AutoCAD to Photoshop

[falls]

Another computer program thread.
I am trying to export my ski shapes from autocad into photoshop and maintain the scale so I can create a clipping mask to look at what the skis will look like while trimmed.
Any tips?

[NinetyFour]

Maybe use a PDF printer? (If you're using an older version of CAD) The other thing you could maybe do is a copy to all of the lines you want, but don't use the regular copy command. You need to select all of the lines you want to copy over first and then use (ctrl+c) and then use (ctrl+v) to past it into photoshop if it accepts it. Thats at least how you do a quick transfer of objects from 1 drawing to another. If I had Photoshop loaded up onto the computer I could help out way more, but I sadly don't anymore.

Good Luck!

[twizzstyle]

Do you have Illustrator? I can't remember if Photoshop can take in a DXF, but Illustrator certainly can. That's how I've always done it, bring it into Illustrator as a DXF, make a white mask out of the shapes, and then rasterize that into something I can use in Photoshop or Illustrator.

[ben_mtl]

I too use Illustrator then Photoshop to do that, but I usually modify the scale of the mask (101 %) to account for the topsheet shrinkage

[falls]

I have illustrator and photoshop.
You can import a dxf into illustrator.
I'm having trouble with the scale - it can go into photoshop but always ends up too small.
Is it a page size setting or something like that?

thanks for the replies

[threeninethree]

Export your ski in DXF from Cad.
Open the DFX file and check these things:
make sure the linework is in model space.
It may not really matter, but set your CANNOSCALE to 1:1


Open the DFX in illustrator:
Make sure original size is selected
1mm to 1mm is selected.
center art work selected.

In illustrator adjust the artboard to the correct size.
Save as AI file

You should now be able to open this in photoshop and edit.

[twizzstyle]

Are you copying it as a vector object from Illustrator? Try rasterizing it first at the same DPI as the file you're working on in Photoshop.

[Dr. Delam]

I just use a virtual printer like deskPDF creator. You're not actually printing, just switching your print settings to save it.

http://www.docudesk.com/deskpdf/pdf-creator

You can try it for free and it just leaves a small logo at the bottom of your document.

Once it is saved in PDF format, you can just place it in Photoshop and it automatically centers it in your canvas.

[falls]

thanks. I think i am getting there.
Just gave to work out the clipping mask

twizz: i tried to rasterise it in ai, but at 1850mm x 320mm and 200dpi it says the resolution size is too big.
dr: I am working on a mac

[falls]

I finally worked it out

thanks

[mattman]

Do you have Illustrator? I can't remember if Photoshop can take in a DXF, but Illustrator certainly can. That's how I've always done it, bring it into Illustrator as a DXF, make a white mask out of the shapes, and then rasterize that into something I can use in Photoshop or Illustrator.

Thank you! This was just the trick I was looking for.