topic Re: Captured map image won't plot in AutoCAD Map 3D Forum

Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:13:01 GMT

When I try to plot (to PDF) a layout with a captured map image, I still get the error message:

"If you want to print part of the online background map with the rest of the drawing, you must capture an area of the map as a map image object"

I have captured the image, and verified that it is on a plottable layer, and it appears in the viewport, but it still does not appear in the PDF.

When I display the properties of the captured image, it shows as a "geomap image", so perhaps this is not a "captured map image"?

It is very perplexing, because 2 months ago, I had no problem at all getting the image to appear in the PDF. Nothing has changed in the meantime. I'm actually using Civil 3D 2020, but I thought I'd ask here since this is a "Map3D" tool (I think).

Also perplexing - I'm 95% sure I got the same error message in the past, but the image was plotted anyways.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

CodeDing — Thu, 08 May 2025 18:46:21 GMT

@sean.carduner ,

Can you post the DWG for us to look at? Just leave the image and layout/viewport in it.

That would help a bunch.

Best,

~DD

Re: Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:01:34 GMT

Here is the dwg file, and the PDF that was plotted.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:19:08 GMT

Here is the older version of the CAD file, from which I can generate a PDF showing the captured Geomap Image. and the PDF as well.

The geoimage in this older file has a white border around it, while in the newer file it has no such border. I thought this might be a difference in IMAGEFRAME settings, but both files are '1'.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

CodeDing — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:37:34 GMT

@sean.carduner ,

I opened your DWG file, immediately plotted (I used the acad.ctb since I don't have yours) and it plotted just fine, no errors.

(I'm using C3D 2023)

~DD

Re: Captured map image won't plot

CodeDing — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:39:44 GMT

@sean.carduner ,

@sean.carduner wrote:
"If you want to print part of the online background map with the rest of the drawing, you must capture an area of the map as a map image object"

BTW, this error message appears when you have the Geolocation Map set to anything except "Map Off" inside of any viewport.

~DD

Re: Captured map image won't plot

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:48:43 GMT

Hi @sean.carduner

Saskatoon, correct?

Dump that OLD photo image then 'capture' a new one. That old one isn't working any longer.

Here's a newly captured image.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:55:03 GMT

This is the older location plan (the second one I attached) and works fine for me. It's the first attached file that I'm having the issue with.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:57:12 GMT

A bit north of Saskatoon!

I'm not having any luck getting newly captured geomap images to plot. But the geoimage in the older CAD file plots just fine.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 08 May 2025 19:58:52 GMT

New captured image below. PDF version attached.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 20:05:34 GMT

I can find a work-around, so I'll be able to complete the drawing I'm working on, it just seems really weird that the 2 almost identical files are behaving differently in this regard, and solving the mystery might be illuminating.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

CodeDing — Thu, 08 May 2025 22:13:16 GMT

Re: Captured map image won't plot

sean.carduner — Thu, 08 May 2025 22:24:38 GMT

Wow, my eyesight must be getting worse than I thought. I thought I had TRIPLE checked for that!

Much thanks for your time & effort.

Re: Captured map image won't plot

CodeDing — Thu, 08 May 2025 22:56:18 GMT

No worries,

Sorry there was no text in my reply. The site would not let me add any text to my replies for some reason.

Best,

~DD

Re: Captured map image won't plot

apple_loveless — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:49:30 GMT

Just had this happen to someone on my team. In case someone searches for the same issue, let me list out some of the steps to go about in fixing this, some of which was already addressed in earlier comments:

1. Capture the image and then turn the map off (using Geolocation ribbon, Map and capture area buttons or their respective commands)

2. Check that the captured map is in a layer that can be plotted - check layer on/of, freeze on/off, plot on/off (using Layer Properties Manager)

3. Are you using this captured image in a different layout or exhibit? Check to see if the viewport can be plotted - vp plot on/off (using Layer Properties Manager)

4. Go to the layout and ensure "Map off" is set for paperspace, modelspace, and the layout viewport/modelspace. Check to see if the aerial map shows as Map Off in modelspace, Map off in the paperspace view of the layout, and then click/activate the viewport and see if it shows as Map Off as well. (using Geolocation ribbon)

Hope this helps!