Adding Graphics to UG

Adding Graphics to UG

Adding a company logo to UG is usually a long and complicated process. There is not an easy to get the logo from a bitmap or a jpeg into UG, or is there? I'm going to take you on an adventure and show you how to get your bitmaps into UG as real geometry.

First you will need t 939c26j o download and install a program called inTopo. WinTopo can be found at https://wintopo.com/softsoft/wintopo/. There are two versions to choose from, a free version and a professional version. The professional version is about $200.00 and has more functionality. This Tech Tip shows you how to use
the free version and convert a bitmap.

Once WinTopo is installed launch the program. Select File | Open Image and open the bitmap to be converted. Now select Vector | One-Touch Vectorision. With the vectors created you are now ready to export. Select File | Save Vector As to export the vectors as an AutoCAD DXF file. Once the DXF file is created you are ready to import it into UG.

Now in UG select File | New and create a new part file. Then select File | Import | DXF to import the DXF you just created. You now have you bitmap in UG. Keep in mind that the bitmap is a pixilated image and if you zoom in on the vectors or the UG part file you will see the classic staircase problem. You can use UG to create splines to help you smooth out your image. The finished translation may mot be perfect but it is better that drawing the logo from scratch.

Another question that may come up is: What do I do if my image is a jpeg and I don't want to buy the $200.00 version? Most of the photo editors have of the ability to convert jpegs to bitmaps. An easy one that comes with Windows NT and 2000 is Microsoft's Photo Editor. Open the jpeg using Photo Editor and save the image as a bitmap. The Photo Editor is not easy to find but if you can search for photoed and look for the exe file.

Submitted by Kevin Carter, Senior CAD mentor, Cadpo on-site 3M, St. Paul.