I was under the impression that if I scanned a drawing, saved it as a .pdf, and brought the .pdf into DrawPlus X3, the drawing would be editable since .pdf is a vector file. (The drawing has not been converted to raster.) I notice that when I open the .pdf, DP gives me the option to convert to curves, but even then, the drawing is not editable. DP recognizes the drawing (a cartoon sketch of a boar's head) as a closed curve with 4 nodes.

Are you sure it's not just the four corners of the page? When the drawing is saved as a pdf, it is usually saved as a jpg (or other image type) file and not the drawn lines as individual vectors.

Have you tried importing the scanned image as an image and using the Autotrace feature of DPX3? Set it as a logo or B&W and see which results suit best. IMHO adding another layer to the image brought into DP and tracing using the pen tool would be the best option.

Hi Ken,
First, let me thank you for all your help. Especially as a newbie to DP, the assistance is much appreciated. I also find your web site very helpful.
I'm trying to develop an accurate conceptual understanding of basic graphics. I know that normally drawings are scanned as bitmaps. I also know that .pdf files basically are vector files that can also handle bitmaps. I was hoping that if I scanned a drawing and saved it as a .pdf, I would be saving it as a vector and it would be editable in DP. My logic is probably incorrect. It probably is being scanned in as a bitmap regardless of how I save it.
I have used AutoTrace. I also have experimented with the tracing option you describe. I am inclined to agree that tracing is the best option. Thanks, again, for all your help.

R/ Tony P.

Hi Tony,

The problem you have with the PDF import is the fact that it is a scanned drawing to begin with. As for as DP is concerned, the PDF is a raster image as there is nothing within the file that stores any of the vector data.

However, PDFs created from an original vector drawing from an application such as DP (or other vector editing programs) will remain editable.

Hope this helps.

Caz