Image utilities

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

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 TRANSPARENCY command toggles the transparency of images that have a transparent alpha channel. The alpha channel is a special channel that handles transparency. When an image has an alpha channel on it, you can adjust the image's opacity levels and make bits translucent or totally see-through.

Note: When the image frames do not appear (IMAGEFRAME = 0), you must use a window selection method to select an image.

Clipping an image

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Clip Image tool button () on the Image toolbar or the Insert / Images ribbon panel.
    • Launch the IMAGECLIP command.

    You are prompted: Select image:

  2. Select the image.

    You are prompted: Enter image clipping option [ON/OFF/New boundary] <New boundary>:

  3. Press Enter to accept the New Boundary default option.

  4. You are prompted: [Select polyline/Polygonal/Rectangular] <Rectangular>:

    Press Enter to accept the Rectangular default option.

  5. You are prompted: Specify first corner.

  6. Click a point to define the first corner of the clipping rectangle.

    The clipping rectangle is dynamically displayed.

    You are prompted: Specify opposite corner:

  7. Click a point to define the clipping rectangle.

    The image is clipped.

Modifying the Image Frame setting

Using the Image Frame tool (IMAGEFRAME command):

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Image Frame tool () on the Images toolbar or the Insert / Images ribbon panel.
    • Launch the IMAGEFRAME command.

    You are prompted: Enter image frame setting <current value>:

  2. Do one of the following:
    • Type 0 to hide image frames.
    • Type 1 to display and plot image frames.
    • Type 2 to display but not print image frames.

Editing the IMAGEFRAME system variable:

  1. Open the Settings dialog box.

  2. Go to Drawing / Underlays.

  3. Set the FRAME system variable = 3: Use individual settings.

  4. Select the IMAGEFRAME system variable.

    The options are:

    • 0: Hide image frames.
    • 1: Display and plot image frames.
    • 2: Display but do not plot image frames.

Setting the image transparency

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Image Transparency tool button () on the Images toolbar or the Insert / Images ribbon panel.
    • Launch the TRANSPARENCY command.

    You are prompted: Select images.

  2. Select the images you want to set the Transparency property of.

    You are prompted: Enter transparency mode [ON/OFF]<current mode>:

  3. Do one of the following:
    • Press Enter to accept the current mode.
    • Choose On to switch the Transparency property of the selected images on.
    • Choose Off to switch the Transparency property of the selected images off.


Transparency of the camera image: OFF (left) and ON (right)

Setting the display properties of an image

  1. Select an image.
  2. The properties of the image appear in the Properties panel.
  3. Go to the Misc properties category.
  4. The following properties can be set Yes or No:
    • Show Image: shows or hides the image.
    • Show clipped: sets the clipping boundary on/off.
    • Clip inverted: inverts the clipping boundary.
    • Background transparency: sets the transparency on/off.