topic Re: Output image from Drawing in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Output image from Drawing

erik — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:40:25 GMT

The only output formats in the Drawing environment seems to be PDF, DWG and CSV.

But I really want to get the drawing as an image file (JPG, PNG etc.) and it is very annyoing having to use the snipping tool every time.

Did I miss something or is it not possible to output a drawing as an image?

And is it something the dev team is considering implementing?

Cheers,

Erik

Re: Output image from Drawing

TimeraAutodesk — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 21:01:24 GMT

Output to image is not a standard workflow for technical or manufacturing documentation, and this is not on our roadmap. Can I ask why you need an image file specifically?

Re: Output image from Drawing

erik — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 05:45:55 GMT

Thank you for your quick answer.

It makes sense that it is not a part of the standard workflow, and I would say that the PDF output would be sufficient.

But one of my customers asked if the drawings could be exported as an image file, because their system collecting information about specific products including their images cannot use PDF files. They are currently using AutoCad and exporting to WMF files.

I hope this makes sense.

Cheers,

Erik

Re: Output image from Drawing

chrisplyler — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:39:40 GMT

Have they given you size/resolution requirements?

Would a simple screen grab be sufficient?

If they want good resolution at a size sufficient for large drawing sheets, you might have to take the PDF output, place it in Photoshop or other editing software that has the ability, and rasterize it.

Re: Output image from Drawing

erik — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 08:45:53 GMT

I think the Snipping Tool (or Screen dump) would be sufficient as I wrote earlier, but it would be easier if Fusion 360 supported image output. The task of outputting images is done many times a day and reducing the time spent doing this would really matter.

I understand that this is not something the dev team will focus on, because it is not a part of a normal workflow.

Thanks for all your answers and solutions, they are much appreaciated!

Cheers,

Erik

Re: Output image from Drawing

ibrandonc.ward — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 02:36:25 GMT

A fantastic use for a .jpeg or other standard image file format would be to send to a laser, plasma, or any other 2D cnc cutter. They require an image format as such to generate the tool path. While you could do this in Fusion's built in manufacturing environment some times it is easier to do with the machines software instead. In my case most of the time I'll export the drawing as a pdf and convert it later on my Mac which luckily is very simple by re-exporting the file to another location.

Re: Output image from Drawing

chrisplyler — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:10:47 GMT

@ibrandonc.ward wrote:
A fantastic use for a .jpeg or other standard image file format would be to send to a laser, plasma, or any other 2D cnc cutter. They require an image format as such to generate the tool path.

That surprises the heck out of me. If I was the manufacturer of such a cutter, it would NOT accept raster input. If it did, I would fire the guy that made it work. Such machines SHOULD only accept vector input.

I'm guessing that if some machines DO accept raster input, they've got some raster-to-vector conversion going on behind the scenes. I'm further guessing this capability has been added to accommodate amateur hobby users that don't know the difference.

I'm also confident that such machines will accept vector input. You should be giving them a dxf instead of a jpg.

Re: Output image from Drawing

Mublio — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:12:29 GMT

This fucion would be helpful for us to send clients quick previews of the design via our website. Embedding a PDF is not convenient for a quick check. Upvote for this function!

Re: Output image from Drawing

HughesTooling — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:05:43 GMT

If you select print from the File menu you could use something like PDFCreator and save directly to a PNG\JPG file. Don't know if there are other printer drivers that can save to PNG\JPG.