topic Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!) in Documentation

Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Kvalheim — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:04:03 GMT

Can we talk about how the resolution of published image files is decided by the current zoom level on the layout view? This is next level confusion, even for graphisoft. This is also not stated anywhere as far as I can tell. What are you guys doing?? This is such a basic functionality. Give us a resolution setting - dpi, multiplier, whatever, anything. How can you release a new version with an AI-image generator that is two years outdated on release while this is still a thing. There are so many examples like this throughout archicad and it's driving me nuts that there is no effort put in raising the floor, instead of hammering us with new features. I really like the design options, but I'd rather have decent core functionality without loose ends like this.

I apologize for my bitterness here, but I need to vent some times.

Operating system used: Windows

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:29:14 GMT

There is a similar Roadmap item. Is this what you are wishing for?:

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Product-Roadmap/Set-Resolution-for-3D-Views/idi-p/632888

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Kvalheim — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:24:56 GMT

Thanks for replying, Laszio. No this is not quite what I'm talking about. The roadmap item you sent is about 3D views specifically. What I'm talking about is that when using the publisher for export layouts (no matter the drawing type) as an image file, the resolution of the exported image is based on how zoomed in the layout is on export. This is:

so confusing
causing resolution of exports to suddenly change, and finding a zoom level that gives a specific resolution through trial and error is not feasible, so the export resolution is not reproducible
absolutely undocumented so it's up to the user to infer this behavior from observation, which I find a bit mind boggling in a software this expensive.

The output resolution should be the product of the layout size in units and a dpi-setting.

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Barry Kelly — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 01:18:36 GMT

Can I ask why you are publishing layouts as an image file?

Can you show an example of what you are trying to publish?

Barry.

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Lingwisyer — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:29:55 GMT

ps. Just re-read your second comment... @Barry Kelly I assume it is being done as a response to the bloat of the layered PDFs that AC creates.

There is a thread somewhere around here about setting your Views from custom sized undocked windows to achieve reasonable resolutions. It is annoying to work with though...

Edit: Apparently the thread I was looking for has been "Archived" and hence is no longer accessible... I think it was this thread, but am unable to confirm as noted, if there is someone who can access this "Archive".

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Barry Kelly — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 04:13:01 GMT

Your link is to an Achicad-talk post.

They are long gone.

Not sure why it is opening in wishes forum and saying it is archived.

I was just curious if the author was trying to publish a 3D view as an image or literally trying to publish a layout with a 3D view as an image file.

Publishing a layout with an image on it is like taking a photo copy of a photo copy rather than of the original.

I wanted to see what the author was trying to publish as maybe there is a better solution.

Barry.

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Lingwisyer — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:13:40 GMT

I just assumed old links would have been redirected, but I guess not...

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Kvalheim — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:14:07 GMT

@Lingwisyer @Barry Kelly
Thanks for joining the discussion.

To expand a bit on what caused my initial frustration:

I was exporting 2D drawings from layouts to png images. So not 3D views, although I guess this issue would be very real in that case as well. These are meant to be used in a screen-presentation and since I was using Figma slide deck that does not handle pdf imports very smoothly at the moment. I needed image files. This is also better for performance in screen presentations that do not require vectorized drawings. Wanting control of the output resolution is one thing, but being confident that the resolution is consistent across multiple exports is vital when the images are linked to presentations to avoid plans moving in layouts when updating etc.

I have also exported the views directly using publisher, skipping the layout part, but this has the same problem if slightly more predictable.

When exporting layouts the output resolution is a product of the screen resolution and layout zoom at the time of the export.
When exporting views the output resolution is a product of the screen resolution and the zoom settings in the view settings.

Neither are good enough in my opinion. The resolution of an exported image file should not be dependent on the resolution of a physical monitor. Ok, when exporting from views directly this may need to be the case, but when using layouts this makes no sense.

I also don't think it's really relevant why I want to export images files this way – if it's an option it should work better. I know you're just trying to understand the issue fully when asking, so this is not directed at your question, but when graphisoft decides to add the option to export image files from layouts they should do it well and document it. Right now it's pretty useless in it's implementation and entirely undocumented.

There should be a simple dpi setting for layouts, and an optional resolution setting that rescales the layout to fit within an image of a given resolution.

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Barry Kelly — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 08:58:08 GMT

@Kvalheim wrote:

I was exporting 2D drawings from layouts to png images. So not 3D views, although I guess this issue would be very real in that case as well. These are meant to be used in a screen-presentation and since I was using Figma slide deck that does not handle pdf imports very smoothly at the moment. I needed image files.

Is it an option to take a screen capture of what you want and save that a s image file or paste directly into Figma?

Barry.

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Davor P — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:12:37 GMT

@Kvalheim
If this is something you do often, you could still publish PDFs and create a python script to convert them to .png.
Python outside Archicad of course...

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Kvalheim — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:28:40 GMT

Just a quick update:
I'm very pleased to see that this is now one of the new features of the 29 Tech preview!

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Lingwisyer — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:31:10 GMT

Oh, that is nice surprise. I do not recall seeing it on the roadmap, even though there have been wishes for it for years... It has always seemed like such a high value to required effort wish.

Re: Layout zoom decides resolution on image export from layout?(!)

Rob Shearer — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:39:32 GMT

I am having the same issue. My reason is that I am trying to submit for a local chapter AIA award. Images submitted must be 150 dpi .jpg images, at a specific physical size. (10"x10") Is it possible to export that directly from Archicad? I made my layouts showing plans, sections, elevations, explanatory text, etc. as well as imported photographs of the project, at the correct physical size, but cannot get the .jpg's to export correctly. Converting them from .pdf files to the required dpi .jpg from Preview changes the physical sizes, (no longer 10" x 10") so that does not really work either.