{"id":13426,"date":"2023-04-18T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com/blogs\/autocad\/?p=13426"},"modified":"2023-04-12T15:16:20","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T22:16:20","slug":"how-to-use-markup-features-for-easier-revisions-tuesday-tips-with-frank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com/blogs\/autocad\/how-to-use-markup-features-for-easier-revisions-tuesday-tips-with-frank\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Markup Features for Easier Revisions: Tuesday Tips With Frank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The way we communicate changes and revisions has evolved in recent years. For most of my years using AutoCAD, it was a manual process. We conveniently called it \u201cred to black.\u201d Someone (an architect, engineer, or drafting checker\u2026) would use colored pencils to mark up a drawing, then send it back to you to incorporate the changes. A red pencil would be used, so we turned the red markups into proper black linework when we got it back. Red to black \u2013 get it? Many offices had an entire color-coded system in place…good times!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the world is moving on. These manual systems are migrating into electronic markups and quickly evolving along the way. Initially, we could export our designs and drawings into a DWF (or DWFx<\/a>) format, open them in Design Review<\/a>, use the electronic markup tools there, save it, and import it back into AutoCAD. Lather, rinse, and repeat. Even with this new methodology, it was slow to take over. Colored pencils still ruled the world of markups. There had<\/em> to be a better way\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markup Import<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AutoCAD 2023 debuted some fabulous new features that changed many minds about electronic markups. (Side note: There are new updates for markups in AutoCAD 2024<\/a> as well! More on that in a minute.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first of these is called Markup Import. First of all, it\u2019s more flexible regarding what kinds of files you can use. You can markup your file in PDF, PNG, or JPG formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markup Import<\/a> places a marked-up version of your drawing on top of the original file to make it easier to view and incorporate changes. You can bring in a PDF markup with text and notes, which will overlay the file on top of the original. It uses machine learning to correctly identify the markups and place them exactly on top of your original! You can also adjust it as necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Markup<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is usually where I\u2019d say something like, \u201cHow awesome is that?\u201d But if you have a printed version of your drawing that contains hand-written revision notes, you can take a photograph of the printed version and then import that also!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markup Assist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it. Sometimes you need a little help. Maybe the person doing the markup secretly yearns to be a doctor and has developed the handwriting to go along with it, and Markup Import just can\u2019t figure it out. That\u2019s OK. Enter its awesome wingman, Markup Assist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Markup<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It automatically identifies markups and allows you to insert them as an MTEXT<\/a>, MLEADER<\/a>, or REVCLOUD<\/a> object. And, if it gets the wannabe-doctor text wrong, you can edit it before inserting it (or just copy it to the clipboard). Of course, it also works on very well-written (or electronic) text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Updates in AutoCAD 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, AutoCAD 2024<\/a> helps make your cross-platform markup workflows faster through expanded machine learning capabilities and essential experience improvements. You can share and annotate your drawings safely and securely across desktop, web, or mobile devices. With Markup Import, incorporate feedback from a PDF or printed paper and automate drafting changes to your drawings. With enhanced Markup Assist, you can now update existing drawing text and automatically fade the markups you have addressed. AutoCAD uses machine learning to detect certain instructions in the markup text enabling shortcuts to commands like \u201cMOVE,\u201d \u201cCOPY,\u201d or \u201cERASE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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