Using Jpeg/Tiff Images as base plans

[Zootsuit]

Hi there.

I'm working on a large scale residential estate for an architectural project. I have a PDF of the plan site which I want to use as a base to trace over in Sketchup.

I have converted the PDF to a jpeg in Photoshop then imported it and used it as a material on a base rectangle. The problem is that it needs to be scaled up so much that the image is very blurry and hard to trace accurately. Is there a better way I can do this ? Should I model on a much smaller scale , i.e the original size of the jpeg, then scale the model to size after? If I try to scale the Jpeg up in Photoshop the file size goes through the roof!

Many Thanks

Zootsuit

[Gaieus]

Hi Zootsuit,

Your problem will remain even if you scale it up because OpenGL that SU uses can only handle 1024x1024 resolution altogether. So no matter how crisp and hi-res your image is, it will be "downgraded" by OpenGL.

If it is clearer in a smaller scale, yes, you may try to do that and scale it up later.

[Zootsuit]

Thanks Gaieus , I'll try it on a small scale and see how it works out.

[AdamB]

@zootsuit said:

Hi there.

I'm working on a large scale residential estate for an architectural project. I have a PDF of the plan site which I want to use as a base to trace over in Sketchup.

I have converted the PDF to a jpeg in Photoshop then imported it and used it as a material on a base rectangle. The problem is that it needs to be scaled up so much that the image is very blurry and hard to trace accurately. Is there a better way I can do this ? Should I model on a much smaller scale , i.e the original size of the jpeg, then scale the model to size after? If I try to scale the Jpeg up in Photoshop the file size goes through the roof!

Many Thanks

Zootsuit

If you had an EPS (PostScript) version it might be possible to write a Ruby to convert it to geometry that would scale perfectly.

Adam

[thomthom]

@zootsuit said:

Hi there.

I'm working on a large scale residential estate for an architectural project. I have a PDF of the plan site which I want to use as a base to trace over in Sketchup.

I have converted the PDF to a jpeg in Photoshop then imported it and used it as a material on a base rectangle. The problem is that it needs to be scaled up so much that the image is very blurry and hard to trace accurately. Is there a better way I can do this ? Should I model on a much smaller scale , i.e the original size of the jpeg, then scale the model to size after? If I try to scale the Jpeg up in Photoshop the file size goes through the roof!

Many Thanks

Zootsuit

Is it a bitmap embedded within the PDF? Or is it vector graphics? If it's vector you can use Illustrator or similar to open it and then export the lines as DWG/DXF.