topic Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF in AutoCAD Forum

Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:49:23 GMT

Hello all,

I'm having trouble with my layer colors exporting correctly to PDF. I have looked around youtube and the web to see how to fix this but nothing I've done has worked and I don't think a redraw is needed. I attached both the .dwg and the .pdf.

In the plot preview, everything looks right, as I want it and also in the paperspace. But then, in the pdf, there are grey lines I don't want. I just want everything except the note to be black. The title block is the only block item I have there.

Please help!

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:47:46 GMT

Hi,

can you please upload the PDF you get when you plot from AutoCAD using "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3"?

The PDF you have shown is scanned from a hand drawn paper.

- alfred -

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:50:06 GMT

I apologize. I uploaded what you need to the Original post.

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:53:14 GMT

Hi,

by the way, layer "Title" has color 250, not 7, so if you are referring to the grey of the title block then change the layer color to 7 or true-color 0,0,0

- alfred -

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:57:09 GMT

Thank you Alfred, that worked for the block.

So to extrapolate, do I do that for all the lines that are grey?

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:01:39 GMT

Hi,

>> So to extrapolate, do I do that for all the lines that are grey?

As long as the lines have color = "byLayer" then you only need to edit the layers color.

If you have assigned individual colors to entities (which should be avoided), then sorry yes, you have to do that for all these entities.

- alfred -

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:08:11 GMT

I went ahead to change all the layers that I need black to "white" instead of "255", but apart from the block color, the PDF still has the same problem.

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:13:00 GMT

Hi,

can you save that dwg and upload it again with that layer setting?

... + the PDF you get now from that dwg, using "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3"

- alfred -

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:25:05 GMT

Sure, here.

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:32:14 GMT

Hi,

may I ask which part in the PDF is grey and not black?

- alfred -

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:46:39 GMT

Other than the red text note(s), everything is black as far as I can see. Some of the linework done in a dashed linetype and the hatching appear grey-ish when viewing the pdf full-size, but when zooming in they "resolve" to black. Using Adobe reader and also Adobe Acrobat give the same result. Without zooming in, this could give someone the impression that there are actual grey lines....paper print from the pdf is all black/red also.

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:50:22 GMT

Here. Maybe my graphics card/driver isn't good, but I haven't had a problem with this before and my drivers are all updated. But this will only apply if you can see the color as black not grey.

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:53:22 GMT

I noticed this as well. So it has something to do with the vector or raster settings, I'm guessing? If this is the case, I just spent over 4 hours on a simple drawing. Nice!

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

pendean — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:54:50 GMT

What you are describing is a quirk in Acrobat that you can fix on your PC with settings changes but you can't do it for others in reality.

You could insist everyone receiving your PDFs to never you Acrobat (good luck with that), o use a different PDF driver like Foxit Reader (good luck with that too) or start issuing DWF files or actual DWG files. Or send paper prints.

Here are the settings I use in Acrobat to mitigate some of what you describe

Re: Layer color doesn't export correctly to PDF

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:59:56 GMT

This works! Thanks