Drawing plot error AutoCAD2015 Mac

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

I have the 2015 version of AutoCAD for Mac installed. Whenever I use the OS X print menu to publish my layouts as a PDF, the drawing publishes with all of the lines at off angles, and parallel lines are no longer parallel. I've included a screengrab of my PDF output to show this. 

Do you have any idea how I can resolve this. My final degree hand in is less than two weeks away. Alternatively, I can upload the DWG file also, so you can look at all of the settings. 

[Sergio.Bertino]

Hi lukeirving94,

Welcome to AutoCAD Answer Day!

I am sorry to hear that, but I will try to help you as much as I can.

I saw your files and would be great if you could send me also the dwg file.

One question, does it happen with any dwg or just with that one?

Thanks for your post!

[Anonymous]

Hi! 

Thank you for your quick reply. Currently, I have only noticed in this error in this drawing - as far as i am aware, my document presetds have not changed since I first started using AutoCAD 3 years ago, and I have always used only the Mac version. However, the drawing uses blocks etc extensively, something I have not done in the past. Each layer is colour coded, and I am trying to export the file in monochrome. 

Also, I have already created all of the preset layouts that I require for the project. These are viewable, and are selected to the regions of the drawing already. If you require any further files, please dont hesitate to ask. 

Thank you so much for your help,

Luke

[Sergio.Bertino]

Hi,

Thanks for the file.

Just to inform you that I will need additional time to find out what can be the cause and to hopefully provide a solution/workaround.

I will come back to you as soon as I will have some useful info for you.

Again, thanks for your post on the AutoCAD Answer Day!

[Leaf.chai]

Hi Luke,

Can you try to use higher quality when plot to PDF?

You can set it through: PAGESETUPEDIT -> 3D Viewports group -> Quality -> Maximum

Thanks,

Leaf

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi Luke,

The case of the issue you have with saving to PDF is in "super detailed" drawing which you are trying to print at 1:200 scale. OS X PDF engine cannot create high resolution PDF file from your drawing when you save it from AutoCAD for Mac. And it is knowing issue.

In such cases I always use this trick:

1/ Create page setup for the Layout with dimensions 10 times bigger than you need to get in output. Say you want to print on A1 sheet which has dimensions 84.1 cm x 59.4 cm and have viewport with 1:200 scale in this Layout, than you create page setup with custom paper size with dimensions 841 cm x 594 cm.

2/ Scale your existing viewport 10 times and set viewport scale to 1:20

3/ Save Layout to PDF file - you will get huge paper sheet with dimensions 841 cm x 594 cm

4/ Open PDF you created in step 3 in Preview application (Adobe Acrobat cannot handle PDFs with such huge paper sizes)

5/ "Print" to PDF from Preview app PDF file you created from AutoCAD, but set paper size to standard A1 (84.1 x 59.4 cm) and use 10% scale in order to fit old PDF to new paper size.

6/ You will get fine quality PDF

Please observe the results of printing to PDF, which I created with the trick I described.

If you are not satisfied with the results - than increase custom paper size 10 times more and set viewport scale to 1:2, than print to PDF from Preview app to A1 sheet with 1% scale.

Maxim