plotting to pdf issues

[tjs1362]

Hello all, hoping you can help me with a current issue I am having. I have a rather large floorplan (2D) I am trying to convert to pdf format in Autocad 2008. I am able to make the conversion through the plot command, but the lines and text in the pdf drawing are not distinct enough (i.e. line weight is too large???). I have tried selecting all objects in the dwg file to change the line weight through properties, but unable to do so. The program seems to lock up selecting that many objects.

 

Any advise/help on converting dwg to a "crisp" pdf file would be appreciated.

 

thanks,

[Dana W]

This one should be a FAQ. It comes up all the time.

 

I have a similar issue with AutoCAD LT 2009. Some text also appears to be BOLD and fuzzy, in addition to the messed up line weights.

 

Go to AutoDesk website and download the FREE TrueView 2010 or 2011 whichever is available. Open your drawing with TrueView and plot as usual. It does a fine job of plotting pdf files.

 

TrueView can also convert newer drawing versions to older ones so your AutoCAD 2008 can open them.

 

Did I mention it was FREE?

[Skybeorn]

Did you check The plotting Lineweight? (In the layer properties Manager)

 

Also look in the print dialog optins to make sure you are not plotting lineweights.

[tjs1362]

Dana - True view software may/may not be a viable option for my concern. I am using Autocad at work and will have to speak with some people in IT to see if they will authorize the download. But I will persue that.

 

I am not able to follow the paths that Sky... suggests. Are they for another version? We presently use Autocad 2008.

 

thanks

[rkmcswain]

You don't need to download DWG Trueview. The only reason it works better is that the built in "DWG to PDF" driver was much improved starting with the 2010 version of AutoCAD (and therefore DWG Trueview).

 

So, it's pretty much universally agreed that the 2007-2009 versions of this PDF driver in AutoCAD were not that good (as you are seeing)... However that may not even be your issue. Are you using plot styles or relying on the lineweights assigned to the entities in the drawing?

 

If you would just like to try a different PDF driver, you can download one of the free ones like CutePDF and give that a shot also.

[tjs1362]

To answer your question, I am relying on the lineweights assigned in the drawing.

 

Thanks for the info on Trueview, it all makes sense now. I think I will still try to have our system admins OK the download as it would give us other benefits. Presently, the only way we "share" cad drawings internally is converting to pdf. Which limits the ability of non-cad users in contributing their input. From what I am reading on the autodesk web site, the Trueview software will allow them to view the original cad drawing and notate it without having Autocad installed.

[Skybeorn]

TJS,

 

Check the screenshot. Maybe that will help. (I have 2009)

 

As you could just adjust the linweight on one layer in a viewport VS turning them all off. (VP lineweight)

 

[tjs1362]

Skybeorn,

Those options are under page set up on my version, 2008. I was able to create aplot style table to designate line wt. when plotting and then access it through the page set up menue. It does sharpen up the object lines when I plot to pdf, but I am not totally happy with the text yet. I will keep trying though.

 

I am going to explore the Trueview option that Dana suggested, if our System Admins will ok the download. Will let all know if that helps.

 

thanks for the help,

[rkmcswain]

... From what I am reading on the autodesk web site, the Trueview software will allow them to view the original cad drawing and notate it without having Autocad installed.

 

DWG Trueview is a *viewer* only. You can open, view, and print. That is about it.

 

You can markup using "Autodesk Design Review" (ADR), but this program does not read DWG files. (ADR can "import" DWG files, but all it is really doing is printing the DWG to DWF and opening the DWF file.)

[tjs1362]

Thanks rkmcswain, I will look into both of those freeware programs. Both would be of value to us (although it will take some time to obtain permission from our system administrators).

[jbird68]

Another Freeware program I have been using to make PDF's is called dopdf-7. Has been working great for me.