The Ship Model Forum

Hey guys,

I need to find a way to convert DWG or DWF files to tiff. I draw in Autocad 2000 and can plot to file to create DWF files but only IE can open them (note I run linux and do all this in a virtual machine running XP). IE cannot save them as anything but DWG, DWF or really crappy bitmaps. I can open DWG files in Corel Draw but from there I might as play with crayons due to the typical Draw/Illustrator program artsy-fartsy interface "why do something precisely in 3 clicks when we can design an interface that makes to hold your left little toe just so on the third rainy Tuesday of the month with 200,000 mouse clicks". Corel Draw also does not recognize Autocad solid hatching.

So.........is there a way to plot 600 to 1200 dpi tiff's in Autocad? Failing that are there any cheap or better yet free DWG/DWF to tiff converters? These can require XP as I do run a virtual machine to run Autocad and Corel.

Ron,

I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm very much the layman. But, is it possible to print your DWG/DWF and then scan the print as .tiff or .jpg? Maybe your prints are too, large to do this, huh?

My $0.02.

NukeMM wrote:Ron,

I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm very much the layman. But, is it possible to print your DWG/DWF and then scan the print as .tiff or .jpg? Maybe your prints are too, large to do this, huh?

My $0.02.

Carl,

The end result of that looks like someone tried to paint the Mona Lisa on a pinhead with a 4" wide paint brush that has dried paint in it.

Ron Smith wrote:

NukeMM wrote:Ron,

I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm very much the layman. But, is it possible to print your DWG/DWF and then scan the print as .tiff or .jpg? Maybe your prints are too, large to do this, huh?

My $0.02.

Carl,

The end result of that looks like someone tried to paint the Mona Lisa on a pinhead with a 4" wide paint brush that has dried paint in it.

Okay. Got it. Layman ignorance on my part. Just try'n to help. I hope somebody else can help ya.

Good luck!

First google search for "DWG to tiff converter" came up with this:
http://anydwg.com/dwg-to-tiff-ex.html

Might it help?

Timmy,
In order to get AutoCAD to generate a raster file (which includes files in the TIFF file format), you need to 'Plot to a file'. It's been a while since I've done this, but if memory serves, you create a false printer to send the file to and then you plot to this false printer. When you set up the false printer, you specify 'Raster file formats' from the Manufacturers list and the file type (in this case Tiff) from the Models list. There are other steps involved, but when you are finished, you have created a plotter definition that will create a tiff file of any drawing sent to it. For the rest of the steps consult your Help files or check out the Support / Knowledge Base at Autodesk.com

Good Luck.

Keith

AutoCAD since Version 2006 on has included a plot to tiff and jpeg format. However once translated from vector to raster the zero width lines become pixels and thus the image is degraded somewhat.

If anybody is still looking at this post:
The best way for me to do this is to print to pdf using for example "cute PDF" writer (it is a freeware).
Yes, you need Photoshop to open and rasterize the pdf file, but during this process you can assign any resolution you want to the resulting bitmap file. It can be as good as you need.