Project: HiCAD

Create Pixel Graphic

To use the 3-D model for presentations, catalogues, manuals etc., you frequently need to save the shaded model as a pixel graphic. HiCAD provides various options to enable you to do this:

Using CTRL+C is recommended for high-resolution graphics.

High-resolution pixel graphic

CTRL+C

If you want to obtain high-resolution graphics, use the key combination CTRL+C. This enables you to copy the contents of the drawing surface or an area to the clipboard.

1. Press CTRL+C.
2. In the Copy to clipboard window, activate the desired options.

Format
You can either copy the selected area as an Enhanced Metafile (EMF) or as a Bitmap to the clipboard.

Size
This setting specifies the maximum size of the file. The higher the value you choose for the width/height of the graphic, the cleaner the result will look and the better the resolution can be increased in image processing programs. However, the file size also increases!

3. Click OK.
4. Specify the screen area to be saved by dragging a rectangle.
5. Specify the background as follows:

3. If you want to use the current HiCAD background (Settings > Colour settings > Graphics window) , i.e. with a colour gradient or a wallpaper - click the HiCAD background button.
4. If you want to select a background colour from the HiCAD special colours (Colour Editor) , click the Background colour button.
5. If you want to a different background colour, select the desired colour from the System colours /Drawing colours list.

Please note:

• The graphic is copied to the Windows clipboard. The following options are available for saving this file:
• Activating an image processing program and creating a new file. You then insert the contents of the clipboard and save the image file.
• Temporarily saving the clipboard file. To do this, you need to activate the Windows clipboard (Clipbrd.exe) and save the contents as a CLP file. You can re-open CLP files at any time via the clipboard and hence use them in other programs.
• Shaded models cannot be saved as an EMF file!

Pixel graphics in screen resolution

You use the key combination CTRL+ALT+W or CTRL+W to copy any area of the graphics screen as a file or to the clipboard, with the screen resolution being used.

1. Press CTRL+ALT+W or CTRL+W. Instead of the normal HiCAD cursor, a white cross is shown .
2. By typing once, first specify the top left corner of the desired area and then, similarly, the bottom right corner of the area.
3. In the Bitmap window, activate the desired options.

• Save to hard disk: The selected area is saved as a BMP or JPG file.
• Copy to clipboard: The selected area is copied to the clipboard and can then be inserted into other files.
• Process with "Paint Brush": The selected area is loaded in Microsoft Paint.
• Send: The selected area can be sent as an e-mail attachment in BMP format.
• Process with program: You can edit the selected area with another program. To do this, enter the title of the program, under Process with, and the complete path and name of the corresponding EXE file, under Program.

4. Click OK.

Present 3-D Models • Insert Pixel Graphics • Create Enhanced Metafile