Inserting a PDF/Picture file into a drawing sheet - (Quality Issue)

[spagdin]

I am trying to insert a PDF or a JPEG into my drawing sheet but the quality is terrible. Has anyone found a way to do this and keep a good quality print?

 

[crjones]

Open a sketch, then go to Tools/Sketch Tools/Sketch picture. Insert your jpeg.

 

[spagdin]

That was a good shout thanks, unfortunately I get the same quality as I do when I go Insert/Object...

Any other ideas out there?

 

[drawoh]

spagdin,

How good is the quality of your original graphic?

I am still on SW2007 here. I recently updated our logo on our templates, and it was a bit of a hassle. Only BMP files work. Our logo, which is scales to 40mm[×]20mm, is 300[×]150 pixels in size. On the drawing, it looks okay, but not great.

No artwork looks good when it is scaled up. This is especially true of bitmaps.

JHG

 

[spagdin]

I am currently using Soldworks 2010 SP2.0 and the pdf I am trying to insert has been created in "high quality" and does not need scaled when it comes in. However the quality is very poor when inserted into my drawing sheet.

I have tried BMP, JPEG, PDF....no luck so far.

Please help!

Thanks.

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, spagdin:

Can you post your pdf file? I would like to give it a try.

Best regards,

Alex

 

[spagdin]

See if you can have any better luck.

Thanks.

 

[drawoh]

spagdin,

Was your PDF created from a vector graphic, or a bitmap? A PDF based on vector graphics, should scale perfectly. If you converted from a bitmap, the quality of the original bitmap is the best you ever will do.

JHG

 

[spagdin]

I think it was created straight from solidworks. PDF of a drawing. Quality is great and inserts perfectly and scales perfectly in AutoCad but not in Solidworks.

 

[Shmezbot]

Spagdin,

You may be encountering a SW glitch that I need to work around from time to time.

But first - be extra sure that your source image is of a high enough resolution to look good (200-300 DPI).

I find SW 2010 drawings love to default to screen resolution (72 DPI) maybe less - whatever it is it looks like crap. HLR views are fine since it seems to use vector lines when printing, the problem comes when you try to print a 'shaded' or 'shaded with edges' view. It may be that SW is treating your inserted picture the same way.

Workaround: Use File --> Save as and save your drawing as a .pdf. In the Save as dialogue click options, set 'Shaded/Draft geometry DPI' to 300. Print your new .pdf from Acrobat.

You lose anti-aliasing on your image, but your black lines remain vectors, which saves file size if you are emailing .pdfs of your drawings to people.

Good luck!

 

[spagdin]

Thanks again for the replies. I created a pdf with a dpi of 1200!! I then inserted that file into solidworks and hey presto.....the same poor quality as previous!

I am now convinced it is not the pdf file itself but the way Solidworks handles the insertion of the pdf file. This has been a problem since solidworks 2004 but I've always found a work around...not this time though!

 

[EEnd]

Try saving it as a Tiff and using the options to give it a high DPI.

Eric

 

[rgrayclamps]

Hi, spagdin:

Your pdf file is a vector graphic. Solidworks does not support it. So, it converts it into a pixellated image upon insertion. I do not see there is a control of pixel resolutions.

I think it is time for an ER.

Best regards,

Alex

 

[spagdin]

Thanks for all your help guys. I will create an ER with solidworks.