Using existing data is a good way of reaching your target fast and efficiently. The following notes should help with implementing your current data.

The use of existing data allows you to save time and costs. Data that has been created in CAD systems, graphics software or even manually on the drawing board can be read by your software for the creation of technical illustrations with the help of exchange formats.

In the field of the CAD systems alone there are several data formats available which produce good results after import. You need to be aware of a few serious points when using this method.

Due to the structure of the exchange formats the information is described differently. This means that the data is available after import only in the best possible quality of the exchange format. For example, the file size of an imported HPGL file could be very large, since all curves are described as polylines.

If you have the possibility to test an import of HPGL files, try the following: After importing the HPGL file, choose the command that selects everything. You will see an abundance of element points. These element points cause the increase of the file size and result in a slow screen redraw.

If you wish to add one or more magnifiers to this illustration and you choose to copy all the data for this mask, you will multiply the original problem. Thus you will get problems, which cannot be localized by a visual inspection of the files.

If you wish to use these files in an application on the Internet, the online transmission of the data can negatively effect the performance of  the system. You might experience the same problem with raster data that has been scanned with unnecessary resolution or color depth. For these reasons, it is important that you consider all aspects when creating graphic files.