Working with Imagery

 In this section we will show you how to import Google Earth images into your AutoCAD drawings using the Plex.Earth tools. There are 6 different options. Use:

 

	Current Image	to import into AutoCAD the exact contents of your Google Earth window at this time.
	Area Image	to import a single Google Earth image into the rectangular area you specify in AutoCAD.
	Mosaic	to import a series of images taken at the current zoom level used in Google Earth which will fill the rectangular area specified in AutoCAD.
	Polygonal Mosaic	when you need to fill a polygonal area with imported images.
	Path Mosaic	to  fill a band of defined width around a specified path with imagery.
	Align Image	to bring the Google Earth current image into an AutoCAD drawing when the latter's coordinate system is arbitrary.

 

Tip:  Imported images will be saved as Raster Images on the active AutoCAD layer. Use Draw Order -> Send to Back to move them to the background.

 

Current Image

 

Use this option when you have used Google Earth to zone in the specific area of interest and want to import the exact contents of your window into your AutoCAD drawing.

 

Step 1: Select the Current Image command for the dropdown menu

 

 

 

Step 2: Plex.earth will import the image into your AutoCAD drawing

 

 

The image currently displayed in Google Earth will be imported into your autocad drawing. 

Remember to use Draw Order -> Send to Back on your new image to bring your project back on top.

 

 

Area Image

 

Use this option to specify a rectangular area in AutoCAD which Plex.Earth will fill with a single Google Earth image.

 

Step 1: Select the Area Image command from the dropdown menu

 

 

Step 2: Select the rectangular region into which you want to import the imagery

 

 

 

Step 3: Plex.earth will import the image into your AutoCAD drawing

 

 

Remember to use Draw Order -> Send to Back on your new image to bring your project back on top

 

 

 

 

Mosaic

 

Use this option to specify a rectangular area in AutoCAD which Plex.Earth will fill with a series

of  images, taken at the zoom level currently used in Google Earth.

 

Step 1: Select the Mosaic command

 

 

 

If the Eye altitude currently set in Google Earth is too high/low, you will be given a warning to zoom in/out before proceeding.

 

 

Step 2: Specify a rectangual area in your AutoCAD drawing

 

Step 3: Select "Automatic" from the Plex.Earth pop-up

 

 

Step 4: The selected region will be filled with a mosaic of Google Earth imagery

 

 

 

 Tip: You will notice that the navigation tools on the right and the Google Earth logos on the bottom appear on every imported image. For better results you can deactivate the former and apply a vertical image overlap on the latter in order for them to appear only at the very bottom of your mosaic.

 

-  To deactivate the Google Earth navigation tools go to View -> Show Navigation and select "Never".

 

 

- To set a vertical image overlap select "Settings" in your Plex.Earth toolbar

 

and then assign an appropriate vertical (Y) overlap:

 

 

 

Polygonal Mosaic

 

Use this option when want to fill a polygonal area in your AutoCAD design with a series of Google Earth aerial images at the currently used zoom level.

 

Step 1: Select the Polygonal Mosaic command for the dropdown menu

 

 

Step 2: Specify a polygonal area in your AutoCAD drawing

 

 

Step 3: Select "Automatic" from the Plex.Earth pop-up

 

 

Step 4: The selected region will be filled with a mosaic of Google Earth imagery

 

 

 

Path Mosaic

 

Use this option to a band along a certain path in Autocad, which will be filled with Google Earth imagery taken at the currently used zoom level.

 

Step 1: Select the Path Mosaic command

 

 

Step 2: Create a path in your Autocad drawing by selecting a series of points

 

 

 You can also select an existing polyline of your drawing as the path by pressing the "Down" arrow, selecting "Objects" and then clicking on the polyline.

 

Step 3: Specify the left swath width

Enter the desired width of the band on the left side of your path by clicking on 2 points.

 

Step 4: Specify the right swath width

Enter the desired width of the band on the right side of your path by clicking on 2 points.

 

Step 5: Select "Automatic" from the Plex.Earth pop-up

 

 

Step 6: The specified band will be filled with a mosaic of Google Earth imagery

 

 

 

 

Align Image

 

Use this option to manually import and align a Google Earth image into your AutoCAD drawing regarless of the coordinate system used. This option is useful when your project has been created in an arbitrary coordinate system, such as (0, 0).

 

Step 1: Select the Align Image command

 

 

 

Step 2: Select a position in your drawing to import the Google Earth image.

 

 

Step 3: The content of your Google Earth window will be imported into your drawing and the Align Image pop-up will appear.

 

Step 4: Use the Align Image pop-up to correctly place your image in your drawing. 

 

 

The easiest way to do this is by clicking on the 4 buttons shown above and selecting the corresponding points in your drawing. What you are doing is selecting 2 points (1st and 2nd Control Point) of your imported image and specifying where their new positions should be in your drawing. The image will then stretch and rotate accordingly to apply your selections.

For best results select 2 opposite corners of your images as the Control Points!

 

If for example you select your 2 Control Points and their new target locations as shown in the image below, then the final result will be what is shown in Step 5

 

 

 

Step 5: The image is manually aligned in your drawing