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PDF import to ViaCAD blurry - PDFs are not fully legible on import
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mmyoung  
#1 Posted : Tuesday, June 5, 2018 7:19:24 PM(UTC)
mmyoung

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This has been an issue for a while (at least 8 years to judge by forum input), that an imported PDF does not render clearly. I think I recall seeing something, possibly from Tim about this, but I can't remember. I need to get good PDF input, or at least it would be helpful.

At the moment, I pull in the PDF I need, use it for reference, then re-composite the whole thing in an external editor. This works but it's kind of troublesome. Any ideas?
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jdi000  
#2 Posted : Monday, June 11, 2018 6:31:41 AM(UTC)
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Hello

I do not have a mac so I cannot import pdf's. PDF has many variations, and ways they are rendered. The pdf you are trying to import do you know what program created them? Some software has options in pdf to save as vector vs raster, and optimize the file based on the file type : document, pictures or graphics. Would you try importing a couple of pdf that I can post here?

Regards
Jason

Edited by user Monday, June 11, 2018 6:32:22 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Spelling

Windows 11, 10
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mmyoung  
#3 Posted : Monday, June 11, 2018 4:05:36 PM(UTC)
mmyoung

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Thanks jdi000,

The PDF was converted from the ACAD file by the engineer who sent it to me..
I tried importing it into ViaCAD Pro10 (build 1359) directly, tried creating a crisp
JPEG in the Mac and importing that, converting back to PDF... etc. The image
does not resolve in close-ups, uncharacteristic of PDFs in other apps.

Though I have to say, SketchUp/Layout has the exact same issue. They do not
respond when queried about this.

I suspect the PDF/JPG, etc. need to be converted to a proxy image inside ViaCAD
(or the SketchUp apps as well), and the result is fuzzy. It isn't suitable for presentation
without making apologies -- so usually I composite a good PDF with the ViaCAD
output in another app, and that works well, but it's awfully tedious.

It's especially troubling when needing to zoom into a small corner of something
in the PDF/JPG, etc.

In the attached file (I hope the attachment works), I'm showing the PDF, but the JPEG is identical. You can see
where I lose contours and so on

/Users/michaelyoung/Desktop/Orig PDF.jpg
mmyoung attached the following image(s):
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rockyroad_us  
#4 Posted : Monday, June 11, 2018 6:57:43 PM(UTC)
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It reminds me of a similar issue I had with importing .jpg to shark.

When importing a .jpg trace of a profile I wanted to replicate in 2D, the import will be blurry or loose quality in versions 9 and 10. I remember the black will stand out in version 8, but in versions 9 and 10 something was changed in the import. I asked Tim about this in a personal email and he never responded to my inquiry. I still have version 8 and so I import in there, save it, and then open it in version 10. The quality stays better than importing in versions 9 and 10. I'm sure that is occurring in the PDF too although I can't confirm. Maybe you can attach the actual .pdf to confirm it.

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GARLIC  
#5 Posted : Tuesday, June 12, 2018 12:57:11 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: rockyroad_us Go to Quoted Post
It reminds me of a similar issue I had with importing .jpg to shark.

When importing a .jpg trace of a profile I wanted to replicate in 2D, the import will be blurry or loose quality in versions 9 and 10. I remember the black will stand out in version 8, but in versions 9 and 10 something was changed in the import. I asked Tim about this in a personal email and he never responded to my inquiry. I still have version 8 and so I import in there, save it, and then open it in version 10. The quality stays better than importing in versions 9 and 10. I'm sure that is occurring in the PDF too although I can't confirm. Maybe you can attach the actual .pdf to confirm it.




.....may be that PDF2CAD could be quite useful in a similar context: https://visual-integrity.com/products/pdf2cad/

just my 2cts

regards
G.
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UGMENTALCASE  
#6 Posted : Tuesday, June 12, 2018 3:00:43 AM(UTC)
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I can convert to a dxf for you if you wanted to try that?
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BillB  
#7 Posted : Tuesday, June 12, 2018 4:52:32 AM(UTC)
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The has to do with the way that Shark & ViaCad render raster images. The trick is to adjust the size of the image in to match the intended pixel size in Shark before importing it. I don't usually import PDFs so I don't know whether the extra wrapper will let you do this.
Bill Bedford

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jdi000  
#8 Posted : Tuesday, June 12, 2018 6:14:14 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: mmyoung Go to Quoted Post
Thanks jdi000,

The PDF was converted from the ACAD file by the engineer who sent it to me..
I tried importing it into ViaCAD Pro10 (build 1359) directly, tried creating a crisp
JPEG in the Mac and importing that, converting back to PDF... etc. The image
does not resolve in close-ups, uncharacteristic of PDFs in other apps.


Michael

Can you get a file in another format instead of pdf. Like eps or dxf? Can you explain what your workflow is? You receive a file do you modify it and then export or use it after that? What is the final output you require?

To attach files you need to check the box in the options below the post text, hit post button then in will let you browse to a file, hit upload and back and it will load the image.


Regards

Jason

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Windows 11, 10
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mmyoung  
#9 Posted : Wednesday, June 13, 2018 8:23:20 PM(UTC)
mmyoung

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My many thanks to all who responded. UGMENTALCASE and jdi000 -- thanks again; I can get DXF/DWG from the engineer (from any engineer). However (grin) I often prefer PDFs b/c the file structure in the CAD files is often so bizzare that it takes a long time to sort them. heh. A weakness on my part, as I don't run AutoCAD. Should... But I like ViaCAD better for what I do. This is a heck of a nice piece of work. I bow in the direction of Tim.
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jdi000  
#10 Posted : Thursday, June 14, 2018 10:20:52 AM(UTC)
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michael

Probably trying the eps export from autocad will give you what you want closest to pdf, it will be vector so you will be able to zoom and reprint it without distortion.

Regards

Jason
Windows 11, 10
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mmyoung  
#11 Posted : Friday, June 15, 2018 8:39:25 AM(UTC)
mmyoung

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Posts: 12
Ah, Yes. Hadn't thought of that. Thanks!
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