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Printing Images from 3d Pdf files

bairmik
bairmik's picture
Registered: Oct 18 2007
Posts: 2

Quick question for anyone with experience with the process. I have a couple 3d pdf files of architectural details and assemblies. Whenever i try to print any views of these 3d files, i get a solid black page.

Ok, no problem I thought, I would just export or save as a jpg or png file, then print the image. This produced mildly better results, as in it was similar to the view in the 3d pdf, only all of the nice thin crisp lines were turning up thick and ugly, like if i switch the 3d rendering method to software instead of directx, and there was no hidden lines, everything in the jpg or png files was showing up like transparent wireframes.

The last option is to use prtscn, paste it in photoshop, crop appropriately and print.

Am I missing something completely? Shouldn't acrobat 3d be able to print the current view as it appears on screen, save the current view as it appears on screen, at the bare minimum?

I am using a full licensed version of acrobat 3d 8, this is not cheap software, why does it seem to lack basic functionality?

dhallida
dhallida's picture
Registered: Jul 26 2007
Posts: 31
I demonstrate and use Acrobat 3D regularly with all sorts of import settings, and I have never encountered this issue. It is a little difficult to know what might be happening, but here are a few of things to look at:
1. If you don't see the 3D image in the print preview window, you will need to select "document and Markups" as the 3D image is treated as an annotation.
2. Are you printing directly or printing to PDF? If you are printing to PDF, it is possible you are loosing lighting from the file. I have not encountered this problem, but one of my colleagues suggested it.
3. Lastly, if you are still having a problem as you discribe, you may have a print driver problem.

I hope this helps.

I am an Adobe Business Development Manager specializing in Manufacturing. I am a vetran of many years in manufacturing and PLM, and focus much of my efforts in 3D PDF and how it can be used to solve numerous customer business problems and challenges.