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Make a PDF with a Mac, NOT using Mac PDF maker (#3694)
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XL5  
#1 Posted : Friday, March 18, 2011 4:34:55 PM(UTC)
XL5

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Joined: 2/4/2011(UTC)
Posts: 43
I am suffering from blurry text when making a PDF in Mac OS 10.6 (using "Save as PDF" in the Mac printing dialogue).

Punch software has confirmed the problem. They suggested using CutePDF to make a PDF because it does a better job. CutePDF is Windows only.

An Internet search has shown several PDF creating programs for the Mac. I was hoping someone here had experience with some of these and could advise me.


using VaCAD V6, 2D. Mac Pro, OS 10.6.6
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NickB  
#2 Posted : Saturday, March 19, 2011 3:18:32 PM(UTC)
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To the best of my knowledge, OS X limits you to the built in PDF creator which is based on the open source CUPS unix utility, or Adobe's proprietary PDF creator that is built into their apps. If you want to print to PDF from Shark or ViaCAD you are limited to the OS's built in driver. A way around this is to export your 2D drawing to Illustrator, and then print or do a 'Save As' PFD from there.
Shark FX 9 build 1143
OS X 9.5
3.6 GHz Core i7, 8GB, GTX 760 2GB

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XL5  
#3 Posted : Sunday, March 20, 2011 10:49:48 AM(UTC)
XL5

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I can't really disagree with anything you said.

So why do companies SELL pdf conversion programs? (Some are free also.)

People are going through a lot of work to write the software, why?
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NickB  
#4 Posted : Sunday, March 20, 2011 12:03:28 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: XL5 Go to Quoted Post

So why do companies SELL pdf conversion programs? (Some are free also.)

People are going through a lot of work to write the software, why?


As you write, they are conversion or manipulation programs, not PDF print drivers. A lot of these programs are there to let you do things like edit your pdf, add content to your pdf, change page order, unlock the pdf or convert it to another format.

For example if you want to extract sections of a pdf, convert a PDF to RTF or fill in a form that was sent to you as a PDF you need another program. Acrobat Pro will do most of that, but it is an unwieldy overpriced sledge hammer in comparison to the smaller programs with limited functionality.
Shark FX 9 build 1143
OS X 9.5
3.6 GHz Core i7, 8GB, GTX 760 2GB

matter.cc
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lgrijalva  
#5 Posted : Sunday, March 20, 2011 11:41:39 PM(UTC)
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for the blurry text, try changing the default "plotter" font for other one, that works for me
the lines and curves vector conversion is still very disappointing

hope this help

Luis G.
Luis G
Industrial Designer
MacOSX Ventura 13.6.4
User since Concepts Unlimited
SharkCad 14
www.miditec.com.mx
www.diferro.com
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misterrogers  
#6 Posted : Monday, March 21, 2011 12:05:08 PM(UTC)
misterrogers

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I had a similar issue: someone here told me to print to a postscript (ps) file which I've been doing.. Then open in Preview app.. and save as a pdf. Now my lines and text are crisper and sharper than ever.
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NickB  
#7 Posted : Monday, March 21, 2011 1:27:05 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: misterrogers Go to Quoted Post
I had a similar issue: someone here told me to print to a postscript (ps) file which I've been doing.. Then open in Preview app.. and save as a pdf. Now my lines and text are crisper and sharper than ever.


I think that was probably me.
The problem that I get into with the Save As PostScript in the print dialog is that it will not print larger than a letter or A4 size page. If that is your target document size then it works perfectly. If not you have to jump through all sorts of hoops.
Shark FX 9 build 1143
OS X 9.5
3.6 GHz Core i7, 8GB, GTX 760 2GB

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misterrogers  
#8 Posted : Monday, March 21, 2011 2:44:23 PM(UTC)
misterrogers

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Originally Posted by: NickB Go to Quoted Post
I think that was probably me.
The problem that I get into with the Save As PostScript in the print dialog is that it will not print larger than a letter or A4 size page. If that is your target document size then it works perfectly. If not you have to jump through all sorts of hoops.


Yeah you're right it was you - believe me it was a pain to save/export pdfs only to have a terrible quality image - jagged lines and type.. Headache gone! :)
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XL5  
#9 Posted : Tuesday, April 9, 2013 6:17:36 PM(UTC)
XL5

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Originally Posted by: misterrogers Go to Quoted Post
I had a similar issue: someone here told me to print to a postscript (ps) file which I've been doing.. Then open in Preview app.. and save as a pdf. Now my lines and text are crisper and sharper than ever.


When I use your recommended procedure I get a blank page.

After nearly 2 years of research the ONLY method I have found with a reasonable degree of reliability is to import my ViaCAD file into CorelCAD.

From CorelCAD: Export > PDF. Done.

I love ViaCAD, but the lack of Export to PDF is sad.
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lgrijalva  
#10 Posted : Wednesday, April 10, 2013 8:22:46 AM(UTC)
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Totally agree, beside the "print by layers" option we should have some "export to pdf by layers" that use another pdf engine instead the mac default one

vectorwoks, and cobalt/xenon/argon have the export to pdf option that produce nice lines and curves on the resulting pdf.

LG
Luis G
Industrial Designer
MacOSX Ventura 13.6.4
User since Concepts Unlimited
SharkCad 14
www.miditec.com.mx
www.diferro.com
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XL5  
#11 Posted : Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:33:29 AM(UTC)
XL5

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>> Totally agree, beside the "print by layers" option we should have some "export to pdf by layers" that use another pdf engine instead the mac default one
I have also tried “Print By Layer”. The Start and End layer choices are BLANK, and it will NOT allow me to make any selections.

With AutoCAD or CorelCAD: Export > PDF. DONE.
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XL5  
#12 Posted : Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:40:56 AM(UTC)
XL5

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OK, I just got this from Todd at Encore support (why not Punchcad ?).

>> If you are refering to the large lines cluttering the drawing, go into preferences, and under display make sure pen weights is listed as display as printed. This will clean up the large lines all over the place.
I think this fixed it.
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