"Dumb" PDF Plotting

[adam.brownsmith]

Hi, First time poster here.

Way back in the day when plotting AutoCAD drawings to PDF's we were able to create a print as if it was a piece of paper without any layers, flattening issues, or anything.  I've spent a lot of time searching for an answer but can never seem to find it.  Autodesk has madea lot of effort improving the PDF printing in their software but have forgotten that sometimes you just want a ultra basic print.

Is there a way to create a "basic/dumb/unintelligent" (choose your adjective) PDF?  I know Autodesk has improved their PDF printing to make the drawing more intelligent with control of Layers etc. but when doing plots of large overall site drawings with multiple XREF's this can create a very large PDF print that sometimes can't be open by any PDF viewer or is just problematic.  All i want to do is create a PDF that would be the same as if I printed a drawing to paper and then scanned it as a single sheet without any of the layering, but without the poor quality.  Basically what you see in the layout is exactly what it prints without all the background information. Rather than when you create a print and the PDF opens you can watch the different overlapping layers generate over other items.

I hope I'm making myself clear.

Before people start posting about the PDF options, I know all about selecting "PDF Options" where you choose to include bookmarks, hyperlink, layer information, etc.  This isn't what I want. 

I've tried all  the built in PDF Plotter (pc3)"DWG to PDF", etc.

I'm running AutoCAD 2017.

Thank you,

Adam

[pendean]

PLOT to DWF with all the options unchecked, then plot that in a dwf viewer to a third party freeware PDF driver.
Or use a freeware PDF driver, most of them ignore this ability.
Or try this tip https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/207585349-AutoCAD-2017-Protect-your-data-by-cre...

[adam.brownsmith]

Hi, Thank you for your response.  I'm trying to avoid multiple stages to generate PDF's.  At present I can create a PDF Print and then print it again to a PDF and drop the file size a lot but it still doesn't make a "flat" print it still has all the layers that you can watch "load" when you open a large PDF.  That's if any of the PDF reader programs can actually open the file.

The second  option creates a very large PDF file which isn't helping me either.

[pendean]

You are going to have to test free 3rd party PDF drivers to find the one that meets your expectations and needs. We gave up on it all since reversing a PDF is easy to do with a less that $100 purchase of a software to convert even the "dumb" ones.

If you turn on layermerge you are creating layers in your PDF BTW, along with the options you know about like saving layer names to the pdf when that driver lets you do it.

[Anonymous]

You could create page setup using DWG to PDF.pc3 and in the pdf options uncheck all the data boxes. I have attached some screenshots. Am I using AutoCAD 2018, but I think I remember something similar in 2017.

[Anonymous]

Just noticed my last post repeats what is in the link from Pendean earlier. You could still do this and save the setup in a template file.

[BMATT]

I am having the same issue...have you had any luck yet?

I just want a nice picture of the drawing when it is printed and when I open it in some PDF viewer I keep getting all the layers and when I scroll over text it opens in a weird text window - it is unbelievably frustrating.

Further, more munitipalities are accepting PDF's in place of hard copies and they will not accept them unless they are "flat".

So now I have to print to PDF with AutoCAD, then open a 3rd party PDF maker and print them again to get them flat.  It doesn't sound that labour intensive - but when you have to do it to each and every single PDF of each and every page of your permit submission (because the municipalities want them uploaded individually) then it gets quite time consuming!

AUTOCAD PLEASE HELP....

[adam.brownsmith]

Hi BMATT,

Unfortunately I haven't found anything that works properly.  It's nice to know though that I'm not the only one having this issue and just wants a simple plot.  the same way it would look as if I printed it out on an actual printer..  I like how Autodesk has made their PDF's more intelligent but perhaps they could also just make an option to create simple PDF's.

If I manage to find a proper solution I will post it.

Adam

[maratovich]

Attach an example to your .dwg file.
Attach an example to print .pdf
Attach the example as needed .pdf

[adam.brownsmith]

Hi Maratovich,

Unfortunately I can't attached any documents due to confidentiality agreements. Also the files sizes of the create very large PDF files 80mb, which most of the time none of my viewers or my clients viewers can open.

The simplistic way I can describe it is.

When I create a PDF that uses wipeouts for example I shouldn't be able to watch the PDF load and show all the line data that would be under a wipeout and then watch the wipeout get loaded and cover it up.  I need AutoCAD to print a PDF almost as if it was printing an Image of what the Layout tab shows, but with properly smooth quality not pixelated image.

[john.vellek]

Hi @adam.brownsmith,

You don't need to attach any project files.Please provide a simple dwg with some sample linework/geometry and wipeouts along with the plot settings you are using (page setup) and your plot style.

Please also include the resulting PDF to show me what you don't want as the result.

[maratovich]

You need to use a printer - PDFCreator
site: http://www.pdfforge.org/
I recommend version 1.7.3
This is what you need.

[pendean]

>>>... I keep getting all the layers...<<<
You control that, all of that if you use any of the AutoCAD included PDF drivers, always could. Need help finding that setting? Let us know which AutoCAD year version you use and the PDF driver you used.

>>>...not accept them unless they are "flat"....<<<
You control that too by turning off the layers option and by turning off LINEMERGE option. The "flattening" is a compression of layers you allowed to be added to the PDF.

>>>... it gets quite time consuming...<<<
As note before and by others: you need to be plotting to a 3rd party PDF driver that is not deisgned to ignore AutoCAD's layering settings (and you skip turning on the LINEMERGE option.

[pendean]

>>>...If I manage to find a proper solution I will post it....<<<
You need to stop using the built-in PDF drivers that come with AutoCAD: what choices do you have on your PC now to do that?

[jjs3834]

any luck with this?  COme on autodesk, get with the program.  customers spend more than ever before on your software.  give us what we NEED to get the job done quickly and effeiciently!

[adam.brownsmith]

Unfortunately I have not found a solution. I am using 2021 software now and the same sort of issues still occur. That said I haven’t delved too deeply into the newer settings to see if there is a solution.

[ChicagoLooper]

Look at your PDF program, not at AutoCAD.

1. Open your PDF in your PDF program.
2. Go to File=>Print=>Print=>PDF Name_B (you may add '_B' to end of original PDF name)
3. Save

<<Depending on your PDF program, your procedure may vary.>>

[adam.brownsmith]

I use Abobe for my PDF generation. However, with that said my post was looking for AutoCAD to provide a way to create a simple flat PDF that doesn’t load backgrounds of wipeouts. To put it simply for the PDF to look the same as if it was printed on a piece of paper and not see all the line work load where a wipeout exists only to see the wipeout come on and then overlaid with the line work I want about the wipeout. All in one step, all without having to go through multiple steps.

[ChicagoLooper]

Hello @adam.brownsmith 

So you have mtext sitting on top of linework and you want to mask the text so the linework underneath doesn't interfere with the readability of the text. You can access a feature known as MASK from the Text Editor Tab in the Ribbon. The Text Editor tab is located on a contextual ribbon, so you'll need to be in Text Edit Mode to access the MASK button. Refer to image-1.

Image-1

As an alternative to using the Ribbon, you may create a mask using the Properties Palette. Select the text object(s) then change Background Mask to 'Yes' under the Text Section in the Properties Palette. refer to image-2.

Image-2

Here's video that demonstrates how to create BACKGROUND MASK. You can either create a mask for a single text object or mask text objects in bulk using the Properties Palette.

<<WARNING: Do not confuse a WIPEOUT with a text mask. Although a wipeout has its uses in certain situations, a text mask is a more specialize tool geared for specifically text objects.>>

[adam.brownsmith]

Hello @ChicagoLooper , 

That’s a really good package of information you posted there. However, I wasn’t meaning TEXT with a wipeout, I was referring to using a wipeout in a drawing with multiple XREFs and wiping out some area of the drawing and having other objects show properly. It’s also about reducing the file size of the resulting PDF. 

thanks.