Help changing AutoCAD file to picture file

Zoraz · Post by **Zoraz** » August 21st, 2009, 6:15 pm

I downloaded autoCAD recently, planning to use it to draw CPs and diagrams easily. However, I can't upload it to a picture hosting site in its current form. Does anyone know how to change an AutoCAD file into some other picture file (jpg, png, bmp...)?

qtrollip · Post by **qtrollip** » August 21st, 2009, 6:34 pm

Wow, I didnt know you can download AutoCad, which version did you get?
Anyway, I use TurboCad, and I have to "print" each diagram page as a pdf file.
You can download CutePdf for free and it's pretty good.

If you want to upload the pdf file to say flickr, you have to save it as a jpeg file to upload it.

Good luck.

Zoraz · Post by **Zoraz** » August 21st, 2009, 6:42 pm

Thanks for the quick reply, Quentin.
Actually, I got the rights to download autocad as part of a software package for freshman engineering students at my college.

pereze · Post by **pereze** » August 21st, 2009, 7:07 pm

You could use print screen to save it as an image but Quentin's idea is better.

ftangdude55 · Post by **ftangdude55** » August 21st, 2009, 7:09 pm

Usually, if I want to put a CP or diagram up on Flickr, I would just press the Prnt Scrn button, and then paste that screen capture onto a photo editing program (i.e. Photoshop), and crop it so that all that shows is the CP/Diagram. I don't generally do that though, as I usually just put out PDFs, so that is just theoretical.

Edit: Whoa, pereze! You beat me to the punch!

! · Post by ! » August 21st, 2009, 9:43 pm

AutoCad can't export? Check the "save as" function.

If it can't do any other formats, just do this:

Download OpenOffice Installer Here
Install only OpenOffice Draw
Open the your .dxf in OpenOffice Draw
Export as .pdf

There are other things you can do, if that doesn't work

Post by **TheRealChris** » August 21st, 2009, 10:09 pm

installing open office just to export as pdf? this really sounds crazy.
just install (as quentin mentioned) some kind of pdf printer and print directiy out of Auto CAD. there's no need to install open office as long as you don't need it (although I like Open Office).

Zoraz · Post by **Zoraz** » August 22nd, 2009, 12:02 am

I actually just found an option on the menu that says something like "export to web", and that let me save it directly as a jpg rather than going to a pdf first. I think my computer might already have a pdf printer installed though.