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Transparent Background

Anonymous

Transparent Background

Anonymous
No aplicable

Hi, what is the best way to save a CAD drawing so that it can be imported into other software with a clear background?  I have tried the Export as an EPS file but that seems to only work on a layout and is really blocky as well.  I am trying to create something like the below which uses a rendered image as the background and is overlayed with the elevations or plans.

246afc876893665f8a57b12d0eaad817.jpg622ac6dfce032d079201dea930c46ecf.png

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Soluciones aceptadas (1)
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16 Respuestas
Respuestas (16)

TheCADnoob
Mentor
Mentor

What program are you using to create the composite image?

CADnoob

EESignature

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Anonymous
No aplicable

Probably end up in Photoshop.  I thought there was an easy way to just add a transparent background before exporting and saving as a PNG file for example. Then I would import that into Photoshop to sort out graphically. 

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TheCADnoob
Mentor
Mentor
Solución aceptada

If you are ending in photoshop check out this thread. https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/exporting-a-cad-drawing-to-photoshop/td-p/5490214

 

Basically CAD files dont have a background. They are just a vector drawing so if there is no geometry there is no back ground. 

 

@john.vellek for some reason i want to say you have some experience in this or a similar workflow

CADnoob

EESignature

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john.vellek
Alumni
Alumni

HI @TheCADnoob,

Of course I have an opinion method.

 

If it is something really small, I usually use a PNG and then indicate the white background to be transparent.

 

If it is a bigger file, I print a large high-res PDF and then open that in PhotoShop.

 

If the OP want s to show me the desired end result it might help to come up with a more concise workflow.

 

 

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


John Vellek


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Anonymous
No aplicable

Thanks.  I had just realised that a CAD file saved as a PDF will open with a clear background in Photoshop so that solves some of my issues.  The other one is trying to get Revit to do the same but PDF saved from Revit still have a white background. I've asked the same question in the Revit forum so we will see what they say.  Thanks.

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john.vellek
Alumni
Alumni

Hi @Anonymous,

 

I don't think there is actually any difference in the Revit PDF vs  the AutoCAD one.  In Photoshop when you paste in you can tell the background to be transparent.

 

 

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


John Vellek


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Anonymous
No aplicable

Not sure how to turn off the white background in photoshop.  Usually the cad PDF is already transparent when you open it in PS so I've not had to do anything.

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john.vellek
Alumni
Alumni

HI @Anonymous,

 

Can you share a PDF fro both AutoCAD and Revit? I would like to see if they behave differently for me when I bring them into PhotoShop.

 

I use the Mac version and when I create a new file, this is the first screen that I see where it shows the background set to Transparent.

Screen Shot 2018-05-10 at 12.54.17 PM.png

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


John Vellek


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leeminardi
Mentor
Mentor

Using GIMP you can convert the white in a PDF to the alpha channel making it transparent.  You can then copy/paste the result into the image you are composing.  I'm sure you can do the same with Photoshop. 

lee.minardi
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Anonymous
No aplicable

I don't get an option in Photoshop but if you open the Living Wall one, that is transparent from CAD. The other one from Revit is white.

 

Is GIMP a free software, not the sort of thing you want to type in the browser at work!!

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john.vellek
Alumni
Alumni

Hi @Anonymous,

 

Thanks for the files - I will test and get back to you with my results.

 

GIMP is a great photo editor and should be same to grab.

 

 

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


John Vellek


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Anonymous
No aplicable

Thanks. Have just downloaded it, initially looks very similar to PS.  However, I cannot open any folders on my C drive.  Only has access to other folders

Gimp Screenshot.JPG

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john.vellek
Alumni
Alumni

Hi @Anonymous,

 

I admit that I am surprised that the two PDFs do come into PhotoShop differently. The one with the building elevation (Revit I suspect) does have a white background whereas the other was transparent.  I tried opening the PDF files and then also tried a File Place in Photoshop but the results were the same.

 

I did find though, that I used the magic wand tool and selected the white background (and then added select similar), the results were actually ver good in finding the white areas which I could then delete.

 

Please let me know if this helps.

 

I am not too sure about the GIMP installation not being able to access the C: drive.  You would have to check their web support for help on that issue.

Screen Shot 2018-05-11 at 6.35.12 AM.png

 

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


John Vellek


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nrz13
Advisor
Advisor

Sorry if someone already mentioned this (I don't have time to read through the full thread right now), but my method is to print using the built-in AutoCAD PDF driver (high-quality setting) to an ARCH D size.  Then, you can bring that PDF into Photoshop and it will be large, high quality, and transparent.  Sometimes the linework is too light, in which case I duplicate the layer a number of times over itself to darken it up.  Hope that helps.


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john.vellek
Alumni
Alumni

Hi @Anonymous,

 

I am checking back to see if my post or others helped you with your problem. Please mark a post or posts as accepted solutions if they resolved the issue or give me a bit more detail on this issue so we can continue to work towards getting this solved.

 

 

 

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


John Vellek


Join the Autodesk Customer Council - Interact with developers, provide feedback on current and future software releases, and beta test the latest software!

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Anonymous
No aplicable

I'm having to leave it for the mo and look at it in more detail next week due to deadlines.

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