Improve Revit PDF Export Quality Using Enhanced Raster and Vector Processing

[sandeep_reddyMS4M9]

I have been using Revit for a long time and regularly export drawings to PDF for review, quantity takeoff, and measurement in applications such as Bluebeam Revu.

Although Revit supports PDF export up to 600 DPI, the PDF can become pixelated when zoomed beyond approximately 600%, making it difficult to accurately snap to corners, endpoints, and other geometry during detailed review and quantity calculations.

I would like to request the Revit team to consider enhancing PDF export by combining high-quality vector and raster processing—preserving Revit linework, text, dimensions, and geometry as true vectors while using high-resolution raster processing for shaded views, images, and other raster content.

An enhanced High Quality / Precision PDF Export option with better vector fidelity would significantly improve high-zoom workflows in Bluebeam and other PDF applications, while maintaining reasonable file sizes.

This enhancement would greatly benefit AEC professionals involved in drawing review, QA/QC, quantity takeoff, estimation, and construction documentation.

Note: I have attached one PDF file i have created.

[Christiaan_de_Wit]

I guess a hybrid PDF would be okay too, with all lines and patterns being exported as vectors, while shading/textures/shadows and images are added as a raster layer.

[RobDBrown]

Using native export to PDF in Revit creates very large files compared to print to PDF, due to Revit using raster printing as default for views with shading or fills.

Would be great to be able to select vector printing option regardless of the view containing shading or fills etc.

[CivicDesignDevelopment]

How would those views render? Would you just disable the shading? Some might see this as a bug as they try to decipher why the view on screen does not match the printed view.

[RobDBrown]

If you want the view rendered then you would select the raster option as per most print to PDF programs.

[stevecrotty]

Hello,

I think it would help to clarify the original request post and Title. We have a vector option, so what specifically is the new behavior you would like? The request is to have a second option to force Vector output even when it will not look like the view in Revit, correct? If you sent a print job or sheets with mixed settings the views that have settings or objects that require Raster would print/export vector and discard those things. So shaded, texture, and realistic views would change to hidden line, or Consistent Color, shadows would be removed, point clouds removed, Gradient backgrounds removed, coordination models removed, etc.
Would you want some report or warning for the changed views and viewports? 
And what did you mean by fills? We are not aware of a fill setting or object that forces Raster. It would be good to clarify or remove that.
PDF Export and print should always be using the Vector option for each view and viewport it can with that option set. If you have cases that seem to be forced to Raster that should not be, then you could report those as problems.

[stevecrotty]

There are these similar Ideas to composite the view raster / vector when some elements to allow things that are allowed vector to be vector and interleave raster elements. Is this another option or a different solution to the same problem and which do you prefer?  
 https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/vector-atop-raster-when-printing-with-coordination-model/...
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/vector-printing-with-raster-underlay/idi-p/7565402?search...

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/vector-shadows-in-hidden-line-prints/idi-p/6330690?search...

Note: import and link of pdf ang images is always raster and is a separate issue, so this will not work as test for what format Revit output was in.
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/link-and-import-pdf-as-vector/idi-p/9163867?search-action...
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/raster-and-vector-sheet/idc-p/12772746#M57610

[RobDBrown]

My request is a simple one - I have 2 PDF files printed from Revit, one printed using print to PDF with PDF creator, size is 470KB and the other using export to PDF native in Revit, size is 2827KB. Both have vector option set and look exactly the same so just want to know why one is 6 times larger?

[stevecrotty]

Thank you. That is interesting. I think you should report that an as a problem we can look into.
Can you get us this example the other printer output appears shaded? We are not aware of a way to produce vector shaded views. Can you confirm the output form the other program is vector? Or perhaps it is a more efficient and smaller raster print?

Is there some other reason you think the output is raster other than its size?

The Revit vector option does print vector, so if you zoom in there are no pixels or it will produce vector lines in a vector program correct? 

So we would want to look into why the size is so big in your case.

[RobDBrown]

This has now gone full circle. I reported this as an issue when I was having a different problem with print to PDF so started using export to PDF and discovered the large files. It's all documented in CaseNo:22104107