Black box appearing on xref images when plotting

[dylan_stoddard]

Hi All,

I am running AutoCAD LT 2016 for mac (Version M.48.M.617 Update 3) on macOS Sierra (10.12). I upgraded my MacBook Pro's OS to Sierra when it was released recently. Since updating when I plot layouts in paper space any raster images that were attached to XREF files appear as black boxes. The issue does not occur when printing the same raster images from the reference file in model space.

I've attached an image capturing the issue, a screen shot of my page setup, print dialog, and also pasted below the Plot and Publish Job Complete dialog.

Job: - Plotted

Job ID: 1
Sheet set name:
Date and time started: 9/29/16 12:37:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Date and time completed: 9/29/16 12:37:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
UserID:
Profile ID: <<Unnamed Profile>>
Total sheets: 1
Sheets plotted: 1
Number of errors: 0
Number of warnings: 0


Sheet: - Plotted

File: /Users/dylanstoddard/Google Drive/Pershing Projects/IDB 2014/Andres Bello et al/CAD/SHEETS/AV-001-OTHER SPACES-CAFE-DINING.dwg
Category name:
Page setup:
Device name: HP Photosmart C3100 series - plotted to file
Plot file path: /Users/dylanstoddard/Downloads/test.pdf
Paper size: ARCH E1

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am currently testing a variety of options and submitting information to our development team.  Thus far, I have found that if a drawing does not have a defpoints layer (no dimensions in drawing), if I do not use custom paper sizes (I installed a wide format printer driver to get larger sizes), I am able to plot and publish from AutoCAD 2016 with the images showing up correctly in the PDF. I do not have 2015 on my test computer yet but hope to get that up and running shortly.

Thanks for your patience.

[Anonymous]

I do have a defpoints layer, dimensions and a 36"x24" paper size.

[Anonymous]

Hello everybody, 

I have the same issue on AUTOCAD LT 2015 iMacOS . After installing Sierra,  images in the drawing are plotted as black boxes.

Any clue to solve this problem?

Thank you.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

This issue has been submitted to Development. I found in my testing that if I had no defpoints layer in the drawing then I was able to both plot and publish without issue.

Please see AKN Article for additional detail.

[Anonymous]

I was able to plot with an 11x17 paper size with a defpoints layer. Just not 24x36.

[Anonymous]

All, 

I'm having the same problems, really frustrating. Autocad for Mac 2015 & 2016... I recently updated to Sierra and everything is fine except for these Xref'd images (JPEGS and PNG's) plot as solid black boxes. See attachment.

No other computer in the office is having this issue except the one other station with the Sierra upgrade. 

In order to print from a sheet file I use the "plot" command, configure the correct page setup settings / scale etc.., click the preview button and just save that preview as a pdf to our server.  

Not sure if my print process matters or not but the "publish" solution is not a great workflow option... the above process is much faster.

Defpoints is a crucial layer in our office as well and cannot be deleted from drawings in order to print. 

This NEEDS TO BE FIXED!  We can't meet deadlines if we can't print correctly. 

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

The  Plot thickens - sorry - bad pun.

It is interesting that the defpoints on smaller format works for you.  Do you have a plot driver that actually has that larger paper size or are you creating a custom sheet size?

If you are going the custom size, try installing a printer driver for a wide format device. If it is then in your pages setup you can select it without creating a custom sheet.

I would like to know if this helps.

[Anonymous]

Tried what you suggested, using a large format non-custom size still resulted in the black boxes.

[jeanne_m_davis]

I just upgraded to Sierra and now my xref'd logo prints as a black box in paperspace too! Thanks for working out a patch for this issue.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

Is this something that Autodesk is working on currently?  Is there a possible fix or should I revert to El Capitan to get back to functionality?

Thanks

JB

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I know that the issue has been brought to the Development team. I am not sure as to how long or when a fix will be available. It this is a make or break situation, personally  I would revert to El Capitan currently until Sierra is an officially supported OS.

I know this is a bit of work but it is the risk I took myself when I upgraded to Sierra when I knew it wasn't supported yet. Luckily for me it helps me to find issues that I can hand back to the team. If I were using my Mac for production I would hesitate to do the upgrade.

[Anonymous]

Thanks John. And I will keep my eye on this post to see if a patch gets issued any time soon.

[skorbich]

I have been having this problem as well and it is a big problem for my small company!

This has been an issue for at least a month and has not been addressed with an update.

I think that Autodesk should give refunds on monthly subscriptions for this issue. The whole reason for the subscription is to get proper updates.

Everyone that I know uses some kind of raster image in there drawings and suddenly not having the option to plot them is a huge problem.

FIX IT!

[deering]

Another wrinkle. PDFs print with black boxes for xref images in layouts with AutoCAD LT MAC in Sierra. So I put my MacBook Air back to El Capitan just for printing - works for now. BUT - we just ran the Sierra Update today (to 10.12.1) on our 2 iMacs and one prints xref images correctly, but the other does not. I can't confirm that the iMac that prints correctly did or did not prior to today's update (we didn't normally print from that machine). Bottom line, I do have one iMac that is up-to-date for both AutoCAD LT Mac and Sierra that prints correctly. I've compared all the print settings and Page Setup settings and see no differences. I did this testing with a copy of the same file on each iMac. Just thought I'd provide this information.

[john.vellek]

Hi @deering,

Thanks for the additional input on this issue. I have not tried AutoCAD LT on Sierra yet so this is interesting information.

I have been working on a workaround still for the printing problem. I have found that client files that are printing black boxes for them work on my Mac.

I installed a HP Pagewide XL so I have large sheet sizes available without creating custom sizes. I have had the best success when I create a new drawing using the default acad.dwt template with no modifications or customizations. I then copy the information from the customer drawing piece by piece into paperspace and then modelspace. I am then able to use Plot or Publish and save to a PDF without blackboxes. I am still trying to determine the root cause of the issue in regards to the changes in PDF from the Apple MacOS.

[deering]

Successful PDF printing of xref .jpeg images in Layout - by installing HP DesignJet software (and choosing Z5400 plotter) - then within Page Setup choosing Arch D for paper size. Note that you have to download the DesignJet driver from HP and install before it will show in the MAC Add Printer window "Select Software". AND - that HP drivers for MAC OS appear to not be available for MAC OS 10.12 (even though there is a link showing - seems dead) - so I downloaded the most recent version that IS available MAC OS 10.10 (this version is what worked). It is a Postscript driver. Hope this helps

[dylan_stoddard]

The latest Update 4 was just released which appears to bring us up to full support for Sierra. I can now print and batch publish documents with XREF JPEGs.

[Anonymous]

How did you solved it? I don't understand... where is that Update 4?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Check here for the Hotfix.  Please let me know if you need additional assistance.

[Anonymous]

The last update I can find for Autocad for Mac 2015 is the 3, which is one year old and I already had installed...