You can insert a picture from a file, from a list of images, or as an OLE object. Inserting pictures is useful, for example, if you have a picture of a site plan and want to create buildings directly on it.

Note: To create a tracing of an inserted picture, see Tracing.

As with inserting any object, the picture will be inserted "on top" of existing objects. To adjust the object stack, you can use the Bring to Front and Send to Back tools. See Stacking Objects.
The Image toolbar can be opened by right-clicking on any toolbar area and selecting Image.

Note: Nearly all graphic formats are raster images, meaning they are composed of dots. Even when reading vector formats, such as *.wmf, the image is converted into a raster format for TurboCAD purposes.

Image Manager

Enables you to manipulate all the raster images in the current drawing.
You can insert files directly from this window using From Image List.

The toolbar at the top of the window can be used to change the image list as thumbnails, list, or detailed list.
Image List: Lists all images inserted into the drawing. The list can be sorted by name, status, or path. To edit a name, select it and then click it again. You can then enter the new name.
New: Adds a new image file to the list.
Delete: Deletes an image file from the list.
Embed: Saves the image file in the drawing as an embedded object, and not as a reference to an external file.
Unload: Unloads image data from work memory.
Reload: Reloads image into work memory.
Properties: Opens the Image Visualization Properties* window, which is useful for setting the image quality for large images.

OpenGL: Limits image output to the maximum OpenGL texture size (1024x1024 is supported by most hardware), and resizes image to a square view. For example, a 400 x 300 image will be resized to 512 x 512, thereby losing accuracy. As you increase the zoom, the image may become blurry.
GDI+: Supports large images without resizing, maintaining high accuracy. Not all hardware can render this way efficiently, so this method may be slower than OpenGL.
Filtering quality: Controls scaled or rotated images.
Nearest point: The pixel with coordinates nearest to the desired pixel value is used, resulting in a set of large squares when viewed closely.
Bilinear: A weighted average of a 2 × 2 area of pixels surrounding the desired pixel is used. This is the most common filtering algorithm, adding smoothness in large scales.
Trilinear: A more exact extension of Bilinear and is practically indiscernible. But it is unsupported with OpenGL.

Note: These parameters are not file-specific; they affect visualization of all images in all TurboCAD files.

Inserting a Picture from a File

Using this tool you can insert any type of graphic - .gif, *.jpg, etc. The file is embedded and the picture itself cannot be edited. You can, however, select it and perform any of the *Select Edit commands (see Select Edit).
All inserted files are listed in the Image Manager.

Change the workplane, if necessary. The picture will be inserted onto the current workplane (though it can be moved later).
Select Insert / Picture / From File and browse to select the desired picture.
Select two points to determine the size of the inserted picture. Use the local menu option Keep Aspect Ratio if you want to maintain the picture's proportional size.

Note: The first point you select corresponds to the upper-left corner of the picture.

You can move, rotate, or scale the picture using any of the Select Edit tools.

Inserting a Picture from a List of Images

Invokes the Image Manager, from which you can select a picture to insert. See Rcts46958.

Inserting a Picture as an OLE Object

Inserts a picture as a linked OLE object. This means that the picture can be edited in its source application and all changes will be reflected in the TurboCAD drawing as well. File types that are allowed for OLE insertion are *.wmf (Windows metafile) and *.dib (device-independent bitmap).

Select Insert / Picture / as Object and browse to select the desired picture.

Tip: You can also drag the file into the drawing from Windows explorer.

The picture is inserted in its original size. You can resize, move, or rotate it by using the Select Edit tools.
To edit the picture, you can double-click on it to open it in its source application.

To select a previously inserted picture, click along an edge instead of inside the picture.

Clipping Images

Enables you to use a border to clip a raster image. Borders must be either a closed polyline, or a closed circle or ellipse.

Select the image you want to clip.
Select the new image outline. The image will be clipped to the outline.
The image still retains its original size, even if it is not fully displayed. Therefore, you can clip it again using larger borders.

Ima ge Properties

You can view certain properties of all currently inserted picture by selecting an image and opening its Properties (see Object Properties) to the Image page.

The toolbar at the top of the window can be used to change the image list as thumbnails, list, or detailed list.
Show Image: Shows or hides the images.
Show Clipped: Uncheck to hide the clipping contour and show the original image. Check the box to show a clipped image.