Inconsistent Lineweights-- PDF driver issue?

[Anonymous]

I'll start off by saying that I understand the basics of how AutoCAD manage lineweights. Linework can be set to color by layer or have a different color applied to it, and when you plot, your plot driver looks at your CTB file and maps that color to a lineweight. 

I have noticed this odd behavior: lineweights come out different depending on what plot driver I use. It's fairly minor variations, but when you're trying to control lineweight in order to control hierarchy in your drawing, it matters. Because I'm getting different results from different drivers, I'm thinking that the drivers are not producing results that are true to the CTB files...  I feel betrayed! I thought I could trust them!

I have used Foxit, Adobe PDF, and whatever driver came with our Konika printer, all with different results. 

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a different driver I could use that produces results that are true to the CTB file?

[pendean]

Your post is too vague for detailed help: why not start by posting a sample DWG file that uses your CTB, also post your CTB, and post two or more PDFs that looks so totally different.

Let's see and use what you see and use, that's how yo get problems actually solved.

[Anonymous]

If I understand your issue, its not a driver problem but an issue inherent in plotter print heads.  Every plotter will plot the same lineweight a little different because the printer heads are different.  A pdf printed on two different printers will be slightly different.  Additionally every printer has a minimum lineweight it can plot (sometimes that is reflected in the driver for that printer) so printing fine lines can be quite different from one piece of hardware to the next.

We've mitigated that as much as we can by using only ONE plotter for page setups, and PUBLISHing to PDF via that page setup.  The result is very consistent lineweights in the PDF that is then sent to what ever plotter/printer/size we desire at the time.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I have actually had the best quality and consistency utilizing the built-in DWG to PDF drivers.  Are you finding that the PDF doesn't look right on the screen with your process or is it that the PDF does not print properly on a hardware device? PDF readers typically have numerous settings that will allow you to control the display characteristics on your screen. Please eTranmsit a sample file and attach it to a post. Please also attach a couple of your PDFs for comparison.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

@john.vellek, that's the beauty of the using a page setup aimed at a large format plotter (at highest resolution possible) and then PUBLISH'ing to a PDF.  Publish uses a version (for lack of a better word) of the DWG to PDF plot setup to create the PDF, and it does it to the parameters defined in the page setup plotter, resulting in a full-size (24x36) PDF with lineweights matching the large format plotter.  Then you can send the PDF to any plotter/printer, scaled to fit or to 1:1 and you get a clean crisp plot.  Once page setups are defined and saved you can publish an entire server full of files to a very consistent PDF.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post or others helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

rculp, thank you for your reply. 

To clarify, we have one physical printer in our office, so I don't believe the issue is printer heads. I get different results when I plot to PDF using different drivers. The resulting PDFs look different from each other on screen. They also look different from each other when printed on the same printer, same settings. 

[Anonymous]

?? ok ... if you only have one printer why are you using different printer drivers??

[Anonymous]

When I plot to PDF with two different PDF generating drivers, they look different from each other on screen, viewed with the same PDF viewer, same settings. They also look different from each other printed with the same printer, same settings. 

Attached zipped file includes a dwg, ctb, and three pdfs generated from that dwg. 

The drivers I used for each PDF are in the name of the PDF. 

[Anonymous]

I am using different drivers for generating PDFs. to explain what I mean:

In the plot dialogue box, in the printer/plotter section, it says, "name:" with a dropdown menu. Some options are drivers that send output to a physical printer. Others, like AdobePDF or DWG to PDF, are drivers that generate a PDF.

Perhaps I am using the wrong word? If so, I apologize for my ignorance and hope to learn the right word. 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am not sure why you are asking this question here in the AutoCAD forum. I mean no disrespect but I believe the issue you have is the way the three different drivers behave. That is not part of AutoCAD so I don't really know how to help. If you see inconsistencies in the built-in drivers perhaps I can provide you with some answers or resources.

I suggest that you pick one driver that gives you the best results for your desired workflow and outcome and then create a CTB that optimizes that output.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

The drivers are produced by different teams programmers in different companies scattered around the world, each looking to best fit THEIR needs.  Autodesk has little or nothing to do with it beyond that they contracted the DWG to PDF from a particular contractor.  

It is NO surprise at all that different drivers will produce different results, the surprise would be that two disparate sets of programmers happened to do exactly the same things at every turn through an entire driver.

[Anonymous]

I understand that the drivers are created by different people with different goals. Of course they work differently. It is a surprise to me that these drivers generate plots that are not true to the CTB files. 

So, how do other people manage this so that you have control over your lineweights?

[Anonymous]

Simple, we don't use different drivers for the same plot.  We know different drivers will produce different results, just as different printers will not produce the same result.  And we wouldn't waste our time (or anyone else's) trying to get disparate applications to produce identical results. 

The results are as true to the CTB as the specific teams could make them based on their goals, direction and their target hardware.

You do realize that plotted lineweights are not meant to be scientifically precise, right??  They are meant to portray differences in lineweights sufficient to distinguish differences in components, no one is ever going to drag out a micrometer to check them.  These are working documents, not art.  They will be more than sufficient to get some hard-hat to hang the steel in the right location.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your respectful reply, John. I understand your point that the AutoCAD forum may not be the right place to post questions about third party plotters. I was hoping someone else out there who also uses AutoCAD had run into the same problem and found a solution. 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I think you will find that if you create separate CTB files for each device (hardware or PDF driver) that you can get pretty close to having them all match but it takes some trial and error to get this setup. Unfortunately, if a driver gets updated you will likely have to tweak the CTB again.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.