Paper To CAD and Scan to CAD Conversion Services

If you've ever thought about converting your old paper drawings and blueprints to AutoCAD drawing files and don't require the accuracy or detail only available with site measurement this page will give you some valuable information and help you to prepare your drawings for conversion.

Some of the reasons that clients choose to convert paper drawings to CAD are outlined below:

• the drawings were created by a consulting firm and they are an accurate representation of the existing building but the consulting firm will not release the drawings or do not have electronic copies available.
• the drawings are mechanical/electrical schematics and can't be site measured.
• the drawings are of a secure building location and access would be difficult or limited due to security clearance requirements.
• travel time and expense to site measure the building would exceed the budget.

Before you consider converting your paper drawings to AutoCAD files please answer these questions.

• Are the paper drawings an accurate enough representation of the existing building?
• Will you need to convert several different paper drawings to include all the information you want in your final drawing?  Some clients require base architectural plus electrical switches and plugs, data outlets, fire safety points, plumbing fixtures and so on.
• If the drawings are not accurate enough how much additional drafting time will be required to update the drawings?
• Do you have someone on staff to assist you in updating the drawings or will you need to hire an outside service provider to complete this portion of the work?
• Will your service provider be able to update the converted drawing file?  Will site measurements "fit" into the converted drawing?
• Depending on the age of the drawings or the quality of the originals accuracy may be questionable.  How accurate do you want your drawings?
• Are the paper drawings scanned at this time using a resolution of 400 dpi?
• If the drawings are not scanned is there someone locally who can scan them for you or will you need to courier your original drawings off site to have them scanned?
• If you don't want to send your originals off site is there someone locally who can copy your large format drawings for you and how much will this cost?
• Would it be more economical to have your building site measured to produce an As Built drawing of your buildings that includes all of the information needed and provides you with an electronic copy of the work done that can be manipulated in AutoCAD?

If after answering these questions you decide that this approach still works for you then save yourself a few headaches by ensuring that the following steps are taken.

1. Site verify that the paper drawings are an accurate representation of the building and they will meet your standards.  That is go on site with your drawing and a ruler and do some spot measuring to see if doorways and wall lengths on site match or are close to the actual paper drawing measurements.
2. Scan your paper drawings at a resolution of 400 dpi.
3. Get a CD copy of the files (or two if there are a lot of them) so that you have an archive record on file and you have a copy to send for conversion.  These files can be quite large so having a CD copy is helpful.
4. Click here to receive a Free Quote to have your architectural drawings converted to a usable AutoCAD file.