Creating image resources

Image resources are created by importing image files into the Resource Manager.

To import an image for use as an image resource:

1.      Do one of the following:

        Select File > Import > Import Image File, and then select the image file to import. Alternatively, click the file to import and drag it into an open Vectorworks file. The Image Import Options dialog box opens. From the Import as list, select either Image Resource or Bitmap and Image Resource. See Importing an image file for details, and proceed to step 4.

        From the Resource Manager, click New Resource, select Image, and then click Create. Alternatively, select Images from the list of resource types on the tool bar, and click New Image. If a resource with an image is already present in the file, the Choose Image dialog box opens.

If importing an image file, the Import Image Document dialog box opens.

2.      Select the image file to use as an image resource, and click Open.

The Image Import Options dialog box opens.

3.      Image Information displays the file name and type, compression, dimensions, and uncompressed size. Click Edit Attributes to adjust the attributes of the imported image if needed.

The Image Attributes dialog box opens. The same dialog box can be accessed from the Resource Manager after the image resource has been created; right-click on the resource in the Resource Manager, and select Edit Image Attributes from the context menu.

A preview of the image displays on the left, with the image attributes on the right. As attributes change, the preview dynamically updates.

4.      Click OK to return to the Image Import Options dialog box (or to the Resource Manager). Any image attribute changes take effect.

5.      Two compression methods are available; depending on the graphic, one of the methods may be more suitable. The compression method which produces the smallest file size is selected by default. Select the desired balance between compression and detail display. The resulting file size for each type of compression is displayed to help with the selection. The compression method selected here overrides the selection made in the Image Attributes dialog box.

If the selected option results in a file size larger than the uncompressed size, the image is imported uncompressed.

Compression method

Description

JPEG

Provides a high amount of compression, resulting in the smallest Vectorworks file size. However, fine detail may be obscured. JPEG compression is most suitable for photographic images.

PNG

Provides a moderate amount of compression, while preserving image details

Import as Black and White

For PNG, select to import as a 1-bit monochrome image (if selected, this overrides any other color mode selected in the Image Attributes dialog box)

Import Alpha Channel

For PNG and if the source file has an alpha channel, select to preserve the image’s transparency options; on Windows, the GDI+ imaging Vectorworks preference must be enabled

Referencing options

(Design Series required)

Images can be referenced; see Referencing resources

The image resource is saved, by default, with the name of the original image file.

Image resources imported into the file that are not in JPEG format can be compressed by JPEG with the Compress Images command. See Compressing images.

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Applying image resources

Mapping image fills

 

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