DWG to PDF converter (or to Gif, Tiff, or JPEG too)

[deadseasquirrels]

I didn't realize there were that many people who used AutoCAD but interfaced with people who didn't use ACAD, and had to therefore convert it to another medium.

Does somebody, who's had a lot of experience with a lot of these programs know which is the best? I just did a quick google search and a bunch came up. And I don't want to spend a lot of money on something that really isn't any good. Anybody have any suggestions?

Does anybody have any suggestions for a converter to Gif, Tiff, or JPGs too.

Preferably I'd like one that can capture the rendered ACAD file and put it on a website.

[fuccaro]

I send to others PDF files. A program called PDF995 is free on the Net and works great for me. For your rendered image you may render to file from AutoCAD and you get the JPG, PNG, TIFF or other format directly.
Send us more information about your dream and I am sure that someone will help you to make it real!

[hendie]

I use DWF's. simple and easy

[deadseasquirrels]

Are there stand-alone DWF viewers? I mean the big thing is that a lot of clients don't have anything, I mean this one company I am helping services individuals and their homes, in which case, the individuals have Acrobat Reader and that is it.

Can DWF's be viewed by some, very common, and popular program?

[hyposmurf]

Voloview is what they need,they can download it for free to view drawings sent to them.As far as I know 2004 isnt compatible with this though,why I dont know,maybe just a $$$ making tactic of Autodesk.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=837403

[f700es]

Voloview is what they need,they can download it for free to view drawings sent to them.As far as I know 2004 isnt compatible with this though,why I dont know,maybe just a $$$ making tactic of Autodesk.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=837403

I believe VoloView is being dropped for the new Express Viewer. EV, I believe can open 2004 files.

[hyposmurf]

That express viewer though,what on earth is going on with it?As far as I can see its only for viewing DWF files! :evil: Thats hopeless when most files are viewed as DWG files in our office!Also read something else about the DWF files from 2004 are slightly different than that of other CAD versions :?

[fuccaro]

You will find at least the free Acrobat Reader on all computers. I send my drawings in PDF format and I received no complains until now. Also this format is some kind of protection of my work. People can (usualy) just read and print the PDF files.

[f700es]

You will find at least the free Acrobat Reader on all computers. I send my drawings in PDF format and I received no complains until now. Also this format is some kind of protection of my work. People can (usualy) just read and print the PDF files.

Unless they are good in Illustrator :?

I do this as well. I can set the scale and paper size I want and don't have to worry about non-tech savy end users not being able to print out the documents.

[deadseasquirrels]

Fuccaro,
I am assuming then that PDF995 has the option to set the resolution high enough so that when converted to a PDF you still get get all the details of your drawing, since CAD drawings are usually bigger than 8 1/2 x 11. I am trying out PDF X-change right now...but it is hard for me to tell if I am able to create PDF files that are big enough to catch all the details of my very large projects.

[fuccaro]

Deadseasquirrels
Why do not try it your self?
The program is free and you may find it here:
http://www.pdf995.com/
You can download and test the program just in minutes. You are the only one who can tell the best way for your self. We sent you our advices, the decision is yours.
Also you will find other nice PDF related programs at the same address.

[deadseasquirrels]

I'll try it, but one reason I may not try it is because of what just happened.

I decided to try PDF x-change and downloaded the free trial version. Well I tried it and I didn't like it, so I uninstalled it. But like any good spyware program it doesn't really fully uninstall. It left some junk still on my computer, and I hate that. I could manually delete it, but I bet it is in my registry too. I have no respect for a company that does that.

[Orbit]

For the excitements sake of experiencing by your own the powerful pdf.995 and not only, you can download http://www.lavasoft.de/default.shtml.en

The headache is not coming only from there. I use it myself and can declare that is an effective soft.

[fuccaro]

I use DWF's. simple and easy Probable somebody from Autodesk was here in our Forum (as guest, Hyposmurf!) and than he published this:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=3232971&siteID=123112
Great tip, Hendie! :lol:

[gcp310]

I used to plot to PNG and insert it into a word document. with some slight adjustments to your plot style line thicknesses, you can get a great outcome.

Ten the IT guru decided that all docs being emailed must be PDFs, so plot to pdf using Adobe Distiller. This works great for me.
as all plots come out like they were done inside acad.

I have come across a new format by a company called Cerience.
they are specilizing in a Document viewer called Repligo for PDA,smartfone and PCs.
The file is created by selecting their plotter (printer). The quality of the file on a PDA is great, and i now take a copy of important jobs on my Palm. check it out at www.cerience.com

G

[spyace]

how about doing a screen print and pasting it into photoshop or paint, then trim it and save it as a jpeg. simple yet affective.