selected items are saved to a JPG file  
   To insert the WMF into a Microsoft Word document, drag and drop the file you’re your word document.
   
    
   
   

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