Workflows between AutoCAD and Illustrator
Background
AutoCAD cannot export to SVG or Adobe Illustrator directly (if this changes in the future, then this workflow will be obsolete)
AutoCAD to Illustrator
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explode ARCTEXT - not supported by EXDXF-Pro4 plugin and/or Illustrator
Issues with multi-line MTEXT, I'm unable to see the 2nd line in Illustrator, recommend using TEXT instead
Save As DXF 2013
download and install EXDXF-Pro4 plugin used in Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator Open DXF, using the EXDXF-Pro4 option
select Windows font used, don't know what happens if my DWG/DXF has multiple fonts, appears you can only select one font.
clean up .ai file
Issue fonts coming in smaller (e.g.
AutoCAD text height 0.10“ comes in as ~ 0.08”), have to manually select and change size within Illustrator
Issue exploded ARCTEXT loses Bold/Italic/Underline style settings. Unsure how to make text bold using Illustrator.
resize Artboard (AI left toolbar, towards bottom, rectangle button)
Illustrator Save As SVG version 1.1
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Issue with color gradients not showing up once break apart is finished.
References
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Conversion Software
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comment by John.Vellek - Autodesk Technical Support Specialist
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AutoCAD Lineweights and Illustrator Strokes
How do you embed fonts in illustrator?
what is equivalent lineweights?
How do you change the stroke width in Illustrator?
How do you rotate/flip text in Illustrator?
How do you change the justification of text in Illustrator?
How do you move text to a reference guideline?
How do you draw circular text in Illustrator?
How do you set the size of Artboard?
How do you change the text anchor from bottom left to top center of text?
Is there an anchor point orientation selector to chose TC, LL, BR, etc?
[A] appears text anchor is fixed at the baseline - bottom of text, but you can change the left, right, middle orientation
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How do you resize an
ArtBoard? (try holding shift key down to evenly scale)
use Artboard tool on left side, towards bottom
Top options bar, can enter size 0,0 and 2,2
Use white pointer (object selector) to position graphics on artboard
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How do you move objects onto different layers?
Select the object
Layers panel - select the destination layer
Object > Arrange > Sent To Current Layer
Sandra just does a cut and copy with basepoint? to move objects between layers
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Illustrator Strokes
Illustrator objects (circle, arc, polygon) have both strokes and fills
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Edit > Preferences > Units > Stroke > mm (options are points, picas, inches, millimeters, centimeters, pixels)
Window > Stroke
Rulers and Guides
View > Rulers > Show Rulers (Ctrl+R)
Create guides - drag from ruler to artboard
Delete guides - select and delete on keyboard
Units - right click on ruler and select Inches
To Create a Guide from a Path
Outline Mode
View > Outline
View > Preview
Illustrator Precision
Illustrator - PE Stamp
File > New
Name: PEStamp
New Document Profile: Print (had problems with Web guidelines not precisely 1” by 1“)
Units: Inches
Width 2in and Height 2in
Raster Effects: High (300 ppi)
rest keep defaults
How do you create multiple artboards?
Window > Layers checked on
View > Rulers > Show Ruler
right click on ruler change units to Inches
Drag a vertical guide at 1”
Drag a horizontal guide at 1“
Check to top horizontal bar properties, not exactly 1 in but 1.0069 in so need to manually adjust
Horizontal Text Guides
0.22 up from center, then right 0.25
0.06 up from center, then right 0.25
0.17 down from center, then right 0.25
0.37 down from center, then right 0.25
Rope Cord
Ellipse Tool - draw a circle with width and height (diameter) 1.75
Ellipse Tool - draw a circle with width and height (diameter) 13/8 (1.625)
Line Tool
Rotate (R)
Must already have the diagonal line selected before clicking Rotate Tool
click Rotate button
Alt click to drag center point to center of stamp
Angle 5 (360/72)
Copy button
Ctrl+D to repeat (Transform Again to copy rotated object one at a time)
View > Outline mode
Circle with diameter 0.02 (width and height 0.02)
move to upper left corner of trapezoid
copy
move to lower right corner of trapezoid
Circle with diameter 0.08 (width and height 0.08)
move to upper right corner of trapezoid
copy
move to lower left corner of trapezoid
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View > Preview mode
Pen Tool
trace the rounded corner polygon
stroke width 1 pt
Object > Group
Rotate
Alt+Left click center of stamp
angle 5 degrees
Copy button
Ctrl+D
Polar Grid Tool (click and hold down on the Line tool to open the flyout menu)
Polygon Tool (click and hold down on the rectangle tool to open the flyout menu)
single click center point, dialog box should open
Radius 7/8 (original 55/64)
Sides 72 (original 76)
How do you apply a stroke to it?
Inner Circles
drag horizontal Guide down from ruler x=1 and y=0.4375 (7/16)
Circle
Rotate Copy
Group
Layer
New Layer called Circles
with above Group selected, on the layers panel name at the right end, see a square that represents the selection set, drag this on to the New Layer to reassign objects to another layer
Text on Path - Top
Circle - create path for Text on Path
Ellipse Tool
Top Ribbon - No fill, Stroke 0.25 pt
single click center point, dialog box should open
Width (Diameter=1.3) 2*0.65
Height (Diameter=1.3) 2*0.65
Line Tool
single click center, dialog box should open
length 1”
angle: 360-55
Top Ribbon - No fill, Stroke 0.25 pt
Convert to Guides (View > Guides > Make Guides)
Line Tool
single click center, dialog box should open
length 1“
angle: 360-125
Top Ribbon - No fill, Stroke 0.25 pt
Convert to Guides (View > Guides > Make Guides)
Text
click and hold Text button Tool then select Type on Path Tool
select circle path
Top ribbon change font
Arial
Bold
10 pt
Justification Align Center
Select text
Drag end vertical brackets/lines to adjust the extents (left, right) of the Text on Path
Single click on Artboard
References
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Text on Path - Bottom
Circle - create path for Text on Path
Ellipse Tool
Top Ribbon - No fill, Stroke 0.25 pt
single click center point, dialog box should open
Width (Diameter=1.3) 2*0.75
Height (Diameter=1.3) 2*0.75
Text
click and hold Text button Tool then select Type on Path Tool
select circle path
Top ribbon change font
Arial
Bold
10 pt
Justification Align Center
Select text
Drag end vertical lines to adjust the extents of the Text on Path
Drag the middle line inwards to move text from outside to inside (concave side)
Single click on Artboard
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References
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Text - Horizontal
Text Tool
Arial, Bold, 10 pt, Center (click anywhere to type text, then move text anchor point to correct horizontal guide)
Row 1: JEFFERY J.
Row 2: JENSEN
Row 4: CIVIL
Arial, Bold, 9 pt, Center (click anywhere to type text, then move text anchor point to correct horizontal guide)