topic Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines in AutoCAD Electrical Forum

PDF Import - Turn images into lines

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 15:00:44 GMT

I'm using PDF Import to import a manufacturer's PDF to get a connector. I want to show this in my cable assembly drawing, but it seems to only come in as an image. If i click the outside rectangle then I select the whole image/block. If I try to explode then the connector disappears. Any suggestions on how to get this into just regular lines that I can create a block from?

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

jseefdrumr — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 15:48:21 GMT

My method is to attach the PDF as an image (XREF or ATTACH at the command line), and then trace over the geometry that I need. IMO importing a PDF is still not clean enough to create a relialbe drawing from.

As for the workflow you've described, it sounds like you have selected the checkbox for 'Import As Block'. Have you tried that command without this option selected?

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

OP21 — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 15:49:13 GMT

If the PDF is a "vectorized PDF" it should translate into cad entities, If it is a scanned image, it will not translate. Import the PDF as a background image and trace over it to create your block.

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

JeffatPrimex — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 03:30:03 GMT

I noticed that the images sometimes get covered up and when you explode they disappear but in reality the geometry is on a layer that is not visible. Can you attach it here maybe that's the case.

Best regards,

Jeff

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:04:25 GMT

Depends on whether it's a vector graphic or bitmap graphic in the PDF. There are automated tools that will recognise vector graphics and convert to CAD entities, which tend to work reasonably well. Osnaps will also often work fairly well with vector PDF graphics if manually tracing. If it's a bitmap image the automatic tools often fare poorly. As Jim said sometimes the quickest way is simply to trace over it and then delete the source PDF.

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

testsubject — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 16:47:06 GMT

I have used PDF2CAD (https://visual-integrity.com/products/pdf-dwg-dxf-pdf2cad/) in the past to convert a PDF to Cad. It worked pretty well. If your PDF is rotated in any way though the lines don't square up cleanly.

It has a 30 day free trial so might be worth checking out….

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

pendean — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:37:40 GMT

PDFs are either raster-based (they import as pictures) or vector based (they import as lines): you can't switch them to be one or the other yourself, only the PDF creator can do that.

You will need to purchase a 3rd party RASTER TO VECTOR converter software as a solution.

HTH

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

siikru — Sat, 03 May 2025 09:48:30 GMT

In newer Autocads, when having the pdf active, it is possible to import the pdf as an object (special button "import as object" in pdf import tab), works with simple non vector PDF files aswell

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

manuel_grande_ciussscn — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:33:34 GMT

Is it possible to generate lines from an image or a scanned plan in order to work directly on the drawings? If so, does anyone know how to do it?

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

rhesusminus — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:02:32 GMT

This is what the Raster Design toolset is for. You should have access to it if you have a AutoCAD subscription:

Raster Design Toolset in Autodesk AutoCAD | Features

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

manuel_grande_ciussscn — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:58:01 GMT

Thank for your feedback, Do I have acces to the raster design tools from autocad 2025 ?

Re: PDF Import - Turn images into lines

rhesusminus — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:59:59 GMT

It's a separate download and install, from account.autodesk.com