Converting a existing PDF into a CC overland map
Hi Everyone,
I'm new to using CC3 and still have only a very basic understanding of how to use it (calling it basic is even an exaggeration).
I want to convert an existing overland map (JPG) into CC3, as it is very basic.
Is there an easy way to do this, or using trace the best method?
What would be the best tutorial video to watch?
Thanks in advance!
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The easiest way is to create a new map in the style of your choice, create a new sheet called BITMAP or TRACE, and a new Layer called the same thing, make sure both of these are active and import the bitmap image into it using Draw, Insert File.
Follow the instructions in the command line to paste it correctly. You can either click for the corners or enter coordinates.
Becaues it's on it's own sheet you can move the image up or down the stack of sheets and give it transparency using a Transparency sheet effect on that sheet.
...
Alternatively, you could painstakingly convert the image into one suitable for use with TRACE or TRACED, but that takes time and patience in a bitmap editor as you would need to make it very high resolution all parts of it either opaque or clear and well defined. If as you say it's a relatively simple map it might be more a waste of time than simply importing it and hand tracing the components directly into your drawing.
Thanks
The map is not well defined or clear, hence why I am converting it.
I will see how I go
Also, once you've imported the map image into CC3+, make sure you have it scaled correctly before starting to copy the map. If there's a scalebar on the image, use the drop-down menu command Info => Distance, and check the scalebar length is correct (if it's meant to be 500 miles long, make sure it is, or at least is very close to that value, for instance).
If it isn't, click the Scale
button (mid left-hand panel on a standard CC3+ window view), then click the map image to select it - check the Command Line to ensure you just have that one item selected - choose the origin point to scale from (it doesn't really matter too much what point you pick, but the bottom left corner can be handy), and then type in what the scaling value should be. You don't have to work it out - CC3+ will do that for you. Just type in the length of scalebar you want and the size it currently is, with an appropriate "/" (divide) command in between.
So, if your scalebar should be 500 miles, and the distance measured shows it's currently 700 miles, type in "500/700" to make the map image suitably smaller. Then check the length of the scalebar again, to make sure it's now OK. If not, repeat using the changed scalebar-size value.
And if something goes awry, such as typing the numbers in the wrong way round (my usual trick...) just use the Undo
button (helpfully also in that mid left-hand selection of clickable buttons; probably the most important one to keep in mind at all times!).