SmartDraw lets you import existing floor plans, blueprints, site plans, and satellite images to serve as the foundation for your project. You can import a PDF or image file and scale it to match a reference line.
Step 1: Set the Scale for Your Floor Plan in SmartDraw
Set the scale to what you want it to be in SmartDraw. Click on the Page tab and choose a scale under Units & Scale. You can pick from common scale options or set a custom scale under Custom.
Let's say you're working on a large scale site plan, we can set a custom scale that has 1 inch on screen equal 75 feet.
Step 2: Import Your PDF or Image File
Next, import your PDF or image file. Under the Home tab, choose Insert and click PDF. Find the PDF on your computer and import it. This method will also work with imported PNGs and JPGs.
Step 3: Select Your Reference in the Imported Image
To help you scale the PDF, we'll want to match a line drawn in SmartDraw with an object with known dimensions from the imported file. So before we can resize the image, pick an object that you know the dimensions of to use as a reference.
If you started with a Google map capture, you can use the scale shown in the lower right corner of the map.
If you are working with a blueprint from somewhere else, it will either have a scale itself or the labels on rooms or objects should be your guide.
Step 4: Scale the Image Using a Reference Line
Once you picked your reference object on the imported visual, you're ready to true up the scale of your imported image and your floor plan. In the SmartPanel, to the left of your drawing area, click on Scale Image with Reference Line. This tool will help you draw a temporary line and use it to automatically match the scale of your import.
Next, draw a reference line that matches the length of your selected segment.
This line will serve as SmartDraw's guide for resizing the imported image. In the modal that pops up, enter the actual length of the line you just drew.
For example, if you imported a blueprint with exact room dimensions, you can draw a line along the wall of a known wall length. In the example below, we drew the line along the longer wall of Bedroom #2 and then specified that it was 12' and 2 inches in the dialog.
Hit Apply Scale to resize the imported image automatically. The image will now match the scale of your floor plan. SmartDraw will automatically remove the reference line used.
It's that easy.