White streaks when plotting shaded models

[m.granata]

Hi,

I believe this issue started when I upgraded to Inventor Professional 2014.  When I print idw files with shaded models on my HP Designjet 500 plotter I get white streaks in the shaded model.  I never had this issue with the 2013 version of Inventor.  If I export the same idw file to a pdf then print the pdf file there is no streaking and the printed drawing is okay.  Thinking it was a Designjet issue I spent a couple days on HP's discussion group to find a solution but now it looks like a software issue.  Any information to resolve this issue is appreciated.

Regards,

Mike

[Cadmanto]

Mike,

Have you upgraded your print drivers when you upgraded to 2014?

If this solved your issue please mark this posting "Accept as Solution".

Or if you like something that was said and it was helpful, Kudos are appreciated. Thanks!!!! 

     

[BrandonBG]

I have the same issue when using a shaded view that deviates from any true ISO or straight-on view. So, if I use custom view I end up with streaks on some, not all, of the materials. As long as I stick to the ISOs or front/right/left, I'm fine.

Thinking this may be a rendering issue withing IDWs.

BrandonBG

[m.granata]

The views I have that are shaded are isometric views, no custom views.  I typically only shade isometric views so haven't tried any other views.  I am using the latest printer drivers offered by HP.  These are the same printer drivers I used with Inventor Premium 2013.  If I print to my color laser on just 8.5x11 sheets I have no issues.  But I need large plots from my Designjet 500 printer.  And like I mentioned earlier, exporting the idw to a pdf and printing the pdf works fine.  Also, exporting to a dwf and printing from Autodesk Design Review 2013 is fine.

FYI:  O.S. is Windows 7 64 bit.

Regards,

Mike 

[blair · Accepted solution]

Use the "High Quality" setting in your export to PDF. Using the standard default quality setting will cause streaks/banding.

Not a driver or printer issue, it's between Autodesk Inventor and Adobe. The High-Quality settings will eliminate the banding.

[m.granata]

Maybe I wasn't clear.  There are no banding issues when printing a pdf of dwf file that was exported from an idw file.  The banding occurs when printing the idw file within Inventor Professional 2014.  I have tried all print quality settings, Fast, Normal, Best.  I have also tried the different Optimization selections, Optimize for Drawings/Text, and Optimize for Images.

Anyway, it was printing fine.  Why should the settings suddenly have to be changed.  I don't remember exactly when the banding began.  I can only recall it was shortly after I upgraded to Inventor Professional 2014.

Best Regards,

Mike

[sam_m]

when creating a pdf from Inventor are you printing it with a pdf printer?  if not then try it (I would suggest PDF Creator).

if there are artifacts in the pdf printed result (not Inventor's own export) then it's an issue with Inventor's printing routine.

If the pdf output is good then how well does that print?  If a pdf prints well but Inventor doesn't then it's an issue with Inventor, but if the pdf print (from Adobe reader) is also causing print-problems then it's surely not a 100% Inventor issue and something to do with the printer and/or drivers.

If the pdf prints ok but Inventor doesn't then I guess it's a possible solution, all be it a frustrating one you shouldn't have, to print/export as a pdf and then print that.

[m.granata]

Thanks for everyone's efforts to resolve this issue.  It certainly has me baffled and I don't won't to keep sending my client hard copies with this white streaking in the shaded views.

1.  The pdf files I create (export command) from Inventor I am printing with Adobe Acrobat X Professional (not the free Adobe Reader).  The pdf file looks okay and prints okay with no issues.

2.  The dwf files I create (export command) from Inventor I am printing with Autodesk Design Review 2013.  The dwf file looks okay and and prints okay with no issues.

3.  When printing an idw file with Inventor Professional 2014, I get the white streaking in the shaded views.

I still haven't completely ruled out something with my Designjet 500.  I have replaced all the printheads and cartridges with are the common cause of this condition and have performed cleaning and advanced calibrations on it.  All is okay with that.  The fact that the pfd and dwf plots are okay has me wondering if it is an issue with Inventor Professional 2014.

Best Regards,

Mike

[graemev]

Good diagnostics on your part.  Any time I've had banding or streaking problems with a printer, it did it on ALL prints.  Sounds like a software problem.

[blair]

I might be inclined to see if there are any print-driver updates from HP.

I would also snoop around the printer-properties settings, it does seem odd. Also make sure you have both hot-fixes for IV2014 installed.

[sam_m]

---

@m.granata wrote:

1.  The pdf files I create (export command) from Inventor I am printing with Adobe Acrobat X Professional (not the free Adobe Reader).  The pdf file looks okay and prints okay with no issues.

---

did you see my comment in the post above?

"if there are artifacts in the pdf printed result (not Inventor's own export) then it's an issue with Inventor's printing routine."

have you tried a pdf print through the print command (with a 3rd party pdf printer) NOT the export command?  As the pdf results have differed in the past (and usually the pdf print is more in keeping with the physical print).

[m.granata]

Sam_m,

I saw you post and in all honesty I didn't understand this line, "if there are artifacts in the pdf printed result (not Inventor's own export) then it's an issue with Inventor's printing routine."

I haven't tried a third party pdf printer.  I have used Cute pdf in the past.  I can install it and print to a pdf file using the print command and see what the results look like.  I think I know what you are getting at.  If creating a pdf file through the print command generates a shaded image with the same white banding then I have a software issue and if shaded image is okay then look more at an issue with my Designjet printer.  Correct?  I'll give that a try and post the results.

Best Regards,

Mike 

[sam_m]

yes, that's it.

In the past there have been differences between the output from "printed" pdfs to "exported" ones.  Usually the "printed" ones (through a pdf printer like PDF Creator/CutePDF) is more similar to the printed result than the exported one.

and yes...  This is what I was thinking (assuming you're always using the same "master" idw in Inventor for consistency):

1) if the banding exists on the pdf "print" then it shows it's an issue with Inventor's use of the print engine.  Make sure to zoom around the pdf to check it's still ok close-up.

2) If the pdf "print" is ok from Inventor but it then prints banded then it's a printer (or driver) issue.

3) if the pdf is ok and prints ok then it might suggest Inventor has a problem talking to the HP driver when printing directly.

I hope that makes sense?!?

As a side note... if the banding is only at times and varies a lot, then could it just be a dirty print head?  In the past I've had banding with colour prints purely because we use black 99% of time and colour so rarely it has dried and needs a clean (or even a new cartridge) when that colour is called up for smooth colour shading.

[m.granata]

Sam_m,

I was able to create a pdf using the print command in Inventor Pro 2014.  The shaded image has white banding much more severe than the shaded image printed on my Designjet 500 directly from the idw file in Inventor Pro 2014.  I have attached two jpg images.

FYI:  I have tried changing the color of the shaded image to red and the white banding still occurs.

I wonder why Inventor Pro 2014 is having this issue with the HP printer driver?  Hp has only two drivers available for Win7 64 bit.  One for HP-GL/2 and one for PCL3GUI.  I've used the PCL3GUI version drivers for years because the Designjet 500 uses an accessory formatter card to add HP-GL/2 capability to the printer and I've already had two of those expensive accessory cards go bad.

Any other ideas are appreciated.

Best Regards,

Mike 

[sam_m]

so... it looks like Inventor 2014 may have some issues rendering out shaded views to the print engine...  fantastic 

I can't remember anyone else commenting about poor print quality with 2014 but I will have a look around.

out of interest...  what option have you got set for the shaded view?

Tools ribbon -> Document Settings -> Drawing tab and it should look like the image below:

If it isn't set to "Offline Only" it might be worth a trial with that.

[m.granata]

My drawing tab settings are configured just as what you show, I guess those are the default settings.  I may try different bitmap resolution settings and also change the use bitmap setting to always.  Is this issue that uncommon or do others not print any shaded views in their idw drawings?  I know shaded views are not a standard drafting practice but in some cases they look better than wire frame in isometric views.

[blair]

Default is "On-Line" for the graphics. The only "graphics" issues I have seen in IV2014 are in the modeling enviroment. Ray-Tracing is one of them.

Never ran across banding while printing in the IDW enviroment. The only time banding has occured in the IDW print enviroment is to PDF is the settings are set to Standard, a switch to High Quality solves that.

There is no setting in the Print/Printer Options for the HP for a "High Quality" option?

[m.granata]

Blair,

You are correct with the banding when printing to pdf.  Changing the pdf setting to High Quality stopped the banding when printing to a pdf.  I'd say again I cannot rule out an issue with my Designjet 500.  Wonderful.  But if it is an issue with my printer the pdf files I export from IV Pro 2014 would also have banding when I print them on the Designjet 500 and those don't.  I still don't know for certain what is going on?

Best Regards,

Mike

[blair]

I wonder if there is a setting simular to the PDF for quality in the HP Printer. Possibly it's running in a Eco-type mode.

[m.granata]

Blair,

I've tried all the print quality settings I can find and nothing has any affect on the banding.  I've also posted this issue in HP's discussion group and am hoping somebody there will have some suggestions.

Best Regards,

Mike