Fix Acrobat DC 2019 Displaying AutoCAD PDF Lines in Random Colors
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where black or gray linework from AutoCAD Civil 3D PDFs displays in random colors in Acrobat DC 2019.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing PDFs exported from AutoCAD Civil 3D containing black or gray linework.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF linework appears in random colors in Acrobat DC 2019, despite displaying and printing correctly in older versions like Acrobat 2018 and 2015.
Ensure you have your original AutoCAD DWG files saved, and try opening the PDF in an alternative PDF reader to confirm whether the issue is isolated to Adobe Acrobat DC 2019.
Update or Downgrade Adobe Acrobat
Since this is a known rendering bug specific to certain builds of Acrobat DC 2019, updating to the latest patch or temporarily reverting to Acrobat 2018 can resolve the display issue.
Software updates frequently contain patches for rendering engines. If the latest Acrobat DC 2019 update does not fix the AutoCAD line colors, rolling back to a stable version is the most reliable workaround.
Open Adobe Acrobat DC 2019, click on the 'Help' menu at the top, and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the prompts to install the latest bug fixes.
If updating does not work, uninstall Acrobat DC 2019 via your system's control panel. Reinstall Acrobat 2018 or 2015, where the AutoCAD PDFs are known to render correctly.
Modify Page Display Settings in Acrobat
Changing how Acrobat renders 2D graphics and line weights can sometimes bypass color display glitches.
Report to Adobe Support with File Details
Providing specific file details and samples to Adobe Support helps them identify the root cause and patch the rendering engine.
View AutoCAD PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat DC 2019 is struggling to render your AutoCAD lines correctly, try WPS Office. It includes a powerful, lightweight PDF reader that accurately displays CAD-exported PDFs without color distortion, while serving as a complete and free alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office from the official website and install it on your Mac or Windows PC.
- 2. Open the AutoCAD PDF: Right-click your PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose 'WPS PDF'.
- 3. View with Accurate Colors: Review your AutoCAD linework exactly as intended, with properly rendered black and gray lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my AutoCAD black lines appear colored in Acrobat?
This is usually caused by a specific rendering bug in Adobe Acrobat DC 2019's display engine when processing vector lines exported from AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Does adjusting AutoCAD export settings prevent this PDF color issue?
Sometimes. Exporting the PDF using different plot styles (like monochrome.ctb) or changing the PDF printer driver in AutoCAD (e.g., DWG to PDF.pc3) can result in a file that Acrobat 2019 renders properly.
Are older versions of Acrobat affected by this glitch?
No, users typically report that AutoCAD PDF files display and print with the correct black and gray line colors in older versions like Acrobat 2018 and 2015.
How can I check my exact Adobe Acrobat version?
Open Adobe Acrobat, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'About Adobe Acrobat'. A window will pop up displaying the exact build and version number.
