Learn graphics production process best practices, to enable better and more informed decision making when converting and transforming graphical data.

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Converting & Transforming Technical Graphics
Don Larson, CEO, Larson Software Technology
David Manock, President, Vizualsite LLC.

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Valuable Content Transformed
• Document Digitization
• XML and HTML Conversion
• eBook Production
• Hosted Solutions
• Big Data Automation
• Conversion Management
• Editorial Services
• Harmonizer

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Experience the DCL Difference
DCL blends years of conversion experience with cutting-edge technology and the
infrastructure to make the process easy and efficient.
• World-Class Services
• Leading-Edge Technology
• Unparalleled Infrastructure
• US-Based Management
• Complex-Content Expertise
• 24/7 Online Project Tracking
• Automated Quality Control
• Global Capabilities

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We Serve a Very Broad Client Base . . .
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. . . Spanning All Industries
• Aerospace
• Associations
• Defense
• Distribution
• Education
• Financial
• Government
• Libraries
• Life Sciences
• Manufacturing
• Medical
• Museums
• Periodicals
• Professional
• Publishing
• Reference
• Research
• Societies
• Software
• STM
• Technology
• Telecommunications
• Universities
• Utilities

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• Based in Houston, Texas
• Founded in 1984, CGM Experts for 30 years
• Develops & markets graphics software tools , based on
open standards
• Promoting CGM Usage, VizEx Reader a free CGM and TIFF
viewer
• Member of the CGM Open Foundation
• Larson products used in Technical Publishing by
Aerospace, Defense and Heavy Manufacturing.
• Used to create, maintain and deploy technical graphics
• More information available at www.cgmlarson.com
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Webinar Objectives
• Provide lessons learned when transforming technical
graphics
• Focus on common graphic source formats
– Raster and Vector data
• Describe the data preparation considerations and
techniques to achieve 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
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Introduction
• The reuse of technical graphics produced in
varying formats can be a significant challenge
during the publications production process
• Different file formats can present different issues
and resolutions
• Quality is a major consideration for the source
data and output requirement for publishing
• Using ‘Best Practice’ will reduce production time
and costs
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Today’s Technical Graphics Process
• Technical graphics are usually originated, generated or
revised in a electronic format
– Can also be legacy raster, a scan of a hard copy illustrations
• The most likely starting point for a new
technical graphic today is from
a CAD system
– This could be a 2D or 3D CAD source data
• Spare part illustrations
• Schematics
• Wiring Diagrams
• Drawing from scratch – could be quicker
– Dependent of availability and suitability of CAD data
– Create illustration using a photograph as a template
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KNOWLEDGE:
Computer Aided Design is
mainly used for detailed
engineering of 3D models and/or
2D drawings of physical
components, but it is also used
throughout the engineering
process from conceptual design
and layout of products.

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Possible Data Sources
• Raster file
– Legacy format
• Scanned line art illustrations
– Intermediate format
• Exported from 3rd party software, CAD System?
• Photographs a good example
• Vector graphics
– 2D or 3D CAD system
• Many formats are possible and used
– Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW
– PDF
• Embedded vector and raster data
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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.

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Poll #1
1. What source file formats do you use to generate
your technical graphics?
 Raster – Scans of original illustrations
 Raster – Intermediate format, raster
from CAD, photographic
 Vector – Adobe Illustrator,
PDF or other graphics format
 Vector – CAD 2D
 Vector – CAD 3D
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Raster Data
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Introduction – Raster Data
• Raster 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
• Allowing the optimization of the production process
• Raster Data may require enhancements with the addition
of hotspots
• We will investigate the possible pitfalls of this process (OCR)
• Raster Data as an intermediate format
• Correct decision at the time but now alternatives could exist?
• Photographic files, intermediate and delivery
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Hard Copy Scan – Raster Data
• Legacy Raster Data is usually the result of a hard
copy scan
• If the original no longer exists little
can be done to improve quality
• Quality
• Dependent on scan resolution
• What generation?
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Clean Up – Raster Data
• Quality of the legacy scan - Considerations?
– It is unlikely you will be able to improve the quality of a
scan apart from a general clean up
• TIP: clean up scans using the well known raster editors,
for example Adobe Photoshop & Corel Photo-Paint
– The scans sometimes contain sporadic pixels (Noise) not
part of the main image
• The pixels can be removed using software functions, for example
– Corel Photo Paint
» Remove Noise
– Adobe Photoshop
» Despeckle
» Dust & Scratches
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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)
– PCX (PiCture eXchange)
– GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
• TIP: Specifications compliance to
S1000D 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
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KNOWLEDGE - TIFF
(Tagged Image File
Format)
Industry-standard method for
storing scanned and
other digital black-and-white,
grayscale, and full-
color images. Developed mainl
y for desktop publishing, TIFF
has found applications in
several other areas such
as computer aided design
(CAD), fax transmission. TIFF
saves detailed image informati
on with each pixel, resulting in
a relatively large data file.

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Properties - Raster Legacy
• DPI (Dots Per Inch) better known as image
resolution
• The DPI is a major factor when determining
the scan quality (200-300 DPI a good baseline)
• TIP: Right click the file and select Properties
– The smaller the number the lower the quality
– The publishing of the illustration is a major
factor when considering if the DPI is
acceptable
• Higher resolution to maintain quality for print
• The display on a laptop screen for example the
DPI can be lower but if the viewing tool can
zoom the user will see deterioration as they
zoom-in
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Demo
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Comparison Viewing
Raster Data and Vector Data

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Analysis – Raster Legacy
• TIP: Evaluate manually re-drawing as a vector
illustration
– Assess the longevity of the graphic and its future use
• The cost versus use
– Does the legacy illustration now exist in a CAD
format
• If yes, could be repurposed
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Auto-trace – Raster Legacy
• An alternative to manual re-draw is
Auto-Trace
• The two major mass market graphics
programs both have the facility
• CorelDRAW - Centerline Trace
• Adobe Illustrator – Image Trace
• TIP: Perform tests on typical files
before committing to this strategy
• It could be quicker to re-draw
than clean-up the trace
• ADVICE: consider the
longevity of the file how
many more revisions could
take place
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Transforming – Raster Data
• Resizing, rotating etc. impacts the quality of the image
• The technical term is Interpolation
• In basic terms the pixels have to be remapped when
transformed
• ADVICE: this can effect the quality of your image
• TIP: Artifact’s of interpolation can be used to improve
the appearance
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HaloBlurringAnti-aliasing

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Intermediate Raster Data
• Raster data can also originate from 3rd party software
• Example's, CAD, Graphics software etc.
• The possible reasons for using raster export:
• The limitation's of the export options
• The limitation's of the import options of target publishing
software
• Historical – we’ve always done it that way?
• ADVICE:
• Validate the export settings being used
– Is it possible to increase the DPI of the export?
• Is a vector option available?
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Intermediate Raster Data - 2
• Photographic data has always played an important
role in publications
• Predominantly used as a maintenance type illustration
• It can be used directly and annotated appropriately
• Alternative, the photograph can be used as a template
• Traced to create line art vector version (Automotive)
• BENEFIT: Relevant information can be highlighted and be
distinct
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Poll #2
1. Do your graphics require hotspots?
 Yes
 No
 In the future
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OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
• The BIG question why OCR a raster technical illustration?
• Primary reason, illustration requires hotspot regions
• OCR is a very good way of achieving a defined region
• Dependency on quality of raster text
• Spare Part illustrations are more likely to have hotspots
• ADVICE: Assess suitability for OCR – is it capable of graphic
hot spotting?
• TIP: Data Analysis Steps:
• Determine if characters sufficiently formed to make OCR viable?
• Best Practice: Test a generic subset of data to determine viability
• Use test results to select the best process
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OCR (Optical Character Recognition) 2
• Test Passed:
– Convert the whole batch of files using OCR software
• Test Fails:
– There are probably 2 options:
1. Regenerate the required text for the graphic and
include hotspot information
2. Manually Hotspot the raster Data (Overlay)
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Demo
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Automated Hotspotting - OCR Process
Manual Hotspotting Process

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Vector Data

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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
• Technical Writing software
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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.

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CAD Systems – Vector Data
• CAD Systems
• Autodesk Inventor
• Autocad
• Catia
• Creo Parametric (ProE)
• Solidworks
• Solid Edge
• Siemens NX (Unigraphics)
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Poll #3
• What CAD System/s does your company use?
Autodesk
Catia
PTC Creo Parametric (ProE)
Siemens NX - Unigraphics
Solidworks
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CAD File Formats – Vector Data
• CAD File Formats
– 3D Data
• CAD Native files
– DWG native file format for AutoCAD data files
• VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language)
• IGES
• STEP (Standard for the Exchange of
Product model data)
– ISO 10303 Standard
– 2D Data
• DXF
• DWG
• CGM
• PDF
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KNOWLEDGE:
Initial Graphics
Exchange
Specification
(IGES)
is a vendor-
neutral file
format that
allows the digital
exchange of
information
among computer
-aided
design (CAD)
systems.
KNOWLEDGE:
Data Exchange File
(DXF)
The format is a tagged
data representation of
all the information
contained in an
AutoCAD® drawing file.

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Demo
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Open 2D CAD Data (DWG)

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CAD Data/Takeaways – Vector Data
• Considerations when using CAD files
– File sizes
• 3D files sizes can be challenging
– Select data exchange file formats carefully
• Converted CAD files can contain polylines that increase file
size
• Conversion to a 2D file format, for example CGM will provide
a more suitable file for publishing purposes
– Removal of Extraneous Information
• Layers
• Legends
• Text
– The process needs to be automatic to be cost effective
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CAD Data/Takeaways – Vector Data - 2
• Editing
– Polylines can make the file difficult to edit (not Bezier
curves)
• Text can also be sometimes be converted to vector lines
– Text mapping can be an issue
• Font substitution
• Character positioning
• ADVICE: Make sure text does not obscure the
illustration
– Wiring diagrams can be challenging
• Text in tight areas
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General Graphics Software – Vector Data
• General Mass Market Graphics Software
– 2D Data
• Adobe Illustrator
• CorelDRAW X7
• Commercial Industry requirements for graphic publishing
are usually satisfied common formats:
• AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• PDF (Portable Document Format)
• DWG
• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic)
• Specification driven industries may well require the CGM
format e.g. S1000D and ATA
– TIP: CorelDraw X7 does support CGM but not the profiles
required for specification compliance
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Graphics Software Takeaways – Vector Data
• Very good choice of export formats
– PDF is now an open format so good potential to use as archive
– SVG another open format
• ADVICE: SVG probably not a good choice for an archive
format
• File sizes
– Very good, usually small and easy to handle
• Good compatibility with publishing software
• ADVICE:
– Do not support the CGM format for compliance with industry
specifications
– Not capable of adding hotspot information fro use in Interactive
Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM’s)
• TIP: To be specification compliant save as a TIFF, not ideal
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Specialist Illustration Software – Vector Data
• 2D
– PTC Arbortext IsoDraw – 3D import
– Corel DESIGNER X7 – 3D import
– Larson’s VizEx Edit – Native CGM
– Auto-Trol - Tech Illustrator
– Cortona2D Editor Pro
– Antea’s Leonardo
• IsoDraw & Corel Designer Application
• 3D
– CREO Illustrate
– 3DVIA Composer
– Cortona’s Rapid Manual
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Specialist Software Takeaways – Vector Data
• Used in all areas of manufacturing
– Including specification's driven Aerospace and Defense
industries
– Support for CGM is a given
• Cost generally higher than general graphics software
– Specific functionality will earn pay back
• Very good choice of import and export formats
• Very good handling of both 2D and 3D files
• Good compatibility with publishing software
– Especially electronic delivery for IETM’s
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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
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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.

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PDF Format – Vector Data 2
• PDF was based on PostScript another Adobe
technology
– Therefore it does support graphic primitives
– Lines, Bezier curves etc.
– Can also contain raster data
• BENEFIT: You can open a PDF file in different graphics
programs and edit them
• ADVICE: Not all PDF files are creating equal, it is
possible older PDF files will not have a vector structure
• TIP: PDF can be a good export option from a CAD
system
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Demo
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Open PDF file
Publish PDF file

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Technical Writing Software – Vector Data
• Technical Writing Software can contain
graphics
– Framemaker
– Arbortext Editor
– oXygen
– ETC.
• There are methods of retrieving the data
– The method will vary depending on software
– Raster or Vector Data
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CGM Supports Raster & Vector Data
• Another good 2D format to consider is CGM
• CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
– An Open Non-Proprietary format
– Actively governed and developed by the CGM Open
Foundation www.cgmopn.org
– 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 the best option to maintain
CGM files
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Summary
• There are many opportunities to source information and
produce technical graphics
• The number of source and publishing formats are diverse
– Selecting the appropriate format and software can be a
challenge
• The primary considerations should be, quality, re-use and
publishing
– Ideally choose a format that answers all of these criteria
– Software should be capable, a combination of solutions may
be required
• We hope todays webinar has provided information that
you found interesting and above all useful
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Q&A
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Mark Gross
President & CEO,
Data Conversion Laboratory
(718) 307-5711
MarkGross@dclab.com
@dclaboratory
Don Larson
CEO
Larson Software Technology
713-977-4177
don.larson@cgmlarson.com
www.cgmlarson.com
@cgmlarson