PDF File and Print Output not the same when using different PDF Viewers

PDF File and Print Output not the same when using different PDF Viewers

Anonymous
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PDF File and Print Output not the same when using different PDF Viewers

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hello,

 

We am working on a layout drawing in which we want to highlight the items as per our scope of work. We change the color of irrelevant details in to grey and we are plotting the drawings with "transparency" since some elements are hatched and should come in transparent color.

 

After plotting the drawing into PDF file, the PDF file and printed output using (PDF Xchange Editor) is as what we wanted it to be. However, when we use a different PDF viewer (ei. Acrobat Reader) some lines are very light and the printed output (using Acrobat Reader), lines were missing and overall printing quality is very poor.

 

Could someone please help me solve this issue? I can't tell everyone to use my current PDF Xchange Editor since the files will go to different people. I have attached a copy of the file here. 

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Alfred.NESWADBA
Consultant
Consultant
Accepted solution

Hi,

 

>> However, when we use a different PDF viewer

>> (ei. Acrobat Reader) some lines are very light

As you mentioned, it's not a question of AutoCAD as it generates a PDF that is ok.

When any viewer does not show the objects in correct way then look to this viewer's display properties. For Adobe Reader try the settings shown in the screenshot of that post >>>click<<<.

 

>> I can't tell everyone to use my current PDF Xchange Editor

The same problem is that Adobe's redefined settings are not well for looking to CAD-drawings with thin lines, but try to tell that Adobe. At least it's a question of the viewer settings, in AutoCAD the only chance could be to raise the resolution and to enlarge your lineweights. But all these are (bad) workarounds.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
ISH-Solutions GmbH / Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS
www.ish-solutions.at ... blog.ish-solutions.at ... LinkedIn ... CDay 2026
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(not an Autodesk consultant)
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Anonymous
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Thanks for your reply Alfred! I followed the changes in the Acrobat setting as you've recommended and all the lines appeared. Is there any way the PDF file itself be programmed to follow such setting?

 

I have saved the PDF file with the settings and tried viewing it with another computer with Acrobat Setting at default and the lines again disappear. Could your suggest another solution or should we just modify the line weight in CAD model itself?

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Alfred.NESWADBA
Consultant
Consultant

Hi,

 

>> Is there any way the PDF file itself be programmed to follow such setting?

No, because that is a display setting of Adobe, you can't define variables in a PDF for all the hundreds of viewers in the world. It''s Adobe creating the viewer and it's their settings, which don't fit for CAD fine line objects.

 

>> Could your suggest another solution or should we just modify the line weight

Lineweight is the only option I know.

Resolution might help, but again may depend on the settings.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
ISH-Solutions GmbH / Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS
www.ish-solutions.at ... blog.ish-solutions.at ... LinkedIn ... CDay 2026
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(not an Autodesk consultant)