topic Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command in AutoCAD Forum

Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Anonymous — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 16:12:57 GMT

By the time I specify base point the image gets zoomed and moves away from its original position (I am completely new to autocad by the way ),and also I can't find the command for reference so that I can trace the drawing from the image with the correct dimensions...the only command that pops up is "redraw"(I'm using autocad 2016).Does anybody know what I'm doing wrong?

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

imadHabash — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 06:20:54 GMT

Hi and welcome to AutoDesk community,

it's highly appreciated if you give us more clear details regarding:

- you wrote (.. I specify base point the image..) why and how did you do that?

- you wrote ( .. and also I can't find the command for reference so that I can trace the ..) referance to what and with which command?

because scale already have Reference option .

Command: SCALE
Select objects: 1 found

Select objects:
Specify base point:
Specify scale factor or [Copy/Reference]

- you wrote ( ..the only command that pops up is "redraw"..) pop up with which command and when ?

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 13:20:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

By the time I specify base point the image gets zoomed and moves away from its original position ...,and also I can't find the command for reference ....

The "zooming/moving" is probably the dynamic dragging of the scale result, using the distance in drawing units from your base point to the current cursor location as the scale factor. Depending on your units and the size of your image, that can mean an immediate huge over-scaling of the image, but it's only in dynamic display of what the result will be if you pick at the current cursor location -- it hasn't changed anything about the image yet. If you set the DRAGMODE System Variable to anything other than Auto [either Off entirely, or "merely" On, which will let you call for dragging by typing DRAG when it's asking for a scale factor, but won't drag the scale unless you ask for it], then it won't do that.

Reference is not a command, but an option within the Scale command [and also within Rotate], offered after you have given it a base point.

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 22:11:54 GMT

First of all thank you both for your replies.Here is the thing.I have to trace a drawing of "Piscinas de Marés"(image below).I start off by attaching the image/drawing.Then I have to scale it.The tracing has to be done with realistic dimensions.I used google maps to measure one certain distance and now I want to use that measurement in autocad.So I type the "scale" command and I am stuck there.I follow these steps:

1)I type "scale" + Enter

2)I select the image + Enter

3)Then autocad tells me to define base point..that's the first problem I click the line somewhere and it gets extremely zoomed in and the image changes position and I don't want this to happen but I am not sure I understand this part very well.

Then I have to use"reference" to enter the true value of a specific distance in the drawing ... It probably is something very simple and basic but I don't know what I 'm doing wrong.

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Kent1Cooper — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 14:06:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

....
3)Then autocad tells me to define base point..that's the first problem I click the line somewhere and it gets extremely zoomed in and the image changes position and I don't want this to happen ....

At that point, when the prompt is "Specify scale factor or [Reference]:", type R for the Reference option. The "extremely zoomed in" and "changes position" aspects will go away, and you can give it the reference length by picking locations in the image, and the new length by typing in the known distance.

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:08:29 GMT

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:07:41 GMT

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

jrostZBX5R — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 04:33:42 GMT

I am having this exact issue, but when I type "R", it redirects me and thinks I want to use the command "REDRAW" when I was trying to direct it to reference. Any Advice?

Re: Scaling Image ,can't find reference command

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:59:48 GMT

@jrostZBX5R wrote:

.... when I type "R", it redirects me and thinks I want to use the command "REDRAW" ....

Then you must be typing R at the Command: prompt. [That is where R is the default command alias, i.e. abbreviation, for REDRAW.] Instead, you need to be inside a SCALE [or ROTATE] command -- see Message 2.