Topic: PDF causes a loss of performance

[Hangman]

Well Thank you for all the replies & the discussion of PDF vs a raster image file.
From the sounds of it, a Monochrome TIFF raster file is a better bet than PNG but isn't a JPEG compressed more?  So if one has an 8mg PDF converting over to a TIFF file vs JPEG file, ...  well I think it would depend on the one doing the conversion, how well they know the software (Acrobat, Bluebeam, Acroplot Pro, etc), how well the software converts the file & the compression, etc.

I agree with the DWF(x) completely, I use to work with them all the time, back when the DWF viewer from Autodesk was 1.2 meg in size. You could copy the .exe file to a 3.5" floppy disk & send it with your drawings to a client.  I was a big promoter of DWF's, but for some reason nobody else liked them so we quit using them.

[JohnK]

Well Thank you for all the replies & the discussion of PDF vs a raster image file.
From the sounds of it, a Monochrome TIFF raster file is a better bet than PNG but isn't a JPEG compressed more?  So if one has an 8mg PDF converting over to a TIFF file vs JPEG file, ...  well I think it would depend on the one doing the conversion, how well they know the software (Acrobat, Bluebeam, Acroplot Pro, etc), how well the software converts the file & the compression, etc.

I agree with the DWF(x) completely, I use to work with them all the time, back when the DWF viewer from Autodesk was 1.2 meg in size. You could copy the .exe file to a 3.5" floppy disk & send it with your drawings to a client.  I was a big promoter of DWF's, but for some reason nobody else liked them so we quit using them.

TIFF is uncompressed. JPG has a nice compression.
Question: The OP said SCANed PDFs...why even scan to a PDF if you can scan to an image (save the step of "EXTRACTING" the image).

For what its worth:
DWFx uses the XPS format Microsoft developed.

• XPS still doesn't handle 3d files yet.
• DWF viewer cant read raw XPS files yet.
• The built in XPS viewer sucks. --Use Sumatra viewer for a really nice alt.
• XPS files can be viewed in internet explorer.

[cadtag]

Well Thank you for all the replies & the discussion of PDF vs a raster image file.
From the sounds of it, a Monochrome TIFF raster file is a better bet than PNG but isn't a JPEG compressed more?  ...

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is optimized for photos.  Monochrome (bi-tonal) is not well served quality or otherwise with a compression scheme that's intended for color photography utilizing millions of colours.  For one thing, it cannot do monochrome.  JPEG can do grayscale, but that's not the same thing at all.

Unless of course you want to print the sepia yellowed paper and blueline colors of the old original....

I'm not sure offhand if a PNG can do monochrome (bitonal) images, of if it would resort to grayscale.  And if you want a transparent background in CAD and only see the lines, then bitonal is the only route to take.

[cadtag]

...
TIFF is uncompressed. JPG has a nice compression.
...

TIFF can be used as a compressed format.  LZW or ZIP compression are both incorporated in the format definition.

[JohnK]

...
LZW or ZIP compression are both incorporated in the format definition.

It is? ...huh. Good to know.

[Hangman]

...
TIFF is uncompressed. JPG has a nice compression.
Question: The OP said SCANed PDFs...why even scan to a PDF if you can scan to an image (save the step of "EXTRACTING" the image).
 ...

Good question; I would think they (the scanners/receptionist in the office) were instructed to preserve the old drawings in PDF (or perhaps that's all the scanner will do is PDF's or perhaps that's all the receptionist knows how to do).  The drawings were literally 30x48 sheets (Yes, you read that right, 30x48 not 30x42) from, like the 1950's era to my understanding.  I don't know when the sheets were scanned, but they did a pretty good job cleaning it up from the fade of the originals.

But now that I know what you know, I'll be sure to use a TIFF or DWF next round.  Thank you all again.

[ChrisCarlson]

2015 has a noticeable improvement in PDF however it's still far from perfect. In talking to AutoDesk the issue is in the way the PDF is encoded, notably information for snaps. Converting to TIFF is fine and dandy but you lose this ability. However TIFF's are a pain to just view and share via email. My suggestion is scan to PDF, keep the original and create an xref folder containing the TIFF image.

Also try "imaegequality" - "draft" setting within AutoCAD before abandoning PDF's

[cadtag]

Converting a vector PDF to TIFF will lose snapping - converting a PDF scan of a 65 year old blueline drawing to TIFF won't -- you can't lose what's not there.

[Hangman]

Converting a vector PDF to TIFF will lose snapping - converting a PDF scan of a 65 year old blueline drawing to TIFF won't -- you can't lose what's not there.

Very true indeed!