The webinar presented by Larson Software Technology discusses the transformation of graphical data, showcasing their products Vizex Transform and Vizex Edit for optimizing graphic conversion processes. It covers various source formats, both raster and vector, highlighting challenges, benefits, and application scenarios in producing technical graphics. Attendees were provided with practical insights on how to effectively convert and enhance graphics while adhering to industry standards.

1. The Transformation of Graphical Data
November 10th 2016
11am Eastern Time, USA
Presenters – Don Larson, Larson Software Technology & David Manock, Vizualsite LLC
Welcome to the Product Webinar

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Agenda
• Introduction
• Housekeeping
• Company Overview
• Slide Presentation and Demos
• Summary
• Closing Information

3. Webinar: Housekeeping
• All attendees will be muted for the duration of the Webinar
• If you experience problems when joining the webinar please
use the questions function to communicate
• VOIP is the recommended audio option
• Post questions during the webinar using the panel
• Questions will be answered following the main presentation
or by email
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Larson Software Technology
• Based in Houston, Texas
• Founded in 1984, graphic technology experts for 30 years
• Develops powerful, innovative graphics software and
toolkits, based on open standards
• Promoting CGM Usage, by providing VizEx Reader a free
CGM and TIFF viewer
• Developer of the first HTML5 CGM viewer
• Member of the CGM Open Foundation
• Larson technology simplifies the graphics workflow for
Technical Publications Professionals, Engineers,
Geologists, and Geophysicists

5. Webinar Objectives
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• Describe the potential graphical transformation scenarios
• Provide overview of common graphical source formats
• Raster and Vector data
• Highlight the pitfalls of graphic conversion
• Demonstrate the transformation and creation of the published technical
graphics
• VizEx Transform
• VizEx Edit
• Provide Tips, Benefits, Advice and Knowledge during the webinar
• Summarize the graphic conversion and transformation solutions
available from Larson

6. Introduction
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• The repurposing of graphical data can be a challenge during the
publications production process
• Graphic file formats can present varied issues leading to
alternative transformation scenarios
• Data quality is a major consideration from a source and
publishing perspective
• Using the optimum software solution during the production
process will reduce costs and optimize quality
• Definition of Transformation: Convert graphic data to an open
file format, add value to the graphic (annotations, hotspots),
create compliant file format when required (S1000D, ATA)

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Possible Data Sources
• Raster files
• Legacy format
• Scanned line art illustrations
• Intermediate format
• Exported from 3rd party software, e.g. CAD
• Photographs a good example, used as is, or traced
• Vector graphics
• 2D or 3D CAD system
• Many formats are possible and used
• Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW
• PDF
• Embedded vector and raster data
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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Introduction – Raster Data
• Raster legacy data still plays a significant role in the technical
publications process
• Analysis of raster data can prove to be beneficial
• Optimizing production process
• Raster Data may require enhancements with the addition of hotspots
• Larson utilize an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to achieve
the requirement
• Raster Data used as an intermediate format
• CAD export
• Photographic files
• Used as a template
• The deliverable with added value such annotations

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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
KNOWLEDGE - TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
Industry-standard method for storing scanned
and other digital black-and-white, grayscale, and
full-color images. Developed mainly for desktop
publishing, TIFF has found applications in several
other areas such as computer aided design
(CAD), fax transmission. TIFF
saves detailed image information with
each pixel, resulting in a relatively large data file.

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Clean-up – Raster Data
• Quality of the legacy scan - Considerations?
• The text legibility for OCR purposes (hotspotting)
• 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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Photographic Information
• Photographs also play an important role in publications
• Predominantly used as a maintenance type illustration
• They can be used directly and annotated appropriately
• Alternative, the photograph can be used as a template
• Traced to create line art version

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Introduction - Vector Data
• Vector Data is also available 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,
easier to edit
• Vector Data, the most common sources:
• CAD Systems
• General Graphics Software

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Vector Data (continued)
• Common Graphic File Formats
• CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
• AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• PDF (Portable Document Format)
• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic)
• Various CAD formats including – DWG, DXF, IGES etc.
• Specification driven industries will probably require the CGM
format to be valid with S1000D and ATA
• During the demonstration will look at all these formats

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Transformation Scenarios
Legacy & New 2D New & Revised 3DLegacy Raster
Source DataRaster Data Vector Data
New Raster
Photographs
CAD Exports
Converted hard
copy illustrations
Existing 2D
Converted 3D
3D deliverable
Transformation
Annotations & Hotspots Annotations, Hotspots & Animation
Publish
CGM SVG PDF 3D Various
Conversion
Add Value
1 2 3 4
Raster Various

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Scenario - 1 – Legacy Raster
• Retain existing raster format
• TIFF
• JPEG, ETC.
• Add value
• Text elements
• Hotspot information
• Publish
• CGM
• SVG,
• PDF
1

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Scenario - 2 – New Raster
• Exported from source software e.g. CAD
• TIFF
• JPEG
• Digital photographs
• Add value
• Text elements
• Hotspot information
• Publish to new file format
• CGM
• SVG
• PDF
2

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Scenario - 3 – Vector Data Legacy & New
• Transform new and existing vector graphics originating from
CAD or general graphics software
• Add value
• Hotspot information
• Annotations
• 2D Animation
• Publish to new file format
• CGM
• SVG
• PDF
3

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Scenario - 4 – New and Revised 3D
• Transform 3D vector graphics (Coming 2017)
• Add value
• Interactivity
• Animation
• Publish to new file format
• PDF
• MPEG
• U3D
• Native file formats
4

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Scenarios – Larson Product Fit
Scenario’s 1, 2 and 3
• Convert, Add Value & Publish
• VizEx Transform
• Configurable Batch Conversion Tool
• Auto-Hotspot – Raster and Vector
• Save to CGM, SVG, PNG
• VizEx Edit
• Convert files individually
• Add value – hotspots and annotations
• Save as CGM or SVG with interactivity
• PDF is also an option but hotspots will be lost

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Demo
Automated Graphic Transformation

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VizEx Transform - Major Benefits
• Ideal for processing large raster and vector graphic archives
• Process Raster files and add hotspot information via OCR
technology
• Use a companion spreadsheet to add associated information
• Process Vector data from 2D CAD systems
• Automatically remove extraneous information
• Process layering information
• Useful if layers contain foreign language information
• Automatically enhance with hotspot information
• Convert PDF to CGM or SVG
• Convert CGM to SVG and retain hotspot information
• Hotspot CGM graphics

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Demo
Transforming and Editing Vector Data

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VizEx Edit - Major Benefits
• Support import and export of major open 2D graphic formats
• CGM
• SVG
• PDF
• Easy to use hotspot and annotation capability
• Cost effective illustration tool for maintaining an illustration
archive
• Isometric illustration features and tools
• Fully standards compliant S1000D, ATA iSpec2200 etc.

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Summary
• There are many opportunities to source information to produce your
technical graphics
• The number of source formats is diverse
• Selecting the appropriate one can be a challenge
• VizEx Transform and Edit optimize the process of graphic conversion
and transformation
• Both products support the primary graphic publishing formats
• We hope the webinar has provided you with useful and interesting
information

25. Q&A
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Closing Information
• You can discover more information about
Larson Software Technology at www.cgmlarson.com
• A link to a recording of the webinar will be sent via email
• All the materials will be available:
• www.slideshare.net/donlarson1
• Follow us on!
• www.twitter.com/cgmlarson
• Next Larson webinar February 2017