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- Knowledgebase Home > 11 Plotting and Printing
- Knowledgebase Home > 12 Saving and Sharing Files > PDF's
- Knowledgebase Home > 01 Getting Started > Hardware / Software Selection
- Knowledgebase Home > 09 Importing and Exporting > Drawings
How do I make a PDF drawing?
A PDF file is created via a PDF printer which works like an ordinary printer or plotter, the only difference being that the drawing is not sent to a printer to obtain a hard copy of the drawing, but is instead 'printed' to a PDF file. The PDF file can then easily be distributed via e-mail to be plotted to hardcopy elsewhere. This file can be opened in Adobe software (or similiar free software) from where it can be produced as a hard copy print as required. If there is no PDF printer installed on the computer, there are a few websites that offer a free install. Some of the more popular ones are: After installation, the PDF printer will show up in the AutoCAD Printer/Plotter selection. Just select the PDF printer in the Plot Dialog Box and a prompt will appear requesting a location to save the PDF file to.  If a more feature rich PDF is required, and funds are available, there are a few options. Among them are: AutoCAD 2008 and 2007 are packaged with a PDF printer. With the inbuilt AutoCAD PDF printer, a script file can be created which will run without waiting for a resultant file name. |
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Visitor Comments
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Comment #1 (Posted by kenneth burch
)
I usually do my drawings in Adobe Illustrator because I'm working with lots of custom typefaces, and need the color fills and gradients to generate a 2-D sketch before rendering in a 3-D Cam program (much like a sign maker or jewelry designer. Well, I've updated to CS3 and now when I Export my thinly stroked AI vector file as a DWG all seems well when I open it in A/Cad LT 2008. The trouble seems to occur when I paste the newly opened DWG into a pre-made template (title blocks set up and descriptive type areas at the ready). Suddenly the DWG becomes tiny and blocky. I reversed the order and It worked better, ( Opening the template > Select all > Copy and past It into the newly opened DWG. I also noticed that if return to the previous version of Adobe Illustrator(CS2) things go better but I still have to reverse the order as described above. Is anyone else dealing with minor issues between AI-CS2or 3 into A/CAD? (Wow, I think that is beyond the ambit of the FAQ, and the knowledge that the FAQ team have. I strongly suggest you take that question to the general forum area, where the other members may have an answer for you. AKC 8-04-2008) -
Comment #2 (Posted by Anonymous)
In truth, a PDF file at its simplest is just a digital 'paper' file that can't be altered I think this statement can lead to a false sense of security. As everyone knows, a pdf can be edited with the right software. (Included-Tiger-27 May 08) -
Comment #3 (Posted by pRAMOD kUMAR sRIVASTAVA
)
How to make a PDF drawing (Please take your question to cadtutor.net/forum - Tiger - 29 June 2008) -
Comment #4 (Posted by Amit
)
This Amit sharma , recentaly Lecturer in gurukul engineer college kota , in CS branch, but i am fully perfectly workout in AutoCAD I Want to some important questions and Answer that is related to the AutoCAD 2d or 3d porsition so i want to some solution of AutoCAD Thanku (Please take your question to cadtutor.net/forum - Tiger 080922) -
Comment #5 (Posted by Doug Mighell
)
The pdf files produced by my draftsman (autocad 2008 w/ built in pdf maker) are huge (1-3M). We tried bringing the resolution down to 150 dpi and that only helped a little. Are there any other ways to get reasonable sized pdfs from autocad? (Please take your question to cadtutor.net/forum - Tiger 081110) -
Comment #6 (Posted by Sanjay Gurnule
)
To convert anyfile we required a converter, for e.g. if i have any of the converter like PrimoPDF to convert autocad drawing to PDF; How to go futher with all details to get it exactly? (Please see Cadtutor.net/Forum - Tiger 081224) -
Comment #7 (Posted by Mathew Antony
)
Is it possible to convert a pdf file drawing back to a AutoCad file. If yes How? Thanks In Advance (Please take your question to Cadtutor.net/Forum - Tiger 090119)
