So ive been using autocad for years but recently switched to a new company and a new laptop. I swear ive never had this issue before but ive been noticing lines missing when i print. It looks like if two 3d solilds are overlapping at all then the lines stop showing up. You can see in the screenshot below the back of the cabinet is just gone. If i move the cabinet forward to be in front of the wall then the back lines will show but ive never had to do that in the past. Is there a system variable or print setting to fix this?
Oh also ive noticed on this new computer if i were to draw a circle and extrude it, then try to show a printout of it. Theres tons of lines along any curved surface. In the past its always just been minimal lines like one or two to show a surface.
for making the lines on the curve surfaces disappear, try setting DISPSILH to 1 then do a plot PREVIEW to see if the lines now disappear
"...lines missing when i print."
Print to what? (PDF, hardcopy,...?)
"...if two 3d solilds are overlapping at all then the lines stop showing up. You can see in the screenshot below the back of the cabinet is just gone."
The attached image appears to be a screenshot of model space (rather than a print), perhaps with a hidden view style. Are you seeing this issue on the screen as well as in prints?
What does 3DConfig Tuner Log say about your computer's video card and driver?
What version of AutoCAD are you running?
The only problem is it looks like its not a system variable its more like a per document variable so id have to change it every time. I can probably just change it in our template so whenever the template is uses that variable is already set. That doesnt fix anything when editing old existing drawings though. I was hoping there was a more permanent solution. Ive never had this issue and ive been using CAD 8 years now.
Well typically i print to pdf from paper space. What i showed in the screenshot is the same thing that happens on the pdf. The only difference is my companys title block would be on the page.
But yes if i go to a hidden view style the issue happens, it also happens if i print in a hidden shade plot.
The 3dconfig shows im using a nvidia rtx a2000 8gb laptopo cpu. driver version 31.0.15.1766. Directx 12. hardware acceleration on. 2d display settings shows advanced mode. every box below is checked.
Im also running autocad 2023.
DISPSILH has been around since R13. I’m surprised you haven’t encountered the need to set this in your dwg before. Perhaps you had this setting in your previous dwg template which you weren’t aware of. You can also force the setting by placing this in your acaddoc.lsp file which loads automatically at dwg startup.
What if you select Legacy Hidden option?
Regarding DirectX 12, see message 15 of this thread (for example):
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/issue-with-1660ti-on-autocad-2022/m-p/10198358#M1048482
I don't know if this is the cause, but it might be worth a try.
Ive worked for 4 different companies now. Theres a chance the variable was already set on the template but i doubt it. A lot of these places didnt have the brightest people in the cad department and there wasnt much setup as far as templates blocks and standards.
I also use my personal computer to freelance draft and have been doing it for years. Ive never had to change that variable on my own templates and the lines for curved surfaces dont show up.
Legacy hidden doesnt show up as an option when selecting a shade plot for the viewport. It is available to select from the print settings but still does not make the lines show up.
Also changing the dx12 setting did not fix anything for the lines disappearing.
Have you tried tweaking any of the graphics performance settings?
I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this yet or not, but how are you fixed for Windows, AutoCAD and graphics driver updates?
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