converting & transforming technical graphics 2017

Converting & Transforming Technical GraphicsThe Software Solutions

June 21st 201711am Eastern Time, USA

Presenters – Don Larson & David Manock, Larson Software Technology

Welcome to the Product Webinar

www.cgmlarson.comCopyright Larson Software Technology (c) 2017

Agenda

• Introduction

• Housekeeping

• Company Overview

• Slide Presentation and Demos

• Summary

• Closing Information

http://www.cgmlarson.com/

Webinar: Housekeeping

• All attendees will be muted for the duration of the Webinar

• If you experience problems when joining the webinar please

use the questions function to communicate

• VOIP is the recommended audio option

• It is possible to download handouts during the presentation

• Post questions during the webinar using the panel

• Questions will be answered following the main presentation

or by a follow up email




Larson Software Technology

• Based in Houston, Texas

• Founded in 1984, graphic technology experts for 30 years

• Develops powerful, innovative graphics software and toolkits, based on open standards

• Promoting CGM Usage, by providing VizEx Reader a free CGM and TIFF viewer

• Developer of the first HTML5 CGM viewer

• Member of the CGM Open Foundation

• Larson technology simplifies the graphics workflow for Technical Publications Professionals, Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists


Webinar Objectives


• Provide lessons learned when transforming technical graphics and data

• Focus on common graphic source formats

• Raster and Vector data

• Describe the data preparation considerations and techniques when

achieving the best results

• Highlight the pitfalls of graphic conversion

• Provide Tips, Benefits, Advice and Knowledge during the webinar

• Summarize the graphic conversion and transformation process


Introduction


• The reuse of technical graphics produced in varying formats can be a significant challenge during the publications production and optimization process

• Different file formats usually present different issues and resolutions

• Quality is a major consideration for the source data and output requirement for publishing and presentation

• Using ‘Best Practice’ will reduce production time and costs

• Larson Software has extensive graphics experience especially with the particular task of conversion



Possible Data Sources

• Raster files• Legacy format

• Scanned line art illustrations• Intermediate format

• Exported from 3rd party software, CAD possibly

• Vector graphics• 2D or 3D CAD system

• Many formats are possible and used• Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW• PDF

• Embedded vector and raster data

KNOWLEDGE:The word Raster originates from the term 'raster scan,' which was how old CRT monitors displayed images, by magnetically steering a concentrated electron beam line by line to form an image.

KNOWLEDGE:Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygons—all of which are based on mathematical expressions—to represent images in computer graphics.



Raster Data



Introduction – Raster Data

• Raster legacy data still plays a significant role in the technical publications process• Source – e.g. photographs

• Original – e.g. scanned line art

• Delivery – e.g. TIFF files

• Analysis of raster data can prove to be beneficial• Optimizing production process

• Raster Data may require enhancements with the addition of hotspots• We will examine the possible pitfalls of this process (OCR)

• Raster Data as an intermediate format• Correct decision at the time but now alternatives could exist?



File Formats – Raster Data

• Raster File Formats• TIFF is the most common raster format for line art scans, usually using a

compression algorithm to reduce the file size• Other raster formats include:

• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)• BMP (Bitmap Image File)• PNG (Portable Network Graphic)• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

• TIP: Specifications compliance toS1000D etc.• Save the TIFF as part of a CGM file• It will retain its quality and properties• It can also be combined with Vector data

KNOWLEDGE - TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)Industry-standard method for storing scanned and other digital black-and-white, grayscale, and full-color images. Developed mainly for desktop publishing, TIFF has found applications in several other areas such as computer aided design (CAD), fax transmission. TIFF saves detailed image information with each pixel, resulting in a relatively large data file.



Vector Data



Introduction - Vector Data

• Vector Data can be in varied formats• In the majority of cases it is preferable to Raster Data, mainly for quality reasons

• BENEFIT: Vector Data can be scaled and the quality is maintained• True both for hard copy and on a computer display

• The display of a vector file, enhanced display by using anti-aliasing• This ability will be software dependent (Viewer)

• Vector Data Sources, the most common:• CAD Systems

• General Graphics Software

• PDF

KNOWLEDGE:Anti-Aliasing (in computer graphics) a technique used to add greater realism to a digital image by smoothing jagged edges on curved lines and diagonals.



CAD File formats - Vector Data

• CAD File Formats• 2D Data

• DXF

• DWG

• CGM

• PDF

• 3D Data• Various

• Common Graphics File Formats• AI (Adobe Illustrator)

• EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

• PDF

KNOWLEDGE:Data Exchange File (DXF)The format is a tagged data representation of all the information contained in an AutoCAD® drawing file.



PDF Format - Vector Data

• PDF (Portable Document Format)

• In 2008 PDF became an ISO standard• ISO International Standard - ISO 32000-1

• All new releases of the format are governed by ISO

• Interoperability was always the mission for PDF,ISO governance can only strengthen this objective

KNOWLEDGE:Portable Document Format (PDF)A file format used to present and exchange documents reliably, independent of software, hardware, or operating system.

KNOWLEDGE:ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental membership organization and the world's largest developer of voluntary International Standards.



CGM – Supports Raster and Vector Data

• CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)• An Open Non-Proprietary format

• Actively governed and developed by the CGM Open Foundation

• Ability to contain both Raster and Vector Data and retain attributes

• Specifications compliant, S1000D and ATA

• Interoperable

• Can contain metadata, for example can contain hotspot information

• TIP: Specialist software e.g. VizEx Edit a good choice to maintain CGM files



Larson Conversion Family

• VizEx Transform• Flagship graphics batch conversion and transformation

• Auto-hotspotting function

• Standalone Converters• Batch Conversion of specific formats

• VizEx Edit• Graphics editing and conversion



VizEx Transform

• VizEx Transform is a truly unique application • Enables the transformation of multiple graphical data formats into CGM in one

simple to use interface

• Why use the term transformation and not conversion• During the process, VizEx Transform can add value to the graphic by generating

hotspot information on the graphics

• The process is automated, with the ability to run in a batch mode and from a command line, triggered by an event

• Input Formats: DWG, DXF, PDF, AI, EPS, CGM V1-V3, BMP, CALS-G4, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF

• Output Formats: CGM V4, WebCGM, SVG, PNG



Standalone Converters - Formats

• CGM to Image• Output Formats supported: BMP, CALS, GIF, JPEG, PNG & TIFF

• CGM to Vector• Output Formats supported: PDF, EPS and SVG

• Image to CGM• Input Formats supported: BMP, CALS, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, & XWD

• Vector to CGM• Input Formats supported: PDF, AI or EPS

• DWG to CGM• Input Formats supported: DWG and DXF



Standalone Converters - Capability

• Simple to use GUI (Desktop Version)

• Batch conversion

• Desktop and Server versions

• Application integration • Command Line and SDK options



VizEx Edit - Capability

• Native CGM Graphics Editing

• Single file conversion

• Auto-Hotspotting Option

• Desktop and Network versions



Demo’s

Standalone Converters TM


http://www.cgmlarson.com/VizEx_Transform_CGM.shtml

http://www.cgmlarson.com/VizEx_Transform_CGM.shtml

http://www.cgmlarson.com/VizEx_Edit_CGM.shtml

http://www.cgmlarson.com/VizEx_Edit_CGM.shtml


Summary

• There are many opportunities to source information to produce technical graphics

• The number of source formats available is diverse • The conversion process can be a challenge

• The primary considerations should be, quality, re-use and publishing• Ideally implement a process that answers all of these criteria

• Selecting the correct software can also be a challenge• Larson has extensive experience you can leverage

• The software is proven and all license’s are available for testing purposes

• We hope todays webinar has provided useful and interesting information


Q&A




Closing Information

• You can discover more information about Larson Software Technology at www.cgmlarson.com

• A link to a recording of the webinar will be sent via email

• All the materials will be available:• www.slideshare.net/donlarson1

• Twitter feed, follow us!• www.twitter.com/cgmlarson

• Next Webinar: xxxxx



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