10.02.02 adding multiple overlays to a project

Using the Select Overlay process on the Image Tab works great if for assigning one or two overlay images.  If the project includes 20 or 50 or more overlay images selecting each overlay on the Image Tab would be fairly time-consuming.  It is more efficient to use the Cover Sheet to add numerous overlays to the project then copy and past the link(s) into the Overlay field.

• When you add an overlay to a project using this method, you are bypassing the copy-creation process that occurs on when you add an Overlay on the Image Tab itself.  Any alignment/resizing is made directly to the file you add.  If you've used this file as the Base Image or Overlay on another Page, you will be resizing/aligning it anywhere it's used.  It's best to add Overlays via the Image Tab, if possible, or at the very least, make sure that files you use as overlays are not also used as Base Image or Overlay on another Page.

• Open the Cover Sheet for the project
• Add a folder named Overlays (this is just to make it easier to keep track of the base images and the overlay images)

• Use the Auto Add function (see Adding (linking) Images to a Bid for more information) to add all Overlay images to this folder (assuming all Overlays are of the same file type)

• Copy and paste the file path for each overlay page and paste it into the Overlay Image field for the appropriate base image. 
• • The easiest way to do this is to click on the Image File name (in this example, "C:\OCS Documents\OST\Kirksey - Documentation\Set2\A2.30 1st Floor Plan.tiff"
  • Press <Ctrl> <C>  (the shortcut to copy).
  • Click in the Overlay Image field (in this example Page 7 - A2.30 1st Floor),
  • Press <Ctrl> <V> (the keyboard shortcut to paste) and the path for the Overlay image is pasted into the Overlay Image cell in the grid

• Set the Show field to Original, Overlay, or Both for each page - to display the base and Overlay, set the Show column to "Both")
• Repeat this process for each Overlay, copying and pasting the Image File path into the Overlay cell for each page 
• Be sure to set the "Show" field appropriately

On the Image Tab, the Overlay and base image are displayed - make adjustments to the Overlay sizing and position as (see previous article for instructions)

• The automatic Overlay Orientation, Deskew, and Resize screens are not shown when adding overlay images via the Cover Sheet.  If the rotation or sizing of the overlay is incorrect,  manually Align and/or Resize the Overlay image once on the Image Tab,  see Selecting and Resizing Overlays and Aligning Overlays for detailed instructions.

Converting Overlay PDFs to TIFF