This document provides instructions for basic raster to vector conversion commands in GTXRaster CAD PLUS. It discusses selecting raster data, setting vector conversion options like conversion type and advanced settings, performing vector cleanup after conversion, and saving changes. The goal is to learn how to vectorize geometric entities in a drawing, while keeping text as raster until a future lesson.

1. Basic Raster to Vector
Conversion
Commands
(The second in a series on GTXRaster CAD®
functions)

2. GTXRaster CAD PLUS®
…“AutoCAD for
Raster”
…the most valuable raster clean up and
editing software available for AutoCAD
users.
Modify and enhance your legacy paper
drawings in your AutoCAD environment
for use in your current design process.

3. GTXRaster CAD Plus provides many
commands that will convert data
between CAD and raster formats. These
commands are found under the
GTXConvert menu…

4. 1. gCONVRT converts selected raster
data to vector
8. gTRACE traces vector lines, arcs, and
circles over selected raster
geometry (raster remains)
2.gHYBRIDMODE enable vector overlay of
drawn raster lines, arcs,
circles, rectangles, and text
9. gVECTOR traces raster to vector lines,
arcs and circles.
3. gRASTER converts selected vector
entities to raster
10. gDRO_BK sets all image entities’ draw
order behind other entities
4. gECONVRT creates a vector edge
around selected raster
11. gREDUCE reduces a multi-color image
to a more manageable
number of colors
5. gEDGE Creates a raster edge
around selected raster
12. gSEPARATE separates colors to discrete
bitonal images
6. gHTEXT edit vector text and create
a raster text underlay
gHYBRIDMODE
13. gBITONAL automatically reduces a
color image to a binary (1-
bit) image
7. gBURN converts all vectors to
raster, “burning” them into
the current raster image
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

5. Basic raster to vector commands
are the focus of this presentation,
the second in a series of tutorials.
View Part 1:

6. GTXRaster CAD Plus gives you the ability to
convert your entire drawing into a DWG
format in a matter of few mouse-clicks!
Please note, text and geometry
vectorization are two separate algorithms
and have to be performed separately.
In this lesson you will learn how to vectorize
all geometrical entities in the drawing.

7. Prepare Image
for Raster to
Vector Selection
1.

8. • Zoom to extends to get a
view of the entire drawing
by typing “z” – Enter - “e”
– Enter
• Click on the Raster to
Vector Icon
• Use IOP All icon to select the
entire drawing

9. • Zoom to extends to get a
view of the entire drawing
by typing “z” – Enter - “e” –
Enter
• Click on the Raster to
Vector Icon
• Use IOP All icon to select the
entire drawing
IOP = Intelligent Object Picking – GTX’s advanced
technology to make the selection of raster objects
as easy as handling CAD entities.

10. • Zoom to extends to get a
view of the entire drawing
by typing “z” – Enter - “e” –
Enter
• Click on the Raster to
Vector (gCONVRT) Icon
• Use IOP All icon to select the
entire drawing
Now the entire drawing is ready to convert to vector,
but, remember geometry and text must be
vectorized separately.

11. Notice that all text entities have been excluded from the selection and
are now marked in red.
If certain parts of any objects such as the hatch and dashed lines have
been deselected, add them back in.
• Remove text from your selection
using IOP Remove and IOP All Text
icons
• Click Enter once all geometrical
entities are added to the active
selection
• Add hatch and dashed lines
deselected in error back into the
active selection using IOP Add
• Select IOP Window and window
around the hatch and dashed lines to
include them in the selection

12. Set Vector
Conversion
Options
2.

13. Then…
The following Vectorization menu will
appear. For the purposes of this lesson
we will select:
• Conversion Type: CAD
• Rectify: Ortho (locking vertical and
horizontal lines if slightly skewed)
• Advanced:
 Check the box for Arrowheads to
include them in the vector file
 Check the Linear Alignment box. Linear
Alignment is designed to join “broken”
lines at a specified “Gap to jump”. In
this case, select the gap of 20 pixels.
 Save Raster: Uncheck. When
checked, allows you to save the
initially selected raster as a
reference. Uncheck to allow you
to see the vector entities
separately.
20

14. Now…
Entities are converted and text still appears on the
drawing as a raster image.

15. Now…
Entities are converted and text still appears on the
drawing as a raster image.
We’ll cover text conversion in the next presentation.

16. A side note about CAD vs. Contour conversion
CAD generates typical lines, arcs, circle
geometry whereas contour is used for
mapping applications where polyline
generation is needed.

17. 3.
Vector Cleanup

18. In addition to raster editing and clean up, GTXRaster CAD PLUS
2014 offers comprehensive vector clean up to aid in cleaning
drawings after conversion from raster.
1. gVSKEW deskews vector data
2. gRELIMIT combines trim and extend for lines
3. gJOIN joins lines
4. gCONCEN moves circles and arcs to be concentric about a
location or about the centerpoint of a specified circle or
arc
5. gCALIKE changes circles and arcs to have the same radius as a
selected circle or arc
6. gCELEV assigns incremental elevations to multiple polylines
7. gRAHEAD erases “arrowheads” (solids with three
points)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

19. • In this drawing area, focus
on the area to the left of
the cam.
• Bring up GTX VClean
toolbar from the toolbar’s
panel
• Click on the Join Lines
(gJOIN ) icon
• Select two lines that you
wish to join, by clicking on
them.
• Press ENTER to execute the
command.
In this section, learn how to join “broken” vector
lines.

20. Before and After

21. 4.
Save Changes

22. Click on the Save Raster (gSAVE) icon
to save the raster image. Use the
AutoCAD save command to save the
vector entities.
(The raster file is saved as a reference image linked to the
AutoCAD DWG file by a directory path. Therefore, if you
move or rename the original raster file, AutoCAD will no
longer be able to locate and attach it to your DWG.)

23. For more GTXRaster
CAD lessons:
Coming Soon:
Part 3: Intermediate Raster Clean-up and
Editing

24. Contact us to find out more
about:
• Raster Editing
• Raster to Vector Conversion
• How to edit raster drawings
• Modifying drawings
• Converting raster to vector
• Working with paper drawings
• Modifying raster files
• Raster drawing tools
• R2V
• Should I convert my raster
drawing?
• How to convert my raster
drawing
• Modifying scanned drawings
• Scanning Drawings
Find out more about GTXRaster CAD
…the AutoCAD for raster.
(and other raster editing, hybrid editing and conversion to vector products)
Windham Document Systems