Introduction

Module(s): Scan

The Scan module

You can use the tools in the Scan module to import scanned drawing files into Allplan and manipulate them using various functions. Scanned images (e.g., the site plan or the drawing of a house to be renovated) can then serve as a backdrop for your work. The scanned image files are saved in the corresponding project.

Pixel data (the scanned image) and vector data (Allplan drawings) can be combined (this is known as hybrid data processing). You can also display multiple scanned images at the same time and print them out on a raster printer.

Allplan provides a wide palette of tools for editing scanned-in drawings. You can delete, move, copy, rotate, resize and mirror areas. You can also merge images and vice versa i.e. divide large images into a number of smaller ones.

Use the scanned images as the basis for your work in 2D and 3D. For example, display the image on screen, define rooms and use this as a basis for calculating the area of the current structure. Or, draw new elements to be integrated into the structure.

Once rooms have been defined, it is easy to draw the walls automatically using Create Walls from Rooms.

Examples of use

• Archiving layouts
• Linking with existing layouts
• Linking with cadastral plans
• Importing scanned objects
• Entering walls using the "Create Walls from Rooms" tool

Supported Image Formats

The Scan module supports the RLC format (RLC = Run Length Coded).

The RLC format is a compressed pixel format operating in black and white mode. Due to its structure, it is especially well suited to hybrid data processing, i.e., the simultaneous display, processing and printing of pixel data on raster printers in combination with vector data.

The easiest approach is when the scanned drawing is supplied as an RLC-format file. The RLC format is unique. No additional format information has to be specified.

You can also accept the scanned drawing as a Tiff, BMP or any standard bitmap-format file as these can be converted in the Scan module using

• Link with Scanned Image (the scanned drawing is imported and converted to RLC)
• or Converter
  (the scanned drawing is converted to RLC at the press of a button).

Note: Although Allplan can convert any standard bitmap format to RLC format, it is advisable to use TIFF format (TIFF G4 is best) as data in this format can be converted quickly.

If you cannot obtain the file as an RLC file, ask for it as TIFF or BMP. The TIFF format is not unique (like most other pixel formats). You will need to tell your supplier which TIFF format is required.

• TIFF uncompressed
• TIFF compressed with Packbits
• TIFF compressed with CCITT 3 1D (black/white format)
• Recommended: TIFF G4 (CCITT Group 4 2D)

Scanned Images and Drawing Files, Main Relationship

Scanned images are not part of a drawing file; they are merely associated with a drawing file (or several drawing files). As scanned image files tend to be quite large, it would also be senseless to make multiple copies.

Try to think of the scanned image as a kind of grid that you can use as a reference and orientation as you work (drawing files with grids are also usually opened in reference mode only). Also, be careful not to inadvertently delete or alter areas of the scanned image unless you want the alteration to be visible in all the drawing files with which the image is associated.

If you want to save elements of a scanned image with the drawing file, you can cut the area out using the Create Bitmap Area tool, place it in the workspace and then save it as a symbol in the symbol library. The bitmap file associated with the bitmap area is saved in the project's design folder.