problem printing VP transparency into pdf

[JEFFJW9BB]

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

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi @JEFFJW9BB ,

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

[JEFFJW9BB]

That's it! Thank you!

[JEFFJW9BB]

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.

[pendean]

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

[maxim_k]

Hi @JEFFJW9BB ,

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

[JEFFJW9BB]

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

is there a work around?

[JEFFJW9BB]

[JEFFJW9BB]

ctb files not supported.

[JEFFJW9BB]

pdf attached

[pendean]

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@JEFFJW9BB wrote:

ctb files not supported.

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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 🙂

[JEFFJW9BB]

zip attached.

Thank you for your help!

[maxim_k]

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.

[maxim_k]

@JEFFJW9BB 

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

[JEFFJW9BB]

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.

[pendean]

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@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

[JEFFJW9BB]

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

[JEFFJW9BB · Accepted solution]

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!