How to Improve Poor Text and Line Quality in AutoCAD 2016 PDFs
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where PDFs exported from AutoCAD 2016 suffer from poor text and line resolution.
- Product
- AutoCAD 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting or plotting CAD drawings to PDF format for printing or digital sharing.
- Observed behavior
- The resulting PDF files display pixelated lines, incorrect lineweights, and low-quality text compared to the original drawing.
Verify which PDF creation method you are currently using (e.g., AutoCAD's built-in 'DWG to PDF', Adobe PDF, or a third-party driver), as the settings interface will differ based on the plotter selected.
Adjust Vector Quality and DPI in Plotter Configuration
Increase the vector resolution and adjust font handling in AutoCAD's built-in PDF plotter to ensure crisp lines and clear text.
AutoCAD 2016 uses the DWG to PDF.pc3 plotter by default. If the vector resolution is set too low, lines will appear pixelated or blurred in the exported PDF.
Press Ctrl+P or type PLOT in the AutoCAD command line to open the Plot dialog box.
From the Printer/Plotter drop-down list, select 'DWG to PDF.pc3' or 'AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3'.
Click the 'Properties' button next to the selected plotter name, then click on 'Custom Properties' in the Device and Document Settings tab.
Under the Vector and Raster graphics section, change the Vector quality to 1200 DPI or higher to improve line sharpness.
Ensure 'Capture fonts used in the drawing' is checked so that text is rendered as actual text rather than lower-quality graphics.
Enable and Configure Lineweights
Ensure that AutoCAD is instructed to properly plot object lineweights so that line thickness translates correctly to the PDF.
View and Annotate High-Quality PDFs with WPS Office
After fixing your AutoCAD export settings, you need a reliable tool to view, annotate, and share your technical PDFs. WPS Office is a free, lightweight suite that seamlessly handles high-resolution CAD PDFs while offering full format compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without expensive subscriptions.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
- 2. Open the CAD PDF: Right-click your newly exported AutoCAD PDF, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office.
- 3. Review and Annotate: Use the Comment tab in WPS PDF to add text boxes, highlight specific drawing details, or stamp the document before sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my AutoCAD PDF look pixelated?
Pixelation typically occurs when the vector or raster DPI settings in the plotter configuration are set too low. Increasing the vector resolution to 1200 DPI or higher in the plotter's Custom Properties usually resolves this issue.
What is the best PDF plotter to use in AutoCAD 2016?
AutoCAD's built-in 'AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3' or the standard 'DWG to PDF.pc3' are highly recommended. They are optimized specifically for CAD drawings and effectively retain vector data, layer information, and fonts.
How do I make my PDF lines thicker when exporting from AutoCAD?
To ensure lines display their correct thickness, you must assign the appropriate lineweights to your drawing layers and confirm that the 'Plot object lineweights' option is checked in the expanded Plot dialog box before exporting.
Why is the text in my AutoCAD PDF not searchable?
This happens if TrueType fonts are being plotted as graphics rather than text. To fix this, open the Custom Properties of your PDF plotter and ensure the 'Capture fonts used in the drawing' option is enabled.
