Guides

Plain answers to the questions people ask before turning a floor plan image into CAD.

• DWG vs DXF vs PDF: what's the difference?DWG is AutoCAD's own drawing format, DXF is the open exchange version of the same drawing, and PDF is a picture of the sheet. Here is what each keeps, what each loses, and how to convert between them.
• Can ChatGPT convert an image to DWG?No, not in any way you can hand to a CAD user. ChatGPT can describe a floor plan and write code, but it cannot return a DWG, and a DXF it scripts from a picture is rarely usable. Here is what it can do, what it cannot, and what to use instead.
• Scan2CAD alternative for floor plansScan2CAD is capable desktop software for converting scans and PDFs to CAD, from $89 a month. If you only need floor plan images turned into wall layouts now and then, an online tracer can be enough. An honest comparison, with prices checked on 3 November 2026.