Invisble (non-plot) layer still showing up

[zeulrick]

I have X-Ref'd pdf. docs to model space. Then I have cropped each pdf. by using a viewport in paper space on an invisible layer. This is a standard practice for me, but for some reason, it is not completely working normally. Once I plot to pdf. there are slight lines where the viewports are. Please find attached screenshot. Note that not all four corners of viewports are showing up.

What Gives??

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Zach

[WarrenGeissler]

Non-plot layers will typically not show under any circumstances. Question: Is your viewport near or at the edge of the PDF image? Can you share a sample of the file(s) in question)?

[zeulrick]

Hey Warren, Thanks for the reply.

No, the viewport is not at the edge or near. The viewports also are not overlapping each other or on top of each other.

Were you able to view the screenshot I attached before? 

[WarrenGeissler]

I saw the screenshot but I've never seen that kind of ghosting. Are you able to share the drawing and PDF? You can erase everything else. Also - what version and SP are you on?

[imadHabash]

Hi,

as i understand your issue ... does PDFFRAME system variable ( 2 ) fix your issue ?

Regards,

[cadffm]

We can not check cad objects and properties from a picture, upload a sample file and your pdf-result. Make sure you saved the used pagesetup.

If you have cutted viewports, perhaps an issue with the cutting-object (layer and linetype).
I dont have the engl. Version yet, with cutted viewport i mean a non rectangle viewport.

[ChicagoLooper]

When pdf's are attached to dwg's they are not as 'friendly' as other types of image formats, e.g. jpeg, tiff, png, etc. etc. Go into your pdf maker (not a pdf 'reader') and open the pdf, then File=>Export To=>Image=>jpeg or (tiff or png) and save the new jpeg image. Finally, insert the jpeg instead of the pdf. Yes, resolution may, or may not, degrade when switching to jpeg, but if it doesn't, or if the degradation is negligible, then make the switch. If anything, replacing the pdf with jpeg format will improve panning in modelspace (like 'herky-jerky' cursor performance) and might get rid of the ghost line.

[nrz13]

@zeulrick

If you look closely, your PDF background is not white, and that makes me think that is the probable cause of the artifacts.  I would first edit the original document before bringing it into AutoCAD to give it a true white background.  See enhanced version of the image you attached below.

[zeulrick]

I'm running AutoCad2018 on Windows 10.

I'm going to attach an example file of the problem, both dwg and pdf.

Thank you to everyone for great responses, no solution yet.

[zeulrick]

pdfframe system variable (2) not a solution. Thanks for the idea!

[zeulrick]

Thank you, I understand their are certain limitations to ex-ref pdf.s but I will not solve the problem by working around the problem. Not because I'm stubborn but because there are also great advantages to using pdf. in construction documents. 

[zeulrick]

@nrz13

I like your insight into the original doc artifacts but I'm afraid that this isn't practical. I'm dealing with three E size sheets with 35 separate pdf docs referenced on each sheet. I can't spend the time editing each pdf original. I have dealt with pdf docs that were much worse than these in the past and no ghosting occurred.  😕

[cadffm]

"No, the viewport is not at the edge or near. "

IT IS! The hole content of your viewport display a pdf underlay!

Note: Thats a display issue in your Viewer,

Test with Adobe Acrobat DC - I can see some more unsightly representations (Text and part of the human and chair).

Your line is depend of zoomfactor sometime displayed, sometimes not.

Test with another Viewer: No Problem.

For simple examples like this i would ever re-draw it in AutoCAD with cad objects.

Or import PDF via PDFIMPORT, if there are vector datas.

[cadffm]

See attachment

PDF-Xchange viewer vs. adobe

[nrz13]

@zeulrick
Then it looks like you'll have to reduce the size of your viewports to crop out these artifacts in the original PDF.

[zeulrick]

@cadffm Yeah, that's why I'm using a viewport to crop the pdf with an invisible layer.  the import PDF via PDFIMPORT option worked to get rid of the ghosting of the viewport layer but created another set of hard lines around the pdf "image". I agree, if I really wanted a clean version I would draw it because it is a simple shape, but like I said in the comment above, there are three E size sheets with 35 pdf docs on each sheet. I can't draw all those. Waste of time/money! 

Why is the ghosting occurring on my viewport layer even though it is non-plot?

[zeulrick]

@cadffm so maybe once this plots out the ghosted lines won't be there? If they don't show up on a different viewer than maybe they won't plot right? Am I obsessing over something I shouldn't?

[zeulrick]

@nrz13 no the "ghost" lines that show up are not artifacts in the original pdf. They are being created by the viewport layer even the layer is no-plot. Reducing the size of the viewport only changed the location of the ghosted lines.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

"o maybe once this plots out the ghosted lines won't be there? If they don't show up on a different viewer than maybe they won't plot right?"

Try it..

I am sure that line(s) are NOT really the viewport object(because then i could it grab it inside a PDF as vector-data),

it is the border of the three image areas which presentes the hole layout content.

With an PDF-Editor you can delete all three seperate (incl. the part of the line).

SCNR: AutoCAD is a vector CAD-software, don't punished them with raster-datas

Sorry, i am out.

Without you PDF we can not testing (and i have no time for that).

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

You may tinker, alter, dress up, dress down, write-a-lisp, or perform voodoo all you want on the questionable PDF, but PDF's don not play well in AutoCAD. Convert, by performing a File>Export to>Image>jpeg from your PDF maker.

Attached (see attached PDF) are side-by-side results. On left is the raw pdf that was attached to the dwg. On right is the same pdf that was Exported to a jpeg using the pdf maker which was then attached by placing it right next to the questionable pdf. 

In addition to attaching the jpeg to the dwg (as opposed to attaching a PDF) you get to control the brightness, contrast and fade of the jpeg. This is not the case when attaching PDF's where you only get contrast and fade.

Frim your pdf maker, Export to......Adjust panel in contextual ribbon when clicking the jpeg. On left the the raw pdf.