[solved] 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

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AndrewP
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Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:55 pm

[solved] 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by AndrewP » Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:33 pm

Hi All,

I hope someone can help. I am having problems with exporting to pdf. When I export the dxf file as a pdf document on a scale of 1:1 it is not coming out the same size and for some reason it is slightly compressed. I am working with a printing company who only accept pdf's and not dxf's so I am hoping to fix the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I have a 64-bit operating system and am working off Windows 10 Pro.

Many thanks,
Andrew

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andrew
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Re: 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by andrew » Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:43 pm

Can you quantify what you mean by "slightly compressed"? Is it 10% off or 1% or 0.1%? Horizontally or vertically or both?

Please attach your PDF file, so we can check if it's a problem with the PDF or the printer.
Please attach your DXF file.
Please indicate what version of QCAD you are using.

Note that paper is not a precise medium (temperature and humidity can affect the paper size) and printers are not 100% precise either (e.g. there's typically some slippage with roll printers).

You can calibrate a local printer under Edit > Application Preferences > Printer Settings > Calibration.

However, you cannot calibrate PDF output as PDF is considered a precise medium. You could trick QCAD into producing a calibrated PDF by installing a PDF printer driver and calibrating that.

Please don't double-post, thanks.

AndrewP
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Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:55 pm

Re: 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by AndrewP » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:04 pm

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your reply. Oddly enough the width (horizontal) of the drawing at its widest point is the same in both dxf and pdf but the length (vertical) differs considerably whereby dxf length is 220mm and the pdf length is 209mm so vertical compression is 5%.

The version of QCAD I am using is as below:
QCAD Professional

Version:
3.27.5.0 (3.27.5)
Internet:
QCAD.org
Build Date:
May 6 2022
Revision:
28de044
Qt Version:
5.13.2
Architecture:
x86_64
Compiler:
MSVC++ 14.0 (2015)

Apologies for the double post, I realised my error of using the wrong chat group and deleted the first post.

All the best,
Andrew
Attachments
21PKR Double.dxf
(100.06 KiB) Downloaded 136 times
21PKR.pdf
(7.2 KiB) Downloaded 132 times

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andrew
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Re: 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by andrew » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:18 pm

The PDF is just as precise as the DXF (as expected). This also means the problem is not QCAD but very likely the printer (e.g. paper slippage on a roll printer).

I also printed the PDF here and it's as precise as one would expect (220mm vertically with less than 1mm error).

AndrewP
Newbie Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:55 pm

Re: 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by AndrewP » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:22 pm

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated. It must just be my printer. Just frustrating that it prints the dxf files correctly but not the pdf files.

Have a super weekend and thank you for all your help.

All the best,
Andrew

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andrew
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Re: 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by andrew » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:26 pm

AndrewP wrote:
Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:22 pm
Just frustrating that it prints the dxf files correctly but not the pdf files.
That's new information. This would be very odd indeed. Maybe look into the software you are you using to print the PDF? Also try multiple printouts and compare. Maybe the printer is just very inconsistent which would again indicate slippage.

AndrewP
Newbie Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:55 pm

Re: 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by AndrewP » Fri Jan 13, 2023 7:38 pm

Thanks Andrew - it is an HP printer that I'm using and I have just discovered that the default setting on the printer is set to "print to printable area" and not to actual size and it does this for PDFs but not for DXF files. Have now changed the settings. We live and learn.

Thanks for all your help.

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andrew
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Re: [solved] 1 to 1 scale wrong pdf export

Post by andrew » Fri Jan 13, 2023 8:33 pm

OK, great. I've marked this as solved.

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