Re: CAD & pdf

[Dov Isaacs <isaacs@xxxxxxxxx>]

At 6/7/2002 11:05 AM, Kevin Meadows wrote:
>At our company we frequently import CAD files into our FM docs and then
>convert them to pdf for distribution. We have noticed a problem, though -
>whenever we print from pdf, the lines in the CAD drawings are faint. I
>have tried to troubleshoot this problem by changing how I import the file
>(as an object and as a file; as a .dwg and and as a .dxf), but all this is
>to no avail.
>
>Any tips?


The problem is long term problem in AutoCAD in which 
certain lines are stored as "zero width" ... the meaning
of which is that they are to be rendered as 1 pixel in
width on whatever device they are rendered on. On a screen
that might be 1/72 of an inch or so. On a 300 dpi laser printer,
the result is 1/300 of an inch. On a 1200 dpi laser printer,
the result is 1/1200 of an inch. On a 5400 dpi imagesetter,
the result is a barely recognizable 1/5400 inch.

Unfortunately, via any number of direct and indirect import
mechanisms (such as direct import of AutoCAD files or via
import of EPS from same), the "zero width" gets propagated.
Two workarounds ...

(1) Import the AutoCAD diagrams into Illustrator and "fix" the
bum widths. Then export EPS and import that into FrameMaker.

(2) Create PDF from FrameMaker using the Creo Distiller Assistant
plugin, available for free from Creo at:

<http://www.creo.com/prinergy/distillerplugindownload2.asp>

It "fixes" all PostScript of the form "0 setlinewidth" such that
you get output that is reasonably viewable and printable on most
all devices.

        - Dov


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