














Save on the products you need with the AEC Collection and discover the toolkit that expands your skill set.
Save on the products you need with the PDM Collection and discover the toolkit that expands your skill set.
PDM Collection includes:
Save on the products you need with the ME Collection and discover the toolkit that expands your skill set.
Link and import PDF and image files, rescale images to real-world size, and snap an image to a PDF.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
7 min.
Transcript
00:04
We'll start by creating a new project. So from the Rait
00:06
home page, we'll choose to create a new model
00:10
from the list of template files. We'll choose architectural template
00:14
and then we'll choose OK to create a new project.
00:19
So for this project,
00:20
we have a PDF and an image file that we'd like
00:22
to use as a reference to build the 3D model from.
00:25
So to do this, we'll first go to the insert ribbon tab.
00:29
On the link panel, we see we have the option to link PDF and link image.
00:34
And on the import panel, we have the option to import PDF and import image.
00:39
The process is the same for both. However, if we use the link option,
00:44
we'll have more control and we'll be able to reload and unload the
00:47
image as it changes and as we need it in the future.
00:52
So we'll use link PDF in this instance.
00:56
And here we can see the site plan PDF that we want to use in this file.
00:60
So we'll select it and choose open.
01:02
Now we have the import PDF settings,
01:05
you can see the preview and if we had multiple pages within the PDF,
01:09
we could see all of those and choose which one we want to bring in.
01:13
We set the resolution to be 300 DP I as that will help with the snaps.
01:18
We can also see it's picked up the page size from the PDF.
01:21
And this will be used to scale the PDF when it comes into REV.
01:25
So we'll choose, OK.
01:27
And now that PDF will be built into our model.
01:30
So it's now attached to my cursor and we can left click to place that down.
01:33
So we'll just place it in the center of the view
01:37
and then we can see the PDF in. Now for you
01:41
zoom in, we can start to review the data within the PDF.
01:45
We can see that it's of a good resolution and will
01:48
enable us to trace around to create our 3D model.
01:51
We have some dimensions in the PDF.
01:53
So we'll go to the modify ribbon tab
01:56
and we'll use the measure between two references
01:58
tool to check that it's the correct scale.
02:01
So I'll select this end of this dimension
02:04
and then we'll go to the other end of the dimension
02:07
we can see here that it's actually half the size.
02:10
So currently it's not at the correct scale.
02:13
So zooming out
02:14
and looking at the corner of the PDF,
02:16
it has a skull noted which is 1/16 to 1 ft,
02:20
looking at the view
02:22
that's currently set to 1/8 to 1 ft
02:25
and Therefore, the PDF has been scaled to match the view,
02:28
which gives us a discrepancy between the two.
02:31
So to fix this
02:32
or change the view scale to 1/16 to 1 ft
02:37
and to save scale in the PDF, we'll simply delete it
02:41
now from the manage ribbon tab. We'll choose manage links.
02:45
We'll go to the PDF tab
02:47
where our site plan is still linked,
02:50
will choose to place another instance
02:54
and we'll place this down into the view.
02:56
And this time the PDF has been scaled to match the 1/16 to 1 ft view.
03:01
So if we zoom in
03:02
and from the modified ribbon tab, use our measure between two references.
03:07
And now we can see that our rev
03:08
dimensions
03:09
actually match the dimensions that are in the PDF.
03:12
And therefore we have it scaled to the correct size
03:15
currently, if I choose to create an object.
03:18
So we'll go back to the architecture ribbon tab
03:20
and we'll choose to create a floor object.
03:24
If I go to draw a line,
03:26
I see that I cannot snap to any of the points within the PDF file.
03:30
So to fix this,
03:31
we choose cancel edit mode
03:33
and we'll reelect the PDF.
03:35
And from the modify ribbon tab, we'll choose to enable the snaps.
03:39
So now when we go back to the architecture ribbon tab and choose to create a floor
03:44
using the draw line tool, we'll see that we have all of the snaps available.
03:48
So we could start to trace around
03:50
and snap to the PDF itself. Alternatively, we could even use the pick lines tool
03:55
and that will enable us to actually pick the lines within the PDF itself
03:59
and trace around to create the outline of our floor.
04:03
So we'll continue picking around these lines.
04:08
And once we've got our
04:09
enclosed boundary,
04:14
we'll be able to choose, finish edit mode.
04:17
We now have a floor created by tracing around the lines that are in our PDF.
04:21
One thing to note that by linking in a PDF file,
04:24
it's specific to the view that we've linked it to.
04:27
So therefore, if I go to the 3D view,
04:31
I can see the floor that we've created, but the PDF won't be visible.
04:35
So we'll go back to the level one plan view
04:38
and we have an image file that we use to create the houses in this area.
04:42
So from the insert ribbon tab, we'll choose to link image
04:46
and here we can see we have the layout sketch that we want to use.
04:49
So we'll open this up once again, it's attached to our cursor.
04:52
So we'll place it in the view.
04:54
This is scaled too big. So we will need to re scale this to the correct size.
04:58
And once again, we have some dimensions that we can use to help us do this.
05:02
So with it selected,
05:04
we'll choose the scale tool from the modified ribbon
05:07
and we'll come and choose the first point to be the end of one of our dimensions,
05:12
which is the opposite end of the dimension for the second point.
05:15
Now, we can type in what we want that dimension to be, which is 28 ft nine
05:22
and the image will be re scaled to that size.
05:24
So once again, we'll just choose the measure between two references
05:29
and we'll just check,
05:31
but that's 28 ft nine.
05:33
And although it's an image and we won't be able to snap to it accurately,
05:36
we will be able to use this to
05:38
help trace around the outline for us.
05:42
So now we're just moving and rotate it into the correct location.
05:45
So with it selected,
05:47
we can drag it into approximately the right place
05:50
and then we'll choose rotate from the modify rhythm tab here
05:54
to help rotate it. We'll use the PDF.
05:57
We choose to place the center of rotation and we'll snap to a line in the PDF
06:02
and then we'll take it from horizontal to that line.
06:05
So it's now rotated to that angle
06:08
and now we can come and move our image
06:10
more accurately and get it in the correct location.
06:14
So now we have that there, we could use this to trace around.
06:17
Although as I mentioned, we wouldn't be able to snap through the lines in the image.
06:20
However, it would be of great value to help us create our model.
06:24
So going back to the insert ribbon tab, we have the option to manage links.
06:28
And here we can see we have the image file and also the PDF file.
06:33
And selecting either of these
06:34
allows us to reload or unload that document from our file.
06:38
Making it easier for us to manage that data within our project.
Video transcript
00:04
We'll start by creating a new project. So from the Rait
00:06
home page, we'll choose to create a new model
00:10
from the list of template files. We'll choose architectural template
00:14
and then we'll choose OK to create a new project.
00:19
So for this project,
00:20
we have a PDF and an image file that we'd like
00:22
to use as a reference to build the 3D model from.
00:25
So to do this, we'll first go to the insert ribbon tab.
00:29
On the link panel, we see we have the option to link PDF and link image.
00:34
And on the import panel, we have the option to import PDF and import image.
00:39
The process is the same for both. However, if we use the link option,
00:44
we'll have more control and we'll be able to reload and unload the
00:47
image as it changes and as we need it in the future.
00:52
So we'll use link PDF in this instance.
00:56
And here we can see the site plan PDF that we want to use in this file.
00:60
So we'll select it and choose open.
01:02
Now we have the import PDF settings,
01:05
you can see the preview and if we had multiple pages within the PDF,
01:09
we could see all of those and choose which one we want to bring in.
01:13
We set the resolution to be 300 DP I as that will help with the snaps.
01:18
We can also see it's picked up the page size from the PDF.
01:21
And this will be used to scale the PDF when it comes into REV.
01:25
So we'll choose, OK.
01:27
And now that PDF will be built into our model.
01:30
So it's now attached to my cursor and we can left click to place that down.
01:33
So we'll just place it in the center of the view
01:37
and then we can see the PDF in. Now for you
01:41
zoom in, we can start to review the data within the PDF.
01:45
We can see that it's of a good resolution and will
01:48
enable us to trace around to create our 3D model.
01:51
We have some dimensions in the PDF.
01:53
So we'll go to the modify ribbon tab
01:56
and we'll use the measure between two references
01:58
tool to check that it's the correct scale.
02:01
So I'll select this end of this dimension
02:04
and then we'll go to the other end of the dimension
02:07
we can see here that it's actually half the size.
02:10
So currently it's not at the correct scale.
02:13
So zooming out
02:14
and looking at the corner of the PDF,
02:16
it has a skull noted which is 1/16 to 1 ft,
02:20
looking at the view
02:22
that's currently set to 1/8 to 1 ft
02:25
and Therefore, the PDF has been scaled to match the view,
02:28
which gives us a discrepancy between the two.
02:31
So to fix this
02:32
or change the view scale to 1/16 to 1 ft
02:37
and to save scale in the PDF, we'll simply delete it
02:41
now from the manage ribbon tab. We'll choose manage links.
02:45
We'll go to the PDF tab
02:47
where our site plan is still linked,
02:50
will choose to place another instance
02:54
and we'll place this down into the view.
02:56
And this time the PDF has been scaled to match the 1/16 to 1 ft view.
03:01
So if we zoom in
03:02
and from the modified ribbon tab, use our measure between two references.
03:07
And now we can see that our rev
03:08
dimensions
03:09
actually match the dimensions that are in the PDF.
03:12
And therefore we have it scaled to the correct size
03:15
currently, if I choose to create an object.
03:18
So we'll go back to the architecture ribbon tab
03:20
and we'll choose to create a floor object.
03:24
If I go to draw a line,
03:26
I see that I cannot snap to any of the points within the PDF file.
03:30
So to fix this,
03:31
we choose cancel edit mode
03:33
and we'll reelect the PDF.
03:35
And from the modify ribbon tab, we'll choose to enable the snaps.
03:39
So now when we go back to the architecture ribbon tab and choose to create a floor
03:44
using the draw line tool, we'll see that we have all of the snaps available.
03:48
So we could start to trace around
03:50
and snap to the PDF itself. Alternatively, we could even use the pick lines tool
03:55
and that will enable us to actually pick the lines within the PDF itself
03:59
and trace around to create the outline of our floor.
04:03
So we'll continue picking around these lines.
04:08
And once we've got our
04:09
enclosed boundary,
04:14
we'll be able to choose, finish edit mode.
04:17
We now have a floor created by tracing around the lines that are in our PDF.
04:21
One thing to note that by linking in a PDF file,
04:24
it's specific to the view that we've linked it to.
04:27
So therefore, if I go to the 3D view,
04:31
I can see the floor that we've created, but the PDF won't be visible.
04:35
So we'll go back to the level one plan view
04:38
and we have an image file that we use to create the houses in this area.
04:42
So from the insert ribbon tab, we'll choose to link image
04:46
and here we can see we have the layout sketch that we want to use.
04:49
So we'll open this up once again, it's attached to our cursor.
04:52
So we'll place it in the view.
04:54
This is scaled too big. So we will need to re scale this to the correct size.
04:58
And once again, we have some dimensions that we can use to help us do this.
05:02
So with it selected,
05:04
we'll choose the scale tool from the modified ribbon
05:07
and we'll come and choose the first point to be the end of one of our dimensions,
05:12
which is the opposite end of the dimension for the second point.
05:15
Now, we can type in what we want that dimension to be, which is 28 ft nine
05:22
and the image will be re scaled to that size.
05:24
So once again, we'll just choose the measure between two references
05:29
and we'll just check,
05:31
but that's 28 ft nine.
05:33
And although it's an image and we won't be able to snap to it accurately,
05:36
we will be able to use this to
05:38
help trace around the outline for us.
05:42
So now we're just moving and rotate it into the correct location.
05:45
So with it selected,
05:47
we can drag it into approximately the right place
05:50
and then we'll choose rotate from the modify rhythm tab here
05:54
to help rotate it. We'll use the PDF.
05:57
We choose to place the center of rotation and we'll snap to a line in the PDF
06:02
and then we'll take it from horizontal to that line.
06:05
So it's now rotated to that angle
06:08
and now we can come and move our image
06:10
more accurately and get it in the correct location.
06:14
So now we have that there, we could use this to trace around.
06:17
Although as I mentioned, we wouldn't be able to snap through the lines in the image.
06:20
However, it would be of great value to help us create our model.
06:24
So going back to the insert ribbon tab, we have the option to manage links.
06:28
And here we can see we have the image file and also the PDF file.
06:33
And selecting either of these
06:34
allows us to reload or unload that document from our file.
06:38
Making it easier for us to manage that data within our project.
Industry:
Role:
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in for the best experience
Save your progress
Get access to courses
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement.May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.