topic Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF in AutoCAD Forum

Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

mz301681 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 13:32:33 GMT

Hi!

I wounder if there is any way to print a 3D scene with lights and shadows to be seen in PDF. I know i can render a 3D object to see the shadows of lights that i placed in model but i want to see shadows in layout / print area. I tried with diffrent visual styles, enabling showing shadows in everyone but non of that work. Seems like autocad just print to PDF with general lighting but not shadows, i don't know why.

I can see shadows before printing to PDF but it don't appear in final PDF no matter which printer i use.

Thanks in advance !

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

pendean — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:09:52 GMT

Have you seen his on the topic from Autodesk by chance https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Plotting-viewport-with-Rendered-visual-style-to-PDF-is-putting-glitches-in-the-image.html

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

mz301681 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:18:56 GMT

This is not the solution to my problem. Of course i can do render or print to .png and then paste it in layout but that's not what i want. I have table in layout that describes the 3D model. Still no visible shadows even when i use "PublishToWeb PNG" printer with realistic visual or any other setting that clearly is check to render shadows.

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

paullimapa — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:22:00 GMT

Can you share your dwg with this problem?

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

R_Tweed — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:30:25 GMT

What level of shadows do you want to achieve? This is a quick shade, full shadows printed to pdf using sunlight settings.

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

mz301681 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:34:20 GMT

Okey so the drawning you sent to me works when i print to pdf from your file. But i cannot print shadows in my test draw. Can you tell me what other options did you checked ? I use the same sunlight settings and printed with shadows on (realistic visual) and nothing, only plain light. You can see shadows on model i have send.

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

paullimapa — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:45:20 GMT

This is what I did to see shadows on your dwg:

1. PLAN (top view)

2. RECTANG (draw ground plain around 3d object to project shadows)

3. ZOOM P (go back to original 3d view)

4. VISUALSTYLES (to show Visual Styles Manager)

5. Doubleclick on Shaded with Edges (to make that style current)

6. Next to Material display select Materials and textures

7. Next to Shadow display select Ground shadow

8. Select Print layout

9. Double click inside the Vport to goto Model space

10. On Visual Styles Manager double click on Shaded with edges (** I rotated your view to see more shadows on ground)

11. PLOT

see attached pdf & dwg

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

mz301681 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 20:24:19 GMT

Thanks for reply !

Ground shadows worked for me but my question from beginning actually was around how to make full shadows or "reproduced object shadows" in lighting section to work in pdf. Seems like only ground shadows work in this way.

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

paullimapa — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 22:11:30 GMT

Then you'll have to use the Rendered option:

1. I added a canopy at the top of the structure:

2. I copied and created another layout: Print (2)

3. I positioned 2 Vports vertically side by side so you can see the shadow in 3d & 2d

4. I purposely went into each Vport & changed Vscurrent to 2dwireframe:

5. I selected both vports and in the Properties window next to Shade plot I chose: Rendered

6. Here's a plot preview showing the shadow cast by the canopy object:

dwg & pdf attached

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

mz301681 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 22:39:08 GMT

Thank you, so in the end there is no way to printing full shadows into PDF file by just selecting and checking everything in shadow options. The only option is to render the object as it is. That is weird why only ground shadows work as intendeed. I hoped some day the will allow or fix that shadows to work fully in PDF files.

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

paullimapa — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 23:06:18 GMT

you are welcome...cheers!!!

Re: Shadows in 3D layout to PDF

R_Tweed — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:38:59 GMT

You are right that complex shadows are not supported in the output to pdf. I think the quick shade modes are meant more for visual feedback while working rather than presentation. Not that you can't use them to plot, but from the post @paullimapa made, additional shadow detail requires the output to be rendered.

One option would be to screenshot your view and insert the image.

If the below image is what you are trying to accomplish then rendering is the method used.