Expert: Amy - 1/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello Amy
My question is Simple. I want to import a dwg (AutoCAD file) file into illustrator in original 1:1 scale (as drawn in mm not inches), and then scale it in illustrator. Can this be done? (At the moment I can import it but it is not in scale at all).
I have worked a bit across different programs, and in Corel draw I could drag and drop a dwg file and it would come in as a group in real scale. And then afterwards I could simply just type in the scale I wanted.
I have searched the net for answers to this question, and al keep suggesting scaling it before or making a PDF. But this is not what I need.

Answer awaited in anticipation.

ANSWER: Hi Frederik,

I can't think of a way to guarantee proper scaling when placing a dwg file. Any answer I could provide will involve scaling afterwards.

This is a trick I use sometimes:
Draw a square covering your entire image in AutoCad and note its size in mm or however you prefer to measure it. The square should have a fill but no stroke. Or, if you can make sure your stroke is on the inside of the square's edge and not the center or outside, you can assign it a stroke and no fill. I don't know much about AutoCAD. Basically you want the square's size to be exactly as measured and not to be increased by the weight of the stroke.
Save/Export as DWG file
Place DWG file into Illustrator.
Double click on the Scale tool. Uncheck the box that says "Scale Strokes & Effects"
Select All (of the artwork). Group if you like.
Now look at the measurements in Window>Transform
The Width will be the width of the artwork as a whole - in this case, the square.
Type in the desired width as it was in AutoCAD, hold down the Ctrl key and hit your Enter key.
The artwork should scale without changing the stroke weights.

This is all I can think of right now so I hope it helps!

-Amy Pace

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So this answer you gave did not really address question as i was looking for a way to get the drawing into illustrator in 1:1 scale, (a thing that is possible to do in Corel draw) and I was looking for settings that would allow for this in illustrator to.
Can you clarify for me if this is because the "drawing area" in illustrator is not indefinitely large so it actually cannot contain a 1:1 scale version of my drawing.

Answer
Hi Frederick,

Since I am not an AutoCAD user, perhaps I did not understand the question.

My tip would allow you to import the graphic and then make sure that the dimensions of the artwork are the exact same size as it they were in the original program. I don't know what else you could do except to calculate the scale yourself and use the scale tool to reduce it. If your files are over 250" wide, you're right, they won't fit in an Illustrator document.

I am sure there are ($) CAD plugins for Illustrator that address these issues. I don't know if you have the budget for something like that, though.

Maybe this isn't what you needed to hear.

Perhaps one of the other experts may have more experience in CAD. -or-

You might want to check the Adobe forums (adobe.com) for any tips!

Good luck
Amy