AutoCAD 2016 DWG to PDF text masks printing black

[bcampbell11]

Files that we have had no trouble creating .pdf's with in 2015, are now printing text with background masks as black boxes in 2016.  Does anyone have any ideas?  this is the original .pc3 file installed with 2016.

Thanks

[steve216586]

Change color to 255 for the mask layer.

[bcampbell11]

thanks for your reply, this however, did not work.

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi Brian,

I'm sorry to hear you're seeing different results in 2016 than you do in 2015 when plotting to PDF. There were several PDF enhancements introduced in the 2016 version, which might be causing the issue. Since there are several new PDF plotter configurations, which one are you using?

Do you get the same results with all of these?

Could you attach a sample file where this is happening, so that I can test it here on our system?

[bcampbell11]

We use DWG To PDF.pc3, but all of them produce the same result.  attached is an example file.  i have discovered if I delete the other viewports then the masked text (in lower right hand corner) prints fine.  Obviously not a solution but maybe helps with troubleshooting

thanks

[pendean]

In your file, the pagesetup is looking for a SAVIN device, not the claimed DWG TO PDF, and uses a missing plot style table.

Doing it old-school style (setting the masked background color to 255, I still do out of habit) and setting the plot style table to NONE and plotter to DWG TO PDF.PC3, it appears your problem goes away here.

[Victoria.Studley · Accepted solution]

Hi Brian,

In the custom CTB you're using (KFC PENS.ctb) for this layout, are any of the colors screened?

If so, you may also be experiencing this issue, which has been reported to the devleopment team already.

[bcampbell11]

Yes, there are some layers screened. I changed the .Dwg to Pdf.pc3 “PDF Options” to do “Lines Merge and it seems to be printing correctly.” Maybe this will be good for the time being.

Thanks

[EsabaCE]

Morning all, having the exact same problem with plotting pdfs.  I understand that bugs creep in with any new update, but it seems that Autocad progressively breaks more things than it fixes with every yearly iteration.

Anyway, just doublecheck the "Lines Merge" option, I tried it and some of the background masks go quite screwy (some plot with jutted out angles here and there, instead of a uniform rectangle)

[Anonymous]

I ran into the same problem today while working on an older drawing in ACAD2016.

I was able to correct the problem by selecting the MTEXT object that was printing as a black box and using the DRAWORDER=>FRONT command.

I then re-printed the drawing using the "DWG to PDF" printer option.

All text printed correctly. I hope this helps.

for those hunting down this bug:

I do use custom pen settings (.ctb file) with screened colors (colors 9, 10, 11, 12).

Earlier attempts to delete and recreate troublesome MTEXT objects always resulted in another (existing and unedited) MTEXT object printing as a black box regardless of whether it did so or not in the previous print attempt.

Selecting alternate .pdf printer options did not have any effect over the black box issue. 

I always use a background mask on MTEXT objects with the "use background color" checkbox selected.

Good luck to all.

[EsabaCE]

I tried this workaround but no luck, if I change the draw order on the offending MTEXT, it simply plots another one incorrectly.  Even when selecting all MTEXT objects and changing the draw order, the problem persists.

This is beyond pathetic to be honest, I now have to explain to my boss why I can no longer plot a pdf…

[bcampbell11]

ok, the lines merge did not fix some hatches we have put in items to block out what is behind them.  Remember, nothing was wrong in 2015, so why cant we print our drawings in 2016 with dwg to pdf?  In the attached .pdf, notice the black grid bubble, should be just like the others.  I have attached the .dwg as well.  Anybody have any ideas?  I am currently the only one in an office of 25 testing 2016, and I am not sure we will be able to use 2016 as an office unless there is a solution.

Thanks

[pendean]

"black' grid bubbles are a solid hatch inside the block, color 248.
What's your KFP PENS.CTB doing to handle that color? Do these need to be color 255 instead?
And by chance is the PDF you posted "wrong" or "correct"? It was not clear from your posts.

Thanks.

[bcampbell11]

the .pdf was incorrect, all of the gridbubbles should look the same, the black gridbubble is not what we want.  In our .ctb file, the color 248 screen is set to 0.  This has always worked as a way to block stuff out behind grid bubbles or section cuts.  Putting them on color 255 doesn't change anything.

Thanks

[stefan_helmer]

Hello All,

I am also having an issue with masking.  This occurs in Civil 3D 2016, and only with the DWGtoPDF driver.  Adobe PDF driver works fine.

What is working is the "old" way we would mask text.  This would be to use TEXTMASK, set the mask type to SOLID, set the solid colour to 255.  Then in the CTB file, we would set the screening of 255 to 0.

What no longer works (but was fine in 2014) is the Background Mask option that can be set in the properties of a piece of MTEXT.  Currently, I have a piece of text with Background Mask on, Border Offset Factor set to 1.500 and Fill Colour set to "Use drawing background colour".  When using DWGtoPDF, this will plot solid black boxes covering the MTEXT instead of invisible masks.

Going forward (maybe help a few with a temporary solution), I found that I can set the Background Mask Fill Colour to 255, and use my old CTB where 255 is screened to 0, and this works.

HOWEVER - this does not help me with all the existing drawings that have Background Masking.  These will all require the Background Masks to be modified prior to plotting, or just abandon the DWGtoPDF, which would be unfortunate as in 2014, I was starting to prefer it to Adobe Acrobat, and not everyone is going to have the option of a second PDF driver.

If Autodesk or any users have some tips on how to get the old functionality back, let me know!!  If it is truly an issue, and not just a buried setting that is changed by default, I hope this will make it in to SP1.  I know I will have PDFs going out the door where someone misses a mask somewhere and a black box gets published!

Also, what defines "Background Colour"?  I check "Use Drawing Background Colour", and get a black box.  Is "Drawing Background Colour" definable??

Thanks all!

[pendean]

Log into your subscription page, click on the support link at the top of the Management page, select the middle option then start a support ticket to tell Autodesk directly (from you) what doesn't work in C3D for you and see if they have a fix.

You paid for that support and that's where Autodesk listens to customers first and foremost.

[stefan_helmer]

^^ Done.

[bcampbell11]

i opened a support case about this, and after waiting a week for a response they sent me here:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Wipeout...

which basically just says, "This incident is currently being investigated for a possible cause and resolution".  

I replied with:

"Per the link you gave me, I see this is a bug in AutoCAD 2016. Hopefully this is fixed soon, because we get it randomly enough that we cannot use 2016 until this is fixed. Also, keep in mind, we are not using a “wipeout” as the link talks about, but a totally screened hatch. Hopefully if it is fixed for the “wipeout” it will fix our problem as well."

This is very frustrating, every year it is something. 

Installing a new AutoCAD is like a box of chocolates!

[stefan_helmer]

Interesting.

For myself, the "wipeout" has never worked (even back in LDD).  It would often look correct,but plot black.  As you say, it is unpredictable, and we no longer use wipeouts.  We do use hatches that are screened in the CTB, and that is working, but now I suspect, after reading your comment, I may see issues with that from time to time too.  My issue is with neither.  I'm not using the textmask command at all when I see the issue.  I am using the background mask (property of the mtext box).  This has always worked well since they introduced it.  Not sure why the change.

I expect that since it only happens with DWGtoPDF, it is more of a print driver issue.

**********

And and update already - Just got an email....  There are 2 workarounds.  See below, there is no #2, and there is a #3 that I don't understand, but, #1 seems to work (with only a few tests).

Dear Stefan,

Thank you for patience. My name is Almas Suljevic. This case was just escalated to me for my review and I will be assisting you with your case. This is a known issue logged with development as DE22775. Besides We have a two workarounds that can help you resolve this issue in the meantime.

Workaround 1:
1. Go to Plot dialog
2. Click on PDF Options
3. Under “Font Handling” uncheck “Capture fonts used in the drawing” and check “Convert all text to geometry”
4. Click OK
5. In the Changes to a Printer Configuration File either save this PC3 or use it for the current plot
See video for demonstration: http://screencast.com/t/9zo4fUiN
Workaround 3: Use Civil 3D for plotting to PDF.

I apologize for the inconvenience. Please let me know if this helps.

[bcampbell11]

Shelmer,

Thanks for posting that workaround, unfortunately it did not work.  Yes, we have always used the screened hatches too, now it looks like they are too much for AutoCAD to handle.  Hopefully they will take care of it for this release.