Problem with line wieght when exporting to pdf

[Robert M]

when i export my drawings to pdf and then print them them i am not seeings any line weight so can someone explain to me thanks

[Dana W]

We need more specific information.

Are you plotting from model or paperspace?

Are you using a paperspace layout?

Are you using a plot style? If so, which one, custom or one of the canned plot styles?

Is that plot style an STB or CTB?

 

What do you mean by EXPORT?

 

Have you checked your page set up to see if you remembered to check off the Plot Object Lineweights check box?

 

Will you notice this response since you have two identical threads?

[Robert M]

ok thanks for the reply i am potting in paper space and yes i am using a paper space layout of 11" by 17" page set. i dont understand what u mean by " if plot style is an STB or CTB" the Plot Object Lineweights check box is tick and faded

[Dana W]

ok thanks for the reply i am potting in paper space and yes i am using a paper space layout of 11" by 17" page set. i dont understand what u mean by " if plot style is an STB or CTB" the Plot Object Lineweights check box is tick and faded

When you type in the command plot, or right click the layout tab to plot, what is in the drop down selection box for 'Plot style table (pen assignments)? It is at the very top right of the dialog box. There you should see one of three things; None, a plot style file name ending in .stb, or a plot style file name ending in .ctb

 

If your "Plot object line weights" checkbox is checked then the line weights should be plotted as you specified them whether it is grayed out or not, and whether or not you are using a plot style table.

 

It may not have anything to do with the plot style table anyway. Maybe all of your weighted lines are narrower than the capabilities of the pdf plot driver. I looked into the properties of my dwg to pdf.pc3 file and it won't resolve finer than 400 dpi. I am not sure how that translates to line width on the page. I might guess that it is about 0.0200"

 

By the way, how are you controlling your line weights, by the layer lineweight assignments, or by directly assigning weights to the lines?

 

Is it possible for you to attach the dwg file with this issue, or maybe a copy of it with all the proprietary information erased from it, to your next post? If you attach it, please save as a 2007 version first. That will let more people with older software like me help you out.

 

Do you use the "Display Line weights" feature while you are drawing? If so, that is only a representation of which lines are fatter than others, and are only as fine as one pixel, and the display rounds up your lineweights to the next pixel on the screen. On top of that, the percentage of differentiation on the screen is adjustable in your options dialog via a slide button, so they are anything but a true representtion of what you will see on a pdf or a paper plot.

[Robert M]

cadtutor.dwgin my pot style table i have monochrome ctb. selected and my line weight is control by the layer line weight assignments

[Dana W]

[ATTACH]45379[/ATTACH][ATTACH]45379[/ATTACH]in my pot style table i have monochrome ctb. selected and my line weight is control by the layer line weight assignments

That sounds like it should be working. I am at a loss, really. I'll take a look at the drawings. It's getting late here. Be back in the morning.

 

Arggh! I looked at it. Modelspace objects are scaled down to what looks like 1/8" = 1'-0". I don't draw like that and I suggest always to never do that. In fact, at every place I have worked it is just not acceptable. This method of scaling might be exacerbating your line weight issues in the plot, I am not sure.

 

Rule #1 of AutoCad drafting, Always draw in modelspace at full size, even if you are drawing the entire Solar system. It's been done. Then use the viewport scaling feature to get your model to fit in the viewport.

 

When I select monochrome.ctb and dwg to pdf.pc3 I get visible line weight differences, but they are such small differences, that I can barely detect any. I had to zoom all the way in, in the PDF document. I could not see the diff. in the preview. You have a good many different line weights, but they only vary by 0.05 mm.

 

One other problem I see is in the stair railing. Due to the modelspace scaling, the lines are drawn almost as close together as the line weight they are drawn with, so they bleed together.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Dana W