topic Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf in AutoCAD for Mac Forum

problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:43:13 GMT

Attached find a simple architectural ceiling plan. I want to show the structure with some transparency so that the lighting fixtures stand out.

in the VP I made the structure layer (A-FLOR-OVHD) 86% transparent. When I go to print, it looks correct in the thumbnail but when it comes out in Adobe Acrobat pdf there is no transparency in those lines. (A problem with plot styles set up?)

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

maxim_k — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:06:24 GMT

Hi @JEFFJW9BB ,

Did you check "Print transparency" when saving to PDF?

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:23:14 GMT

That's it! Thank you!

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 21:30:30 GMT

Now I have a mysterious line weight printing issue.

In the past I could not really get too much color line weight definition. White is heavy black, Red is thin black. All other colors are sort of the same. I have been living with that and thus make everything pretty much red or white.

Now I get very clear definition, whether the "Print Object Lineweights" box in the print dialogue box is checked or not. I use a lot of red in my projects and red is now very light (too light!). How can I go back to the way it was??

What has happened?

I attach a file showing different colors and the pdf from it.

Thank you so very much.

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

pendean — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:33:59 GMT

@JEFFJW9BB You forgot to include your FULL 2.CTB plot style table file: that's where your red is set/defined.

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

maxim_k — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:34:05 GMT

Hi @JEFFJW9BB ,

Yes, as @pendean mentioned, we need your custom plot style table file in order to understand the problem.

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:27:55 GMT

I cannot send a .ctb file. It says not supported.

is there a work around?

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:32:06 GMT

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:40:52 GMT

ctb files not supported.

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:54:10 GMT

pdf attached

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

pendean — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:28:18 GMT

@JEFFJW9BB wrote:
ctb files not supported.

You have to compress it to share (ZIP or whatever) or change the file extension to TXT: a PDF means nothing at all especially when you don't even show pen 2 'red' settings 🙂

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:43:29 GMT

zip attached.

Thank you for your help!

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

maxim_k — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:36:19 GMT

Hi @JEFFJW9BB ,

You can compress CTB file in Finder and attach ZIP archive or you can use ETRANSMIT command in AutoCAD to create an archive of the drawing and dependency files for sharing.

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

maxim_k — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:41:51 GMT

@JEFFJW9BB

Change this value in Full 2.CTB to suit your needs:

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:40:40 GMT

Thank you Maxim:

The problem is not with the lineweight but that they are not black. The lines are grey, like a 9.

It is only with this red color. All the other colors print black.

Note that red, as well as the other colors are indicated black.

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

pendean — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:31:51 GMT

@JEFFJW9BB wrote:
... Note that red, as well as the other colors are indicated black.

I'm not sure how you managed before, but at our offices would never select this if we want black 100% of the time all the time.

Having said that, I only get black for color 1 when I use your shared CTB file and your DWG file

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:46:54 GMT

Hi Pendean:

I unchecked Dither but unfortunately it did not work. See pdf attached. It is interesting that it affects only the red lines.

Do you recommend that I reinstall my AutoCAD software?

Jeff

Re: problem printing VP transparency into pdf

JEFFJW9BB — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:08:17 GMT

Pendean: I found an old but identical CTB file with a different name and added it to the list of available plot styles. I printed the drawing and the red color is correct.

It's interesting that it worked for you but not for me. If it was corrupted it would not have worked for you either.

An AutoCAD mystery for "the books"?

In any case I thank you and maxim_k for your help!