AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD + RasterDWG

1. What is the RasterDWG format? How does this work with AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD?


1. What is the RasterDWG format? How does this work with AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD?

AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD supports third party software which handles images (raster information). Intentionally, the image displayed in the background made it easier to digitize scanned images to CAD by manual re-drawing, rather than leaning over a digitizing table and twisting your head to view the screen. However, a dual file save is required: one for raster and one for vector: two separate files, only linked together when loading the application. Very often this leads to confusion, especially when you send a drawing by e-mail, or manage drawings through a digital archive (EDM - Electronic Document Management). The vector file only contains a link with the path to the raster information.
Another disadvantage is that people sharing these files need to run the identical software applications (expensive). With Internet communications and the need to distribute CAD drawings to suppliers, manufacturers, tooling companies; etc., this method does not seem to be very practical.
VPHybridCAD and VPmap Series have the capability to handle hybrid drawings (whole or partial) as an DWG file with the raster image embedded in the same file. This RasterDWG® format contains standard DWG information together with raster information in one single file! Now, with RasterDWG®, you can send DWG files to another party who can view both, vector and raster entities of a drawing. To view the raster image in AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD, just install the free RasterDWG® utility, available in the download section of this website. For those not having the utility, only the vector data will be displayed. While AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD includes raster import capability, it does not save raster inside its own DWG format, nor can AutoCAD/BricsCAD/ZWCAD vectorize the raster contents.

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