How to setup background layer and then scale everything to it .

[gurusonwheels]

I have a image of my vehicle .

I want to setup my vehicle image as the background layer

and then input the measurements  like from door to door and have the image correctly scaled .

then i want all stuff that i bring in and design on top of it to be scaled properly

for 300dpi print when i export .

 

how do i do this ?

i have all programs .

[KarinC]

This might work

 

[gurusonwheels]

does not seem to work . always exports to document size no matter if i put the correct scale using the measure tool .

[walt.farrell]

2 hours ago, gurusonwheels said:

always exports to document size

It's going to export to document size. Scaling doesn't affect the export size, just how things are measured within the document.

[gurusonwheels]

well that is of no use that i can see . back to sign software .

 

[walt.farrell]

It is of use for its intended purposes.

It's still unclear to me why you want to export/print something that is actually the size of your car, though.

[gurusonwheels]

for a vinyl wrap . i want to design my own graphics then have a sign shop print and wrap my vehicle .

 

[thomaso]

Instead of using the AD scale feature mentioned in the video above you could create the document size in the required dimension. But note, the PDF file format has a limit of 5 metres / 200 inches maximum. Therefore it is useful to create the document in scale with an accordingly increased document resolution. A document size in scale 1:10 for layout creation is easy to handle, then the exported PDF will get printed with 1000% (not 100%) to achieve the wanted size. Accordingly the resolution gets scaled, too: For a print with e.g. 200 dpi the document resolution gets set to 2000 dpi … then a print in 1000% would reduce the final print resolution to the wanted 200 dpi.

For instance, if the printed vinyl sheet should have a lengths of 5 metres you create a document with 0,5 metres = 50 cm and set all dimensions in the layout accordingly, a car of 4 metres would be placed as photo in the layout with 40 cm … etc.

Also you need to add size in the layout for the curved parts of the car because those will not be visible in a pure side/front/top view photo or in manufacturers dimension drawings. If you want to wrap the car (not apply adhesive foil) it can be useful to choose a stretchable fabric, this will reduce the need for a layout with perfectly precise dimensions. (waterproof required?)