topic 3D Viewport Printing issues in AutoCAD Forum

3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:12:21 GMT

Does anyone have any idea why these cylinders would PDF differently in the same viewport? They are all copies of each other, so they were not created differently.

In Model Space, this is an XREF of a 3D Model. I have created a VP in PS to show the detail.

DISPSILH is set to 1. Viewport is set to "Wireframe" and to Plot Style "Legacy Hidden"

I've tried different things like recreating the viewport, XCLIP in the model. Only thing I can think of is that somehow ACAD is overwhelmed and can't figure things out. This is happening for others printing the same file as well, so I know it is not a hardware issue.

The file printed correctly when it was first created, but suddenly started printing differently as shown here. I feel like the file may be corrupt, but want to see if anyone has any ideas.

Before you ask, I cannot transfer files, as I am not allowed to share these files and even if I could, the 3D Model is too large to try to upload here.

Thanks!

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

pendean — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:42:22 GMT

@CrazyIvan What about options other than "legacy hidden"?

Can you share a limited portion of your DWG file(s) or that pipe? If not, ask your IT/CAD Manager how we can remotely help you without it if you are allowed to be on a public forum like these.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:13:45 GMT

I have been using AutoCAD for over 25 years and when someone posts something, I don't need a CAD file to generate a flood of brainstorm ideas. This wasn't a typical thing back in the day on AutoCAD forums, but it got real big on Microstation's Bentley Forums. Now, it has bled over here. I don't understand the obsession with "can you upload a file?" comments.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:05:38 GMT

What happens when you see these three cylinders in model tab?

If they look the same there my next guess would be that your pspace vports are looking at a different location

But without even a simplified version of the drawing to look at these are the best answer any of us here in the community can give.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:33:13 GMT

Still having this issue. Any help is appreciated.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:39:40 GMT

Still having this issue. Any help is appreciated.

All of the cylinders - rigid bus conductor - are drawn the same way. I don't understand why they print differently in the same viewport. I don't want to see faceted edges.

I've attached a zip file with a PDF of the image below as well as the DWG files.

Thanks!

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:56:51 GMT

When I opened WTF_01.dwg I got this error msg:

I then changed the Plot device to AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3 & then Apply to Layout:

Then the Preview shows this when I zoom in to that area:

Here's the PDF opened & zoomed into that same area:

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:06:10 GMT

Printing in color is not an option. We need to print in black, which we accomplish by setting the Viewport to Print To Legacy Hidden, which is how all of our viewports are set to print.

I can print in HIDDEN and the linework is correct, but in color - which we don't want.

Not sure on the errors you got. That may have resulted from when I cleaned up the file to zip up for this thread, but I did not have errors.

P.S. If I start to overwrite the colors for printing and print to HIDDEN, the line thicknesses do not come out correct, so that is not an option either.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:15:13 GMT

Has nothing to do with color. But the key is to use AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3

Since I didn't have your NEI Laser.ctb the default ended up in color.

I can always choose monochrome.ctb.

Here's the PLOT Preview of that version:

And the PDF:

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:18:11 GMT

You got me thinking. Without changing anything else, I went into the PDF options and changed the Vector Quality in the Custom Properties from 1200 to 2400, and it printed correctly:

...Why, Autodesk?

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:21:55 GMT

Which is what I've already responded now twice.

The difference between AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3 & your original selection of AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3 is in the resolution:

Autodesk provided these options so you can generate different resolution pdfs:

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:45:55 GMT

How does a lower resolution ADD faceted lines around the face of a one or some cylinders and not others in the same viewport? That makes no sense. But, Autodesk often makes no sense.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:55:42 GMT

The higher the resolution in this case means the removing of those faceted lines.

Perhaps there is more time involved in the process thus providing a better looking output.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 22:44:04 GMT

Same Issue, 2 different drawings.

I printed these with the same settings in the same Print from SSM process after changing the setting to 2400.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 22:50:30 GMT

What if you open those dwgs & manually run the PLOT command to print ?

Also double check to make sure you've got the plot page settings saved using AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:05:14 GMT

Does the same thing when printing from HQ Pc3 setting using the Plot command.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:06:15 GMT

perhaps you can share that dwg file like before for everyone here to take a look

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:56:26 GMT

Here you go.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

CrazyIvan — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:09:10 GMT

Well, it seems to have worked when I set the Vector Quality to 4800. What is the deal with this? That is a bit ridiculous. There has to be something else going on.

Re: 3D Viewport Printing issues

paullimapa — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 03:35:50 GMT

Interestingly enough, setting the plot device to AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3, it works on this dwg

PLOT window:

PLOT PREVIEW:

PDF View:

FYI: You can always submit a trouble ticket directly to Autodesk by signing into your Autodesk account.