----------------------------Original message---------------------------- [you wrote:] >I am digitizing topo maps using the cumbersome tablets. >I would like to know if anybody knows about on screen digitizing using stylus >or light pen. >The idea is to use any tracing or CAD program with a scanned image in the >background and then creating an overlay digitized on screen. why use a cumbersome (again!) light pen or styles. Just use your mouse! >Another request is if anybody came accross any program that converts raster >contour maps into vector format. Weeeell.... There are programs that (claim to) do that, but the succes is very much dependent on the raster file you've got. For example a cadastral map (just black, crisp lines on white background, not too many, not too complex) works very well; I've seen an Intergraph program called I-Vec do it beautifully on one of their workstations. But try the same on a mediocre colour scan of a 1:100.000 topo map and you will have a LOT to correct or redo manually. Bye, __________________________________ Barend Kobben <[log in to unmask]> Cartography Dept., Utrecht University PO Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht ph +31-(0)30-2532086;fax +31-(0)30-2540604