Fuzzy Hatch in PDF

[autodesk_2LARCH]

Hi Guys,

I've scoured through various forums and still can't fix the issue of fuzzy hatch genereted.

Here's the situation:

1. My colleagues can print the same AutoCAD file to A3 PDF with clear hatches.
   On the left is a sample of what they generate, on the right is mine.
            
   The signatures and logo are hatches in blocks.
   These screenshots are taken in the exact PDF zoom level with smooth line art and images turned on, so we can likely rule out PDF rendering settings issue.
   
   
2. I've used the same plotter and plot style as my colleagues, and in fact increase the DPI to the max. 
   

   Note: Adjusting the following does not have any impact on the hatch quality.
   -> Lines merge or overlap 
   -> Plot or don't plot line weight 
   -> Change of built-in plotters
   -> Increasing HPMAXLINES to max (10,000,000)
   -> Restarting AutoCAD (My colleagues and I are using AutoCAD 2024)
   -> Adjusting paper size (to smaller or large)
   -> Adjusting image size (just plotting the logo to fill an A3 paper space)
   -> Graphics acceleration on or off, basic or advanced.
   
   

3. No modification has been done to the drawing or hatches between my print and my colleagues' print, so we can rule out colour gradient issue of hatch or distance from the origin (saw a few forum posts on this).

Here's also the PDFs and AutoCAD for tinkering. Plot style is not supported here, so I've uploaded it to this link:
https://we.tl/t-IuPQDYjaob

I've run out of ideas guys, any suggestions are welcomed!

[ennujozlagam]

try another pdf driver and see if helps. thanks

https://www.cutepdf.com/index.htm

and set VIEWRES to 20000

[ian.mag]

Hello @autodesk_2LARCH 

There seems to be no major difference on the print quality logo you've shared. See the two screenshots as viewed from my end with the same zoom quality.

 

 

I seem to note a diffrence in the light weight of the texts. The faint one is the one from the fuzzy pdf. My quick guess would be the plot style. Please share it so that I can also try that out from my end.

I'm using adobe acrobat pro pdf viewer.

[cadffm]

Hi,

>"I've used the same plotter and plot style as my colleagues"

No you didn't. Not for creation this PDF.

I am asking me if uses the same program or not 😉 

[autodesk_2LARCH]

I've uploaded the plot style into the link below as the forum does not seem to support this file type, so please see if you can download it from here: https://we.tl/t-IuPQDYjaob

I've attached in this reply the plot with lineweight checked, that seems to explain the difference in line weight.

I've checked the drawings on PDF XChange Editor, Foxit and Adobe Reader, and all show fuzziness at the zoom level where the whole page can be seen. It does reduce when I zoom in, but when printed the fuzziness is as evident in the zoom level mentioned above so it's a problem.

[autodesk_2LARCH]

You mean on another PDF viewer? I've tried it on PDF XChange Viewer (I got the screenshots from here), Foxit and Adobe Reader, all showing similar fuzziness.

Setting VIEWRES to 20,000 in AutoCAD doesn't have any impact on the plot result.

Any other suggestions?

[autodesk_2LARCH]

I realised I didn't check back the plotting of line weight when I was adjusting so I'm attached the plot of lineweight here (same PDF in my response to ian.mag).

It's not generated on the same computer, so what other settings could make this difference in clarity given the adjustments I've already tried？

[Valentin_CAD]

@autodesk_2LARCH ,

Confirm everyone is using the same System Requirements and Graphics Hardware.

Also that everyone is using the same PDF reader (and is updated).

Recreate your DWG to PDF.pc3

• How to create plotter configuration files (PC3) in AutoCAD

         

[cadffm]

Hi,

---

@autodesk_2LARCH  schrieb:

---

One time more clearly: He is NOT using AutoCAD!

[Valentin_CAD]

@cadffm ,

---

@cadffm wrote:

Hi,

---

@autodesk_2LARCH  schrieb:

---

One time more clearly: He is NOT using AutoCAD!

---

I read it otherwise:

However, when opening the drawing you do get this:

[cadffm]

right, he wrote 2x that the other one is using the same setting/printer

and also AutoCAD2024

But the CLEAR pdf comes from ZWCAD

[ian.mag]

Hello @autodesk_2LARCH 

I don't seem to have a problem with quality form my end. The print quality is exactly the same as the "clear" version. See below screenshots

 

 

The first is where I've printed from plotting from my end and the second is a shot from the "clear" document attached above.

See my plot settings below

#

Make sure to use AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3 plotter.

Hope this helps. Attached is the pdf I've printed from my end.

 

[Valentin_CAD]

@cadffm ,

Good point! Didn't notice the Details in the PDF.

[cadffm]

>>"I don't seem to have a problem with quality form my end."

Yes, that's because of your used PDF-Viewer (and setting),

but you can use another PDF-Viewer (or differently settings / untested)

and you get this:

[autodesk_2LARCH]

@ian.mag 

Thanks for trying it out!

I see the fuzziness in the PDF you generated in my PDF viewers and Microsoft Edge. The problem is also reproducible with AutoCAD PDF (High quality Prinnt) plotter as per your setting. This seems to suggest that this is primarily an AutoCAD problem. 

As  @Valentin_CAD and @cadffm rightly pointed out (great catch!), apparantly an alternative software has been installed for different site offices, which again hints that this is primarily an AutoCAD problem.

If this were the case, would it be fair to conclude that this is unfixable? Or is there still something we can try?

[cadffm]

If you don't need all features of Autocads internal driver, try another PDF driver.

(or try PDF drivers with an AutoCAD PlugIn like Bluebeam or Adobe? / untested)

Every driver * every Viewer * (and even every setting) * every Monitor * can give another View

[pendean · Accepted solution]

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@autodesk_2LARCH wrote:

....would it be fair to conclude that this is unfixable? Or is there still something we can try?

---

There is no fix unless you find a PDF driver (not from Autodesk) that removes the fuzzies but.. that might add another issue (streaks inside solid hatches) and a few other issues

Decide what your willing to live with and commit to it 100% is about the only true advice: keep in mind your chosen PDF Viewer may also add its own quirks too.

[autodesk_2LARCH]

I think this sums up the matter best, so I'm marking this as the solution to this post.

Thanks everyone for your efforts, always appreciated!