11 replies to this topic

[Themarko]

I've been hard at work learning to use Illustrator and I'm getting pretty good, but of course there is always something else to learn. What I'm trying to figure out right now is how to maintain my map scale, or establish one, when I import from ArcMap. Currently I export each layer from Arcmap and bring it in, but I haven't figured out the trick to 1)Bring all the files correctly georeferenced and 2) Maintaining/Establishing the scale.

Thanks for any help.

Mark

[Martin Gamache]

Themarko,

What version of Arcmap are you using?

The illustrator export in the latest versions should output every layer turned on, on its own layer. If you add a scale bar in Arcmap that will be exported as well on the "Graphics" layer. As long as you keep everything grouped when resizing, the scale bar will always indicate the correct graphic scale if resized proportionately. To calculate a ratio scale you'll need a bit of elementary arithmetic and the horizontal size of your scale bar which is reported on the info palette in Illy.

[Rick Dey]

To maintain georeferencing you will need to use MAPublisher within Illustrator. That will also allow you to easily define and change a scale or projection wiith the MAP view editor. The latest version (6.2) has some much improved import tools that will directy import your shape files. Transformation to new projections and scaales can be made right at the time of import or later. You can also export layers back out in several different formats to bring back into your GIS program.

[Matthew Hampton]

I move data across from ArcGIS to AI and PS (including scale bars) quite frequently. If you don't have MaPublisher you'll need to:
- Establish the desired scale and viewable extent in ESRI land and lock the dataframe/projection and don't ever change it. If you change scale etc. in ArcGIS you'll spend hours trying to "rubbersheet" data back into Illustrator.
- Be careful with your scale bar in AI and always remember it is a graphic and not dynamically linked. Throw it on a separate layer and lock it.
- If you plan on resizing your map later for output (eg. from tabloid to ANSI E), make sure you use a graphical scale bar that will resize as well. Numerical scales don't scale.
__
Matthew

[Themarko]

Thanks for the advice. I am using Arcmap 9.1 and it does do a good job importing the layers into AI. Funny how sometimes you can't think of the obvious answer

I'm planning on getting Mapublisher as soon as I can, budget rearrangement needed first.

Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks, you just have to motivate him.

Mark

[ELeFevre]

Here's another little tip when you need to rescale in Adobe Illustrator: make sure to enter a numerical value in the Scale window, rather than rescaling by selection and dragging. This will ensure that you can work backwards if you have to. If you need to drag the objects to a new size, make sure and use the "Shift" key while dragging so you will maintain the original shape of your objects.

I've ran into problems in the past when trying to rubber-sheet/eyeball scale and it can turn into a real a pain. Erin

[mike]

Here's another little tip when you need to rescale in Adobe Illustrator: make sure to enter a numerical value in the Scale window, rather than rescaling by selection and dragging. This will ensure that you can work backwards if you have to. If you need to drag the objects to a new size, make sure and use the "Shift" key while dragging so you will maintain the original shape of your objects.

I've ran into problems in the past when trying to rubber-sheet/eyeball scale and it can turn into a real a pain. Erin

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

very true!

whenever i rotate, transform or scale, i try to do it numerically. most of the time, i am working with multiple items, so it's so much easier and faster than eye-balling or snapping.

[LenHoffman]

Alpine correct me if I'm wrong are you saying you can export an mxd into AI? If so how do you go about doing that?

[frax]

len, look for export under the file menu in ArcMap, and choose .ai as the file format. There are some quirks that you need to work out (i think it is covered in other threads -- or if you want more info perhaps this should be split into a new thread...)

[EcoGraphic]

This may be of interest:

HotDoor offers:
CAD Tools and CAD Gate Plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator

These allow you to import DWG/DXF into Illustrator more easily, and work in Illustrator in a specified scale. You can also measure accurately if needed....

http://www.hotdoor.com

[Hans van der Maarel]

This may be of interest:

HotDoor offers:
CAD Tools and CAD Gate Plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator

These allow you to import DWG/DXF into Illustrator more easily, and work in Illustrator in a specified scale. You can also measure accurately if needed....

http://www.hotdoor.com

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True, CAD Tools is a very useful plug-in, but it is more oriented towards CAD than maps. Also, back when I used it (a few years ago my then employer was a distributor for HotDoor) it wasn't compatible with MAPublisher.

Regardless of that, it's a good product and definately worth checking out.

[EcoGraphic]

This may be of interest:

HotDoor offers:
CAD Tools and CAD Gate Plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator

These allow you to import DWG/DXF into Illustrator more easily, and work in Illustrator in a specified scale. You can also measure accurately if needed....

http://www.hotdoor.com

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True, CAD Tools is a very useful plug-in, but it is more oriented towards CAD than maps. Also, back when I used it (a few years ago my then employer was a distributor for HotDoor) it wasn't compatible with MAPublisher.

Regardless of that, it's a good product and definately worth checking out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yah, I was not thinking so much of road maps or topo maps, but more of Pseudo-Perspective maps for example where you are working at a large scale and may need to bring in a .DWG and then check the height of your buildings as you go.

Gillian