Got a client that wants 6,000 images online on a budget.
Problem 1: They are currently DXF files (outlines of metal components ready to engineer - 1 pixel white lines on black backgrounds) I can convert on a PC (anyone know of a Mac version) from DXF to jpg in batches.
Problem 2: As they are only 1 pixel wide white lines, when reduced to thumbnail size to click on to enlarge, they just look like a black square -people need to see what the component looks like and I can’t think of any program that can just bump up the 1 pixel to several pixels wide automatically without taking into Photoshop, selecting the white areas and applying a 4 pixel Stroke.
Problem 3: The 6k of them!! - database required?
Any advice gratefully received - or is it a non-starter?
Problem 1: They are currently DXF files (outlines of metal
components ready to engineer - 1 pixel white lines on black
backgrounds) I can convert on a PC (anyone know of a Mac version)
from DXF to jpg in batches.
Perhaps using Automator to drive Preview? But I don’t know if it can
read DXF files. Anyway, Automator might well be what you need.
(Hmm. I wonder if GraphicConverter can read those DXF files?)
Problem 2: As they are only 1 pixel wide white lines, when reduced
to thumbnail size to click on to enlarge, they just look like a
black square
That will always be a problem. Could you use a crop of the graphic
rather than the full thing for the thumbnail?
Problem 3: The 6k of them!! - database required?
Probably, for any sensible kind of presentation. But it could be
simply a big pile of static pages with a carefully thought-through
navigation system, if searching and sorting isn’t required.
As they are only 1 pixel wide white lines, when reduced to thumbnail size to click on to enlarge, they just look like a black square -people need to see what the component looks like
What I suggest you do is convert the files to a different format just for viewing online. If you use eDrawings, you can use the Mac’s built in print to pdf file option. The actual downloads would be the dxf files.
You can place dxf files in Illustrator, bump up the strokes and then save for web. Remind your client he can can only have two of the three options Good-Fast-Cheap