About Exporting Drawing Files to PDF

The Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) is a compressed electronic document format that can be viewed on multiple platforms. PDF files are widely used to transmit drawing data over the internet.

Commands that Create PDF files

There are many commands and methods you can use to produce PDF files. Use these guidelines to select the most appropriate method.

Operation Recommended Command/Workflow
Export model space or a single layout to a PDF file The PLOT or EXPORTPDF command
Export all layouts of a drawing to a PDF file The EXPORTPDF command
Export selected layouts of a drawing to PDF The PUBLISH command
Export model space and selected layouts to PDF The PUBLISH command
Export multiple drawing files to PDF The PUBLISH command
Export a sheet set to a PDF file The Publish to PDF option in the Sheet Set Manager

PDF Presets

PDF presets are named groups of settings that control the PDF creation process and are saved as plotter configuration files (*.pc3). Presets let you balance the file size with quality and functionality, depending on how you want to use the PDF files. The predefined PDF presets listed address most typical usage scenarios. However, if you have specific requirements that a predefined preset cannot meet, customize an existing preset and save it as a *.pc3 file with a different name.

PC3 File / PDF Preset Details
DWG to PDF.pc3 General purpose driver used in AutoCAD 2015 and earlier.
AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3 General purpose driver suitable for most uses.
AutoCAD PDF (High Quality Print).pc3 Produces a PDF file optimized for printing on paper.
AutoCAD PDF (Smallest File).pc3 Produces a PDF with the smallest possible file size.
AutoCAD PDF (Web and Mobile).pc3 Produces a PDF file that supports hyperlinks mobile devices and Web browsers.

Considerations for TrueType Fonts

If a PDF viewer does not have access to a font that you used in a drawing, it displays the affected text using a substitute font. Often, the substitute font doesn't match up to the original font. Consequently, the text in the drawing can appear different than the text in the PDF file.

You can prevent font substitution by capturing the font in the drawing and embedding it in the PDF file. Alternatively, you can convert all text to geometry. Converting text to geometry ensures that the text in the PDF file is identical to that of the drawing. However, the PDF file size increases and text pixelation can occur when you view the PDF file at a high magnification. You can reduce pixelation by increasing raster image quality.

Note: Fonts that cannot be distributed because of legal restrictions are not embedded in the PDF file, even though you enable the capture fonts option.

Limitations