Pictures in PDFs exportable?

[Mortavius]

Hello all,

I'm looking at running Reign of Winter soon on roll20.

My question is, if I buy the PDFs, can I copy the maps out of them to use in roll20? I've heard reports in other circles that the PDFs can be protected, so you can't copy from them. This will basically prevent me from running the game.

I don't necessarily want to buy the book if I can't use it.

I know that Bwatford was doing up the maps, but he's only done the first two modules, and hasn't really been seen since.

Anyone have any advice or knowledge?

[Myrryr]

Using the 'take a snapshot' tool in adobe reader I've gotten the maps out of every single PDF from Paizo. I have the Reign of Winter and they came out just fine, all of book 1 and part of book 2 is uploaded on my roll20 and working perfectly.

[ckdragons]

Myrryr wrote:

Using the 'take a snapshot' tool in adobe reader I've gotten the maps out of every single PDF from Paizo. I have the Reign of Winter and they came out just fine, all of book 1 and part of book 2 is uploaded on my roll20 and working perfectly.

I don't believe this addresses the OP question. He is asking if he can legally copy pics/maps from the PDFs and post them on a web-based application. Personally, I would like to know the answer to this, as well. I've been using Obsidian Portal to copy notes/pics/maps about my current campaigns from the AP PDFs. I don't think that Paizo has an issue with this, as Obsidian Portal is widely popular and they continue operating, so Paizo hasn't issued a CND order to the publisher.

Of course, I'm sure it's all spelled out in the legal print in the PDF, but I'm too lazy to read it. :-P LOL

[Sniggevert]

If the site is viewable by the general public, then it would be a no. You can't electronically disseminate their artwork/maps.

I don't believe they have an issue if it's secure and only your players can view it (such as with roll20). I've seen posts of folks using the PDF of the flip mats for use on there.

[Mortavius]

ckdragons wrote:

I don't believe this addresses the OP question. He is asking if he can legally copy pics/maps from the PDFs and post them on a web-based application.

Actually, he did answer my question. :) Basically wanted to make sure I could copy the maps for use in the game from a technical standpoint.

I hadn't even considered the legal ramifications behind it, because I'm not planning on distributing the images; it's just for my private game.

But thanks for the tip about Obsidian Portal; I'd never heard of them before this. I'll take a look!

[ckdragons]

Mortavius wrote:

ckdragons wrote:

I don't believe this addresses the OP question. He is asking if he can legally copy pics/maps from the PDFs and post them on a web-based application.

Actually, he did answer my question. :) Basically wanted to make sure I could copy the maps for use in the game from a technical standpoint.

I hadn't even considered the legal ramifications behind it, because I'm not planning on distributing the images; it's just for my private game.

But thanks for the tip about Obsidian Portal; I'd never heard of them before this. I'll take a look!

Oops, then my bad! :) I mis-read "protected" as protected from legal copying, not protected from electronically copying. :)