Plot a Color PNG to B/W

[Anonymous]

So running Civil 3D 2018 but I know this is a Base autocad question thus I'm putting this in the autocad forum.  i have a title sheet that has several PNG images Xrefed onto it.  These images are in color. When I plot the entire sheet except the images comes out in black and white, the images come out in color.  The city this is being submitted to gave us the PNGs but expect the entire sheet to be B/W.  I'm using an STB file not a CTB. I plot to PDF using DWG to PDf.  So with that said is there a way to make the color PNGs plot B/W and how?

Heidi B.

infrachic

[natasha.l]

Hello @Anonymous, 

Welcome back. 

After inserting the image file you can use the DWG to PDF to plot the image to monochrome/b&w. 

Using the settings in the AutoCAD page setup create a Viewport only for the image
 

1. Click the Layout tab,
2. Right-click Layout tab > Plot
3. Under Printer/plotter select DWG to PDF
4. Under Plot Area > Window > select the Viewport 
5. Select monochrome.ctb in the Plot style table list.
6. Check the Plot with plot styles check box, and click OK.
7. ClicK OK to create the PDF file.

Let us know how it goes. 

Please "Accept Solution" if a reply or replies have helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[pendean]

Your source image being B/W or grayscale is the best solution: change it and reinsert.

[Anonymous]

Nope, CTB not allowed. this is an STB file.  so I don't have the option to select a "new" ctb file.  the entire STB file is set to Black.  All layers are set to Black.  No matter what I print with DWG to PDF and this one image comes out colored.

[Anonymous]

I wish, image given to us by the City and it's in color.  No other options from the city.  So I wish I could recreate or get it in b/W that would solve it but that's not possible.

[Anonymous]

So the image can not be brought in via FDO or Data Connect and the Map Workspace. Tried that, nothing appeared. It's a PNG of a company LOGO so there's no "real world" coordinates or anything like that. Basically I'm stuck with using the xref manager for inserting the image. Now I can change the contrast and brightness, and clip the image or make it transparent but there's no option for b/W plot or color plot in properties. I do not get the option in DWG to PDF. PC3 for setting all lines to Gray Scale. Or anything like that.

The best solution would be if I could just convert the PDF by using Microsoft Print to PDF but the paper size is odd 36X12. I can't add a custom size to that printer on my computer. So if I can't do that or make a B/W print with that image than I guess I tell the city that they are pipe dreaming.

[user181]

You should be able to open the PNG file in a photo editor and change it to greyscale or apply a filter to turn it black and white and then attach that to your drawings. 

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

You can use Raster Design. If you don't have it asked your administrator what kind of subscription you have. Depending on your subscription you may be able to install and use RD on a daily subscription and pay the appropriate dialy fee. I'm guessing it's a nominal amount. 

Another option is to use an FDO connection. Start with a fresh, clean, OOTB template, one that only has the 0 layer. Insert an image using FDO connection. If you don't assign a coordinate system, and you shouldn't, it will insert at 0,0. To see the image, zoom extents. Now that the image is on the Map Task Pane, right click the image in the Task Pane and Edit the Style to GrayScale. From modelspace you may print a pdf version using a plot window to encircle the inserted image. When you get the pdf, go to File>Export to>select your image type, such as jpeg or png. With a little trimming, rotating and scaling you can insert the new image into your titleblock. If you have more than one image, you can repeat the process. (Depending on your pdf maker, your 'Export" procedure may vary.)

My 2 cents......I have never, ever seen a municipality ding anyone for a colored logo, They are more interested in the drawing and notation. Same with Army Corps of Engineers, they too want B&Ws and they don't care about the logo either.

[Anonymous]

A big thank you for the Raster Design reminder. We have that installed and I haven't touched it in years.  That actually let me convert the PNG to grayscale and save it over the colored version.  Perfect fix.

Don't know why I didn't think about that sooner though.  

BTW DOW_COC is ridiculously picky about all their sheets being in B/W including the images.

Infrachic

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