Scanning hard copy drawings into TIFF files
& Conversion to AutoCAD Drawings & Printing
Many old historic drawings are fading to the point of being unreadable or the originals are disintegrating. In
some cases only blue line prints or old blue background prints exist, the originals have been lost or
destroyed. This paper discuss how to convert to an electronic format and preserve these historic files and be
able to easily copy and print them and also convert them into an editable AutoCAD drawing. These
electronic files can be archived to backup existing hard copy drawings. Also included in the cost table at the
end are printing costs from original drawings for contract copies.
Existing hard copy drawings or 35 mm microfilm copies of historic drawings (non CAD, hand drawn) can be
scanned into an electronic format (TIFF tagged image file format bit mapped graphic) that can be viewed on
any PC easily and also converted to and AutoCAD format for editing and printing if changes to these
drawings are needed for renovation projects. If you have lost an AutoCAD File but have a hard copy print
this can also be scanned.
The drawing scanning into TIFF format may be all that is needed for most purposes, as this allows viewing
and printing, easy storage on a server or CD-ROM and can easily be copied and distributed. High quality
CD-ROMS have estimated lives of over 25 years. I recommend Kodak Gold disks. By putting these TIFF
files on a server, any person with access to that server can remotely view these drawings such as SO and
district offices.
The hardcopy drawings or 35mm microfilm copies are scanned on a large format high resolution scanner at
400 DPI (dots per inch) into a TIFF file format and stored on CD-ROMS. About 300-400 drawings can be
scanned and stored on one CD-ROM. This process does not damage the original drawing or microfilm.
This bit mapped file format (TIFF) can be viewed and printed on any PC with Microsoft office which has
Microsoft photo editor or any other program which can read a bit mapped TIFF file. These scanned files
will allow the user to zoom in and see the smallest detail on the drawings. Printing can be done to laser
printers, inkjet printers, or large-scale inkjet plotters.
I recommend ACDC file viewer, which is an inexpensive file viewer, which can very quickly view these
files. This program will bring up a typical 2MB TIFF scanned drawing in about 5 seconds, compared to
about 30 seconds for Microsoft Photo Editor. This program will also automatically print all drawings from
the CD-ROM in one subdirectory. These drawings can be printed out on an 11”x17” laser printer and are
very legible.
The file sizes of the TIF files for 24”x36” drawings or microfilm scans are about 1-2 MB depending on the
information on the sheet and any shading present.
The cost for scanning a 24”x36” hard copy drawings which can be mylar, paper, blue line, sepia, old white
line on blue background drawings is about $1.50 per sheet. Scanning microfilms is about $1.25 per image.
There is also a fixed cost setup charge for each separate group of drawings processed plus a CD-ROM copy
charge.
The scanning is done by either of two firms in Portland by professional personal trained in historic drawing
conversion. Costs for conversions are listed below.
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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The scanning companies will take the drawings scan them and put them on a CD-ROM in project
subdirectories and label the CD with project names. These CD-ROMs can then be copied for about $.50 ea.
and distributed to anyone who has a need to view or print these drawings.
An index spreadsheet of all projects should be prepared with project names, sheet tiles sheet numbers,
original dates which can be posted on the fsweb for anyone to see what drawings are available, and what the
file names are for viewing. Below is a link to the RO Electronic drawing index of about 1,000 drawings,
which have been scanned from hard copy drawings in 2000.
AutoCAD Drawings Conversions.
Any of the scanned TIFF files made from original drawings or microfilm copies can be converted into an
AutoCAD format for editing and cleanup if the drawing needs to be changed for updates. Some poor quality
original drawings have background “noise” in the scanning process. The quality of the scanned image
converted into an AutoCAD drawing is not as good as redrawing each drawing but if the original scan is
cleaned up, the result is acceptable for use in projects, and a lot less cost. About 20 minutes on most
drawings converted in to a CAD format is enough time to insert a new border and clean up lettering and
lines. The converted drawings are all vectors, no text entities are made. If text is not legible it is reinserted.
By converting existing drawings into an AutoCAD format they can be used for remodeling projects as base
drawings for any changes. The RO has converted about 1500 drawings since 1989 for use in remodel
projects, mostly electrical drawings.
Draftsman 2000 scan file conversion program
The RO facilities group has a program called Draftsman 2000, which will batch convert the scanned TIFF
drawings into AutoCAD DXF format. This program is quite expensive, about $2500, but it is available for
forest personnel to come in and bring their CD-ROMs of TIFF files to convert at no cost other than time.
The conversion takes about 3-5 minutes per drawing. This program can take any number of drawings and
convert them in a batch process with no user input. It takes about 5 minutes to copy a CD-ROM to PC hard
disk and set the program up for conversion. The system will process about 20 drawings per hour from TIFF
format to AutoCAD DXF format. A much faster PC is planned to replace the existing unit to speed up this
process.
When the TIFF files are converted into AutoCAD DXF format they are then opened up in AutoCAD and
saved as a standard .DWG format in AutoCAD 2000. The files are then copied to a CD-ROM for the user to
take back to the home office.
TIS also offers this conversions service of TIFF files into Autocad. Costs are shown below.
Process for scanning of Drawings into TIFF format and conversion to AutoCAd DXF format.
The drawings need to have names put on them for the companies to scan into TIFF format and identify each
drawing and created a file name on the CD-ROM. This is done usually in the lower right of each drawing
about the title block in uppercase lettering ¼” high. Typical names use the forest designation a project name
and the last characters are the sheet number. Example: 01LAVAWSE01 Which is Deschutes NF Lava
Lands VIS center Water system sheet number E01. The scanning company put this file name on the scanned
file on the CD-ROM.
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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A project index spreadsheet with project names and sheet names should be provided to the scanning
companies to allow the scanned drawings to be put in a project directory on the final CD-ROM. Link to
sample directory here.
A sample requisition is included and technical specification for the conversion process at the end of this
document.
The following two firms have both printing and scanning capabilities. Printing is usually used for
contracting projects where large numbers 20-60 sets of multiple drawings are required to be copied for bid
purposes. Many other firms also can do these scanning and conversion activities. This paper only lists these
two firms.
The two firms we have worked with are:
1. DAPS (Defense A,utomated Printing Service, A government agency) Located in the Regional
office can do this work and the method of ordering this work is a task order form or a requisition
form with a Management Code and over ride code. DAPS can also plot drawings can make multiple
copies for contracts. There is no GPO limit on DAPS services. Individual forest management code
can be used.
DAPS
David Thoreson
333 SW 1st Ave. 2nd. floor
503-808-5130
david.n.thorson@usace.army.mil
2. TIS (Technical Imaging System, Portland commercial firm) 333 SW 3rd Ave. Portland OR 503244-3567 email. A sample requisition for a purchase order is included. They will accept a
Government bank card for payment. $1000 limit per order, see below.
TIS technical imaging systems
Joel Zak, Brian Asher
315 SW 4th Ave.
503-222-4229
brianasher@tisgrafx.com
Printing and Conversion scan costs into TIFF files on CD-ROM are as follows from these two firms.
Note: There is a $1000 limit from GPO on scanning with out GPO approval if not using DAPS.
Costs below are for scanning 24”x36” drawings into TIFF bit mapped file format, microfilm conversion
costs from TIS are also shown. Drawings can be FED-EXED to either firm. Sample forms are for scanning
only printing is not shown but unit costs are in table below.
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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Printing and Scanning & AutoCAD Conversion Costs
Scan Task, Autocad Conversion or Printing
Scan Original 24”x36” drawings per dwg
Scan 35mm Microfilm of 24”x36” drawing per dwg
Cost to copy to CD-ROM up to 300 dwgs/CD-ROM
Setup Charge per project delivery any # of drawings
Cost for scanning 10 drawings
Cost for scanning 50 drawings
Cost for scanning 100 drawings
Cost for scanning 500 drawings
Cost for scanning 1000 drawings
Printing 24”x36” drawing to bond per dwg from TIFF file
Printing 11”x17” drawing to bond per dwg from TIFF file
Convert TIFF to AutoCAD files per drawing
DAPS
TIS
No order
limit
$1000max/order
$3.00
Cant do
$1.00
none
$31.00
$151.00
$301.00
$1502.00
$3005.00
$0.90
$.10
Cant do
$1.50
$1.25
$8.00
$16.00
$39.00
$99.00
$174.00
$774.00
$1525.00
$1.08
$.162
$8.50
RO
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Free
(Your
Labor)
Note: RO conversion of small quantities <10 will be done with RO personnel. If there are large quantities
are needed to be converted to AutoCAD files, Forest personnel will need to come to RO to convert drawings.
Conversion takes about 3 minutes per drawing plus time to load file into AutoCAD and save and burn a CDROM.
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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Sample Requisition for TIS
USDA FOREST SERVICE
333 SW 1st AVE
PORTLAND, OR 97204-3623
Vendor:_Technical Imaging Services_____________ Requisition Number:___FS-01-0534___________
315 SW 4th Ave._________________________
Unit:________Engineering_
Portland, OR 97204______________________ Date:________05\10\2001_______________
Duane Cunningham
808-2128
TAX ID/SS#__93-0863407________________________
Phone:_503-222-4229____________________________
Date Ordered:_________________________
Anticipated Delivery:___________________
BD
BD
BC
BC
BPA
BPA
PO
PO
Description: Item and Page Number when ordering from Catalog
Quantity
Scan original “D” size drawings into .tif files, Multiple projects
Unit Price
Total
600
1.50
775.00
1
Ea
16.50
Setup charge
Output to CD-Rom
10
8.00
80.00
Scan original 35 mm Microfilm drawings into .tif files, Multiple projects
100
1.25
125.00
Total for all projects not to exceed based on above unit prices.
1000.00
Back Order
Shipping
Need By (Date):_____________9/30/01_______
Management Code___ FCXXXX_________
Received By:_____________________________
Contact Person:__Steve Sichau_EE_______________
Date:____________________________________
Phone Number:__503-808-2523__Fax: 503-808-2511
Email: ssichau@fs.fed.us Return to Steve Sichau 4th Floor Engineering,333 SW 1st Ave
Signature of Authorized Official:__________________________________________
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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SAMPLE TECHNICAL SCANNING SPECIFICATIONS
US Forest Service Scanning Instructions.
05/10/01
Technical Imaging Services
314 SW 4th Ave
Portland, OR 97204
503-222-4229
Brian Asher Contact
Reference: PO # FS-XX-1234
1. Scan enclosed drawings or 35 mm aperture card into group 4 compressed .tif file format. Use
filenames on lower right border of each sheet above title block. Files names need to be lower case,
characters, and extension tif. Example ol123608.tif
2. Scan so tif file has 400 DPI resolution.
3. Output .tif file to have black lines on white background.
4. Scan drawings to have contrast adjusted so all line work and lettering shows, but little or no
background if possible. Some drawings may be sepias or lower quality originals, so scans should be
done in groups by source material density. Originals will be mylar, sepia, vellum, linen, or blueline
print.
5. (For this project – CD-ROM ONLY will be used)
6. Copy files to CD-ROM, return with originals. Label CD-ROM with project names and subdirectories
with each project files.
7. Call Steve Sichau at 503-808-2523 and email at ssichau@fs.fed.us when files are at USFS FTP site
ready to download.
8. Return originals & CD-ROM to:
a. Steve Sichau EE
b. US Forest Service
c. 333 SW 1st Ave.
d. Portland, OR 97204
e. 4th Floor Engineering
9. Project Subdirectory names as follows:
See enclosed spreadsheet for projects names.
Put forest names 3 letter abbreviation and project subdirectory names on each CD.
10. Provide a cost spreadsheet with costs for each delivery for scanning and for CD duplication returned
with each order.
Contact Steve Sichau Electrical Engineer for more information.
503-808-2523
Email: ssichau@fs.fed.us
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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DAPS SAMPLE DUPLICATION / REPRODUCTION REQUEST
US Forest Service Scanning Instructions.
03/15/01
DAPS 503-808-5130
Requestor Steve Sichau 503-808-2523 email ssichau@fs.fed.us
Date: 03/02/01
Date Requested 03/10/01
Authorized Signature:
USFS #
_________________________________________
Management Code FCXXXXX
11. Scan enclosed drawings or 35 mm aperture card into group of compressed .tif file format. Use
filenames on lower right border of each sheet. Files names need to be LOWER CASE, and
extension tif. Example ol123608.tif file Names printed on the sheet are upper case for clarity.
12. File names are listed in above or in title block, on lower right of each sheet.
13. Scan so tif file has 400 DPI resolution.
14. Output .tif file to have black lines on white background.
15. Scan drawings to have contrast adjusted so all line work and lettering shows, but little or no
background if possible. Some drawings may be sepias or lower quality originals, so scans should be
done in groups by source material density. Originals will be mylar, sepia, vellum, linen, or blueline
print.
16. (For this project – CD-ROM ONLY will be used)
17. Copy files to CD-ROM, return with originals. Label CD-ROM with project names and subdirectories
with each project files as listed below.
18. Call Steve Sichau at 503-808-2523 and email at ssichau@fs.fed.us when files are ready.
19. Delivery Instructions: Return originals to:
a. Steve Sichau EE
b. US Forest Service
c. 333 SW 1st Ave.
d. Portland, OR 97204
e. 4th Floor Engineering
20. Project Subdirectory names on CD-ROM as follows:
John Day Tree Cooler 1981
7 sheets file name on lower right of sheets.
Drawing Scanning into TIFF files and conversion to AutoCAD and Printing
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