topic Re: Plotmaker PDF Output in Documentation

Plotmaker PDF Output

Vitruvius — Fri, 19 May 2023 20:27:38 GMT

Hi,

I've been outputting PDF on both PC and Mac and have noticed that the Mac files aren't as fine a resolution as the PC Amyuni PDF files. This is the same AC project and PM layout?????

The platform setups are:

1. PC / Windows 2000 / AC 8.1 / PM 3.1
- files are PDF'd from Plotmaker using Amyuni PDF driver
- my default printer is an HP 5000 laserjet

2. MAC / OS 10.2.3 / AC 8.1 / PM 3.1
- files are PDF's using print command in Plotmaker
- my default printer is an HP 9300 inkjet

The PDF output has been printed on both printers - basically the PC files look nicer on screen and the printouts are far superior on both HP printers. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Many thanks!

Cameron

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Djordje — Mon, 09 Feb 2004 11:49:10 GMT

Vitruvius wrote:
I've been outputting PDF on both PC and Mac and have noticed that the Mac files aren't as fine a resolution as the PC Amyuni PDF files. This is the same AC project and PM layout?????

Check the Mac settings - you are probably printing at default 300 dpi with Amyuni.

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Vitruvius — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 10:01:22 GMT

Hi Djordje,

I've changed all the Mac settings, tried PS printers and plotters and the PDF output still looks bad. The basic problem appears to be the OS X built in PDF function - have a look at the following article of creating construction document PDF's:

http://www.monitor.net/~dbelfm/_pages/osx_creating_pdfs.htm

I have successfully tried saving as a PM postscript file and then using Distiller to convert to PDF - but not very elegant.

Any suggestions or workarounds from the Graphisoft technical folks?

Regards, Cameron

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 11:54:47 GMT

I (we) have been using PDF on the Mac for years with no problems with output quality. In fact the only trouble I have had in the past is having to reduce the resolution to get the file size down.

The Mac PDF drivers have an option for controlling the resolution of the output by creating filters to be chosen at print time. I have done this myself, but now I can't remember how (and a quick Google didn't help). Does anyone else know how these filters are set up? I would appreciate the refresher.

Anyway, it's possible that your PDF printing has been set up to make lower res files. Check for a pop-up at the bottom of the print dialog for choosing your PDF output filter. (I have also customized my own print dialog so I am not sure what yours would look like.) In any case, I am sure your problem is fixable, I just can't remember enough to give you a complete answer.

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

__archiben — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 19:05:11 GMT

Matthew wrote:
The Mac PDF drivers have an option for controlling the resolution of the output by creating filters to be chosen at print time. I have done this myself, but now I can't remember how (and a quick Google didn't help). Does anyone else know how these filters are set up? I would appreciate the refresher.

matthew

at the point of printing go to the colorsync 'tab' and choose the 'quarz filters''. see attached screenshot.

by clicking "add filter" at the bottom, it opens the 'colorsync utility' (also found in /Applications/Utilities). here you can click the 'filters' tab and create your own output filters.

is this what you meant? if not, then it's still a pretty handy thing to know about. especially for creating special colour effects straight out of any program!

~/archiben

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 20:03:30 GMT

Thanks Ben. It's much appreciated.
I hate forgetting useful stuff like that.

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Vitruvius — Wed, 11 Feb 2004 13:45:22 GMT

Ben & Matthew,

Thanks for the input. I think what I'm finding strange (perhaps my adobe settings) is that my PDF's produced on PC print much nicer than those produced on the Mac.

Very curious indeed, but I'll keep tinkering until I get it right.

Cheers, Cameron

BTW Ben - 5 cups o' java and skiing don't mix - you don't want to be drilling through 4 layers of clothing to answer nature's call at 8000 ft.....

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Greg Kmethy — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 13:57:05 GMT

Cameron,

The difference is probably that PDFs created on MAC have a resolution of 300 dpi - this is system default, you cannot change it.
Amyuni / Distiller on PC can make a PDF with 1200 dpi.

Greg

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 17:14:35 GMT

Greg,

This is not true in my experience. The PDFs I am getting from OSX are of such high quality that I cannot find a resolution limit. Zooming in to the limits (6400% in Acrobat) shows no lack of resolution. The only stair-stepping, pixelation, or other artifacts I can find are those in the original image files and are not introduced by the PDF printing process.

300 dpi is a very low resolution and I would have noticed this long ago if it were true. I believe you must be mistaken about this.

As I have stated before, the only problem I have had with PDFs produced by the OSX print function is that they are TOO HIGH resolution resulting in large files which I often have to reduce in Acrobat for e-mail attachments.

Cameron,

Perhaps there is a difference in the printer drivers or the software you are using to view/print the files. Have you tried printing both files from both machines? (i.e. Print the Mac generated file from the PC and the PC generated file from the Mac.)

gkmethy wrote:
Cameron,

The difference is probably that PDFs created on MAC have a resolution of 300 dpi - this is system default, you cannot change it.
Amyuni / Distiller on PC can make a PDF with 1200 dpi.

Greg

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 18:42:21 GMT

this from the Mac OSX Help on pdf printing:

"Mac OS X creates a "Digital Master" PDF file, which is larger than a typical PDF because the resolution of images in the PDF file are not scaled down. The PDF file also includes each font character used in the document, including characters from the standard 13 fonts."

Another tidbit that OSX help mentions is that Preview (if that's what you're using to view/print) has options for smoothing text, and Adobe Reader goes even farther to add smoothing of lines & text, and the ability to display at a custom resolution setting in lieu of the document's setting.

Also OSX help mentioned that if you "Preview" the image from the print dialog and then print the image from the preview window, you will lose resolution quality since you are essentially making a pdf from the pdf OSX created to show you the preview.

Any of those tips help?

Wes

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 23:12:53 GMT

Wes,

You are a genius. Who woulda thought to go and read the manual?

Thanks for some definitely useful tidbits.

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Dave Jochum — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 05:03:40 GMT

Weston wrote:
Also OSX help mentioned that if you "Preview" the image from the print dialog and then print the image from the preview window, you will lose resolution quality since you are essentially making a pdf from the pdf OSX created to show you the preview.

Any of those tips help?

Wes

Absolutely helps. I've wondered about this very issue, but never bothered to check the manual. Thanks!

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

__archiben — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 22:27:58 GMT

Vitruvius wrote:
BTW Ben - 5 cups o' java and skiing don't mix - you don't want to be drilling through 4 layers of clothing to answer nature's call at 8000 ft.....

point taken, vitruvius. point taken!

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Aussie John — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 22:34:56 GMT

In regard to file size it is my understanding that graphics such as Jpgs tiff etc will produce a large file size using the macOS PDF printing, There are utilities that will compress the PDF further, but as I say is only an issue if using embedded graphics

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Feb 2004 17:56:37 GMT

Generally on this same topic, PDF. Recently I tried an export of a PDF from Plotmaker, then I loaded it into Adobe Illustrator, changed all lines to WHITE and then placed a dark blue square behind all the drawing elements, saved it again as a PDF, and created the old fashioned BLUEPRINT effect, without the ammonia.

You can also play with the filters in Adobe Illustrator to get scribble effects to your drawings.

Have Fun!

Mark Burginger

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Dave Jochum — Sat, 21 Feb 2004 20:16:29 GMT

Burginger wrote:
Recently I tried an export of a PDF from Plotmaker, then I loaded it into Adobe Illustrator, changed all lines to WHITE and then placed a dark blue square behind all the drawing elements, saved it again as a PDF, and created the old fashioned BLUELINE effect.

I assume you use this for online viewing only--I can only imagine how many ink cartridges would be necessary for a set of prints. Anyway, it's a nice, old fashioned look.

Not to quibble, but this is a bluePRINT effect--the blueLINE being the standard current-day output of blue lines on white paper.

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2004 16:08:26 GMT

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile for me to be on the Talk forum. I used to get it back when it was email format. I'm glad to see it's grown up and I'll certainly start reading it daily again!

I don't mean to highjack the issue, but it seems so close to my question that I will jump in.

I would like to be able to make PDF files of ArchiCAD files. What's the best way to do this? I'm confused about which Adobe product I need, and I've read with interest the discussion about making PDF's from Plotmaker, which is exactly what I would like to do.

I'm sure this has been covered in other threads, but I searched and could not find much.

Right now I'm running ArchiCAD on both Apple and PC, but am switching to PC only pretty soon if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any help!

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Dave Jochum — Wed, 25 Feb 2004 17:19:02 GMT

htra wrote:
I would like to be able to make PDF files of ArchiCAD files. What's the best way to do this? I'm confused about which Adobe product I need, and I've read with interest the discussion about making PDF's from Plotmaker, which is exactly what I would like to do.

Right now I'm running ArchiCAD on both Apple and PC, but am switching to PC only pretty soon if that makes a difference.

Too bad...On a Mac you can save to PDF directly from the print dialog box. Until we can publish to PDF, we're limited to a drawing at a time, but no other software is necessary. Sorry, but can't help on the PC side.

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Rick Thompson — Wed, 25 Feb 2004 21:13:13 GMT

Dave wrote:
htra wrote:

Too bad...On a Mac you can save to PDF directly from the print dialog box. Until we can publish to PDF, we're limited to a drawing at a time, but no other software is necessary. Sorry, but can't help on the PC side.

There is a great freeware program called Combine PDF http://www.monkeybreadsoftware.de/ It does what is says. I use it to quickly and cheaply combine plot sheets

Re: Plotmaker PDF Output

Aussie John — Wed, 25 Feb 2004 21:18:17 GMT

Dave wrote:
Until we can publish to PDF, we're limited to a drawing at a time

David I dont understand that. Print to PDF and all the drawings (after selecting plotmaker options) will be "printed" in one file.
…or did you mean directly from Archicad