[SOLVED]Scaling bitmaps in layout accurately.

Bruce Watt · 12 Feb 2014, 12:59

Hi all,

I am trying to insert a bitmap of a building plan into layout.

I have PDF printed out from my CAD program and then converted to a bitmap. The quality is acceptable for inserting into Layout and re PDF printing from Layout.

My issue is, once I insert the bitmap I would like to scale it as I would do in sketchup. I currently have to pull and push the bitmap in the x and y directions to achieve this. I would just like to do it like in sketchup or type in a scale factor that I calculate. Have I missed something, can this be done?

Also I have tried to insert the bitmap into sketchup and scale it normally (quality of image is fine) and then inserting it into layout, quality set to high. But the quality is not good as it is with inserting the bitmap directly into Layout. It seems to be if you go through sketchup with a bitmap and insert into Layout you loose image quality.

Please can you help and advise if I am doing something wrong.

Rich O Brien · 12 Feb 2014, 13:20

SHIFT + Corner handle

Approx size

Then type (example 6",6") to scale to that size

or type 1.2,1.2 to achieve scale factor

Unless I misunderstood the question?

Dave R · 12 Feb 2014, 13:23

Bruce, I don't think you're doing anything wrong.

You can change the scale of the overall image if you start dragging a corner and then type your scale factor. It would be similar to changing the scale in SketchUp. Can you work with that?

I would probably draw a line or a rectangle to the scaled dimensions that represents some part of the floor plan in the bitmap. Then I would scale the bitmap to fit that line or rectangle. If you know the "dimensions of the entire bitmap image, you could draw a rectangle to that size and drag the image out to fit.

If you hold Shift while dragging a corner the bitmap will maintain the proportions so you don't have to worry about distorting the image.

Bruce Watt · 12 Feb 2014, 13:53

Thank you Rich and Dave,

You understood perfectly,

Issue solved with your help. The bit map is large and Layout just takes a few seconds to resize accurately.

Thank you again and for the quick response time.

Dave R · 12 Feb 2014, 13:56

emerald15 · 13 Feb 2015, 10:20

Thank you Rich & Dave. I had this exact problem yesterday & I hadn't appreciated that you could type in a scale for inserted bitmaps.