BIND IMAGE (JPEG, BMP) TO A FILE (For Title block Logo)

[RockyBrown4134]

Back some verions ago, there used to be a command in the xref dialog called "BIND", that let you bind an image to a block or file. In 2015, I can't seem to find that option. Does it still exist? Is there another way to BIND an image? Is ther a better way to accomplish my task?

I have to send the image file EVERYTIME I have to send a CAD file out or if someone does not have access to the drive where the logo is stored.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @RockyBrown4134,

If you select an Xref in the External References manager, then you can rt-click on it and select Bind. You will then have the option to Bind or Insert.

I have gone back to 2013, 2014, and 2015 versions of AutoCAD and I do not see that binding an image has ever been an option. If you open your image in an editor such as Paint, select all and copy, then you can paste into your drawing as a BMP format. This image should be embedded in your drawing.

Depending on the image, it might be worth taking the time to convert it to a vector format. Check out Vectorize It from Autodesk as one option.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Pointdump · Accepted solution]

Rocky,

In addition to John's excellent advice, here's a good Lynn Allen blog post on that subject:
http://lynn.blogs.com/lynn_allens_blog/2015/07/embed-an-image-file-into-autocad.html

Dave

[RockyBrown4134]

Right click does not give me that option.

The Copy, Paste operation does paste the image. But I cant rotate the imaage 90 degrees. the logo stays horizontal.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @RockyBrown4134,

Yes, you will not see it for an image file as I indicated in my first post. You can rotate it in your Raster image editor before pasting into AutoCAD.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[scot-65]

And another trick...

Have the image loaded into the clipboard.
Use the Paste Special (as "Device Independent Bitmap") inside the Edit menu and paste to a blank drawing.
Save that drawing.
Insert the file that has the image into the desired destination file and leave intact as a block.
You can now rotate, scale, mirror, etc. as you see fit...

(I do this with certain uncooperative PDF's as well)

???

[RockyBrown4134]

---

@scot-65 wrote:
And another trick...

Have the image loaded into the clipboard.
Use the Paste Special (as "Device Independent Bitmap") inside the Edit menu and paste to a blank drawing.
Save that drawing.
Insert the file that has the image into the desired destination file and leave intact as a block.
You can now rotate, scale, mirror, etc. as you see fit...

(I do this with certain uncooperative PDF's as well)

???

---

I must be doing something wrong. I tried the steps you indicated four times, I still get a block with the image remaining horizontal no matter what angle I rotate the block (wblock). I put two blocks in a another new drawing, and rotated the two about the same base point. the frames rotated correctly, however the image remained horizontal.

[john.vellek]

Hi RockyBrown4134,

I have heard of this technique also but have rarely gotten it to work. There must be some nuance to it that I haven't found.

What kind of image file are you trying to attach? Is it something that would lend itself to be a vector based instead of a bitmap image? Please attach it if you want me to investigate other possibilities for you.

[RockyBrown4134]

FYI....

Take a look and see if you have any luck.

Thanks.

[john.vellek]

Hi @RockyBrown4134,

In Windows Explorer, I selected the image file , rt-clicked and told it to Rotate Counter Clockwise.

Next, I rt-clicked it and selected Edit.

Inside Paint, I selected all CTRL-A and then copy CTRL-C

I switched to AutoCAD, and did a paste CTRL-V. 

I have attached my result as a PDF. Let me know if this is a solution to your issue.

[sthompson1021 · Accepted solution]

When you click on paste special, select image entity rather then device independent bitmap. You end up with a raster image rather then a OLE object but you can scale it and rotate it all you want.

[Pointdump]

S,

Brilliant! That does indeed work!

Dave

[RockyBrown4134]

I agree, this works great.

Thanks everyone!

[adam.ash]

Doesn't work in CAD for Mac

[john.vellek]

Hi @adam.ash,

Yes, sadly pasting an image file into a drawing in AutoCAD for Mac will not work like the Windows-based products. The image paste method relies on Microsoft OLE technology which is not part of the Apple operating system.

[Anonymous]

I've been doing this process (open in paint, Ctrl A, Ctrl C, paste special) and the image is there, but it won't print. it won't print to the printer or to a PDF. 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

 What layer are you pasting into?  Please check to see if it is turned on, thawed, and also that it is NOT set to No Plot.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

yes. I've done those things multiple times.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Can you share the file along with the original image file so I can test on my side?

If your data needs to be private or confidential, please email it directly to me at john.vellek@autodesk.com and please include a link to this thread in your email.

[joeperkins_gai]

This is an old post I'm responding to, but does it create a relative path still (to c:\users\...)? Mine shows up that way - will it cause issues with someone else opening?