topic Re: [HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?! in Revit Architecture Forum

[HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?!

pearlofsadness — Fri, 15 May 2020 12:14:45 GMT

Hi,

I had been trying and trying but I realised Revit does not produce a smooth circle on PDF... To reproduce this problem, you can simply insert a circular window on a wall, go to its elevation, then set it to scale 1:200, put it onto a sheet, then Print as PDF. Make sure everything is of the best resolution and it's in Vector. I tried different PDFs, Bullzip, Acrobat etc etc. It's all producing same unpleasant results.

You will see that the circle or anything round in general will always be jagged... It is not a true smooth circle. Anyone knows how to fix this please? It seems Revit just generates curves/circles as segments...

on Revit Modelon Exported PDF

Re: [HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?!

L.Maas — Fri, 15 May 2020 18:41:52 GMT

I do not see a big issue. Did what you mention

Window on an A1 sheet

Closeup

You can indeed some striaght lines when looking closely.

But not something that woriies me about a detail of 5.2 mm high on an A1 sheet.

And you could even improve a little when you are using sweeps (see additional top part made by sweep with low angle trajectory

But you are right, you can see straight lines when looking closely. Revit indeed usees striaght lines to draw arcs and circles. I expect this has a better performance than trying to create more smooth ones.

Re: [HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?!

Michael_Sandel — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 07:34:56 GMT

For me (Revit 2024) it's only the Export to PDF method that converts arcs & circles as segmented lines. If I use Ctrl + P to start the Print method instead of the Export to PDF method, true arcs & circles are generated in the PDF output.

Re: [HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?!

RobDraw — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:54:38 GMT

@Michael_Sandel wrote:
For me (Revit 2024) it's only the Export to PDF method that converts arcs & circles as segmented lines. If I use Ctrl + P to start the Print method instead of the Export to PDF method, true arcs & circles are generated in the PDF output.

They only appear to be "true" arcs and circles because the segments are shorter.

Re: [HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?!

Michael_Sandel — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 22:48:35 GMT

Hi Rob,

Thanks for pointing that out. You're absolutely right. I had to have a closer look for myself and sure enough the door swing I focussed on is a series of segments. On the other hand, I looked at a circle I use for a view title, and that looks for all the world to me to be a true circle:

There's clearly only 4 control points on the perimeter of this circle. And then there's the circle in a section mark. It's a segmented element:

It appears to me that the Export to PDF method produces fewer segments than the Print method. The Print method yielding smoother curves. Is that your observation? Haven't gone looking for a setting that controls the number of segments. At this stage, will continue to use Ctrl + P instead of Export to PDF.

You're right. Revit's a curious beast. Thanks again for making that correction.

Re: [HELP] Revit Does Not Produce Smooth Vector Curves/Circle on PDF...?!

RobDraw — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 23:16:17 GMT

You're welcome.

Fortunately for me plot quality is not something I need to put time into these days. I'm on the construction side doing prefab. Our final product is the installation. This representation of curves has always been known to me. It's not just a Revit thing. However, if it is obvious to me on a printed sheet, I would feel obligated to address it. PDFs, not so much.