Managing images

The EXPIMAGES command displays the Drawing Explorer – Images dialog box.

The IMAGE command opens the Attachments panel.

The IMAGEADJUST command adjusts the properties of images through the Properties panel.

The IMAGEATTACH command attaches raster images to the drawing.

The IMAGECLIP command clips images.

The IMAGEFRAME command toggles the display of the frame around images; sets the value of the IMAGEFRAME system variable.

The IMAGEQUALITY command toggles the display quality of images between draft and high.

The IMAGENOTIFY system variable controls whether warnings for missing or modified image files are issued.

The XREFNOTIFYTIME system variable defines the frequency to check for modified externally referenced resources: Xrefs, images and pdf attachments if XREFNOTIFY, IMAGENOTIFY and/or PDFNOTIFY is ON.

You can manage images in the Drawing Explorer - Images dialog box and in the Attachments panel.

Here you can:

  • Attach an image () or ().
  • Load / Unload inserted images.
  • Detach images ().
  • Edit the path to the image.
  • See a preview of the attached images (Drawing Explorer dialog box only).

To open the Drawing Explorer - Images dialog box, do one of the following:

  • Choose Drawing Explorer > Images in the Tools menu.
  • Select Images in the Open Drawings sub-window of the Drawing Explorer dialog box.
  • Launch the EXPIMAGES command.

To open the Attachments panel, do one of the following:

  • Click the Image Management tool button () in the Images toolbar or the Insert / Images ribbon panel.
  • Launch the IMAGE command.

Attaching an image

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Click the New tool button () in the Drawing Explorer - Images dialog box.
    • Click the Attach Raster Image tool button () in the Insert toolbar or the Insert / Images ribbon panel.
    • Launch the IMAGEATTACH command.

    The Select Image File dialog box appears.

  2. Select the image file, then double-click or click the Open button.

    The Attach Raster Image dialog box appears.

  3. (option) Check the Use Geocoding Information option, then click the Browse button to open an appropriate world file to be used with the selected raster image.

    If the Use Geocoding Information option is checked, the Insertion Point, Scale and Rotation settings fields are not available.

  4. Specify an insertion point or select the Specify on-screen check box.

  5. Specify a scale or select the Specify on-screen check box.

  6. Specify a rotation angle or select the Specify on-screen check box.

  7. Click the OK button.

  8. If none of the Specify on-screen options are selected, the image is inserted at the desired insertion point, scale and rotation angle;

    else you are prompted to specify the insertion point, scale and/or rotation angle on-screen.

Loading and unloading images

When an image is attached and then inserted in the drawing, you can unload the image to temporarily hide it. Unloaded images are still inserted in the drawing, but they are no longer displayed. If the Imageframe property is ON, the frame around the image is still displayed.

To load / unload a single image

Click the Load column of the image in the Attachments panel or the Drawing Explorer – Images dialog box.

To load / unload multiple images

  1. Hold down the Ctrl key, then select the images in the Attachments panel or the Drawing Explorer – Images dialog box. Click a selected image to de-select.
  2. Click the Load column of a selected image.

Detaching images

Since an image is first attached, then inserted in the drawing, you can delete an inserted image, in the drawing without detaching it.

To detach an image:

  1. Select the image(s) in the Attachments panel or the Drawing Explorer – Images dialog box.

    Hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple images; click a selected image to de-select.

  2. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Delete or Detach () tool button.
    • Right-click, then choose Delete or Detach in the context menu.