Architect's Sign Seal on Sheets - Easiest Method?

[Shortnort]

This is probably a very stupid question, but what is the easiest way to add my architect's stamp with signature and date to drawing sheet(s)?  I hope the answer isn't to add to each sheet individually...

[Your Name Here]

Add it to the titleblock.  Use linked text to automatically adjust the date for you.  Use a unique class so you can turn it off. Same logic applies to special notes such as “Not For Construction”, “Bid Set”, etc.  I usually put these in the same space as my seal.

[Shortnort]

Thank you. 

This is a little tricky once the drawings are released. Some sheets may be revised and require a new date on the seal while others keep the original date.  I guess linking the seal date with the revision date is what makes the most sense. 

I use the drawing sheet Stamp Text link for "PRELIMINARY", etc.  

[Shortnort]

I can not get this to work.  When I put the seal on a new layer, it does not stay as an integral part of the Border/Title Block.

How do you link the seal to the Title Block?  This should not be so complicated or difficult.

[Scott Lebsack]

Your vector graphic of the seal must be on the same "layer" as the titleblock. It is not possible for it to be on a different layer and in the same symbol. You will need to edit the layout of the titleblock and place it, best practice is to place it on a independent class, so that you can control whether or not it is visible/prints. Let me know if you need more detail.

[Shortnort]

I tried that but the only items visible are in None class.  How can I make the "Seal" class visible?  Why is something so basic so difficult?

[Pat Stanford]

It sounds like you need a little bit of background on visibilities and "container objects"

 

If you have nested objects, then the higher level objects are "containers" for the objects inside them.  The main container objects are things like Groups and Symbols, but PlugIn Objects (PIOs) can also be containers.

 

For a contained object to be visible then every container object above it (ie every group if you have multiple levels of nested groups) has to be visible as well as the object itself.

 

So if you have three Classes, A, B, C. And you have a Title Block Boarder (TBB) in Class A, the Symbol that is the title block geometry (Edit Title Block Layout from the Edit Style dialog box) in class B and your stamp object in class C then you will have to have all three turned on to be able to see the stamp.

 

Take a look at this very simple file.  If you turn off the Stamp class the stamp disappears while the TBB remains.

 

Select the TBB and from the Style pull down choose Edit Style. 

Select Title Block from the left hand column and then click the Edit Title Block Layout button.  Look at how the rounded rectangle is in the Stamp class while the rest of the TBB is in the None class.

 

Hopefully this will help you to understand how to edit your title block.

 

Or by any chance do you have your Class Options set to Active Only? That would make only objects in the active class visible. If those objects are inside container objects then they will not show.

 

HTH

 

TBB with Stamp Class.vwx

[Shortnort]

Thank you.  I use 2020 and couldn't open the file.

[Pat Stanford]

Sorry about that.  Here is the 2020 version.  I can't remember is the dialog boxes were a little different or not.

 

TBB with Stamp Class v2020.vwx

[Shortnort]

15 minutes ago, Shortnort said:

Thank you.  I use 2020 and couldn't open the file.

Thank you.  I will see if I can get this to work.  It seems to me that VW should make it much simpler for professionals to add seals to sheets.

[Pat Stanford]

You are correct that it should be easier.

 

But there is another segment of the population who would never put their stamp into the VW file. They want to print to PDF and then review that the output is correct and then add the stamp onto the PDF.  That is really the only way to be certain that what you are issuing is what you want your stamp on. For them the possibility of having a wrong class or layer turned on or off or just a glitch in the creation of the PDF could result in a drawing that is wrong but stamped and issued.

 

It all depends on your personal level of bravery and what you are comfortable with.

 

And if you end up having to share the VWX file with someone else you may not want to have your stamp embedded either. Even if it is just within your own firm.

[Shortnort]

I understand the logic of that.  But with today's technology, if someone wants to"steal" your stamp it is a very simple process of scanning and pasting... Even years ago people would copy and sticky back onto documents.  

 

As a small business and time being a premium, it just seems that there should be a much simpler way to turn on and off the seal

 

I am still having problems importing the seal into the titleblock on another layer.  I have spent hours now trying to get this to work and the image I import is huge with a stamp attached even though the graphics I used does have that stamp.  I will just find a work around.

 

Thank you for your time and patience.

[Pat Stanford]

I would be happy to try and help further.  If we can get a reasonable stamp included as part of your TBB Style then turning it on and off will just be a matter of toggling a class.

 

DM me a file with your TBB, a graphic of your stamp, and where in the TBB you would like the stamp to be and I will see what I can do.

[Pat Stanford]

For completeness, I looked at the file. I think the problem was that the Seal symbol was a 3D symbol with no 2D part so nothing showed in Top/Plan or on a Sheet Layer in the TBB.  Once I converted it to a 2D symbol (Screen Plane in VW2020) it all worked fine.

 

 

[Your Name Here]

13 hours ago, Shortnort said:

I understand the logic of that.  But with today's technology, if someone wants to"steal" your stamp it is a very simple process of scanning and pasting... Even years ago people would copy and sticky back onto documents.  

 

As a small business and time being a premium, it just seems that there should be a much simpler way to turn on and off the seal

 

I am still having problems importing the seal into the titleblock on another layer.  I have spent hours now trying to get this to work and the image I import is huge with a stamp attached even though the graphics I used does have that stamp.  I will just find a work around.

 

Thank you for your time and patience.

its really not that hard if you build the graphics correctly.  Personally, I drew my seal and signature years ago in autocad, prior to using vectorworks. A scan of your seal may be more trouble than its apparent simplicity may lead you to believe.  You say “layer” but I’m guessing you mean “class”.

[TomKen]

Here in Victoria BC where I live.  The electronic seal has to be placed on the PDF document and is connected to a verification program.  So if you submit your documents to the city electronically they can verify it is actually your seal.

If you submit hard copies they will only accept signed originals, no copies or printed seals.

[Ron Kwaske]

On 2/4/2022 at 8:17 AM, Shortnort said:

I understand the logic of that.  But with today's technology, if someone wants to"steal" your stamp it is a very simple process of scanning and pasting... Even years ago people would copy and sticky back onto documents.  

 

As a small business and time being a premium, it just seems that there should be a much simpler way to turn on and off the seal

 

I am still having problems importing the seal into the titleblock on another layer.  I have spent hours now trying to get this to work and the image I import is huge with a stamp attached even though the graphics I used does have that stamp.  I will just find a work around.

 

Thank you for your time and patience.

I have my signature and stamp on their own class within the title block layout.

I then have written a quick script that I run before printing to PDF that will either turn the signature and stamp on, or, turn it off.  When it is turned off, a 'NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION' label turns on in place of the stamp.  One mouse click before printing gives me peace of mind that the drawing set is either issued or not.