Portable Document Format (.pdf) Import/Export
Portable Document Format (PDF) is an open standard for document exchange.
Import
To open, import, insert, and attach a file as a worksession
-
From the File menu, click Open, Insert, Import, or Worksession > Attach.
- In the dialog box, select a supported file type.
- Click and configure the settings.
When you open a non-3dm file and save the model, its filename will be the default 3dm filename.
PDF Import Options
Scale
Fit to default screen
Scales the objects to be visible in the default Top viewport.
Preserve units
Sets how to convert the file unit into the Rhino unit.
Import line weights from PDF
Preserves line widths when curves are imported.
Import fills as
Hatches
Imports fills and their boundary curves. Fills are imported differently based on types:
- Color fills - Imported as solid hatches with their colors.
- Texture fills - Imported as black solid hatches.
- Gradient fills - ignored.
Boundary curves
Ignores all fills and only imports their boundary curves.
Load Text
Imports text strings.
Show missing fonts dialog
Brings up a message dialog about missing fonts when the opened PDF uses fonts that do not exist on the current system.
Always use these settings. Do not show this dialog again.
Saves the current settings and turns off the dialog display.
To turn the message back on
See also: ResetMessageBoxes command.
PDF Select Page
When a PDF has multiple pages, you can select to import all pages, a single page or a range of pages. The pages will be imported vertically in the Top viewport.
Pages
Enter comma-separated list of page numbers or ranges. For example: 1, 2, 4-8.
All (n pages)
Imports all pages in a PDF. The total page number is displayed.
- Rhino does not read encrypted PDF files.
- Bitmap images in PDF files will be imported as Pictures.
- Layers and layer hierarchy in PDF files can be imported.
Export
Exporting a PDF file brings up a dialog similar to the Print dialog. The Rhino PDF printer is used to write the PDF file. If you would like to use a different PDF printer on your system, use the Print command.
To save PDF with layers
-
Raster output does not support saving layers to PDF.
-
PDF readers have to support viewing layers. (Such as Adobe Acrobat Reader)
-
Layers are exported when possible. Set Rhino.Options.Advanced.PDF.OptionalContentGroups=0 in Options > Advanced to disable saving layers.
-
The print order of hatches, annotations, and geometries is decided by some rules.
Destination
Size
Paper sizes supported by the selected printer.
Use Layout Page Size
This setting is only available for Rhino PDF. It uses the paper size set in the layout properties to print layouts.
Otherwise, all layouts will be printed with the same paper size.
Orientation
Landscape
Portrait
Resolution
The DPI ("dots" per inch) setting.
Output type
Defines the printing method.
Vector Output
Prints lines, curves, and fill areas.
By default, Rhino prints everything it can using vectors.
Raster Output
Prints a bitmap image.
- Raster Output does not support saving layers to PDF.
Output color
Defines how color is printed.
Print color
Uses the layer or property Print Color setting to print point objects, curves, annotations, and wireframes, etc. Mesh faces and surfaces are printed with display colors.
Display color
Print objects with the same wireframe color that displays in viewports.
Black and white
Converts colors to gray scale.
View and Output Scale
View list
List of viewport names and layout pages.
When a layout page is selected, the printer paper size changes to use the layout page size.
Viewport/Layout
Prints the selected viewport or layout page.
Extents
Zoom the current viewport to contain all objects in the model.
Window
Prints a selected window area.
Select a new print area. The window grips can be manipulated after the window is drawn.
Print Multiple Layouts (x of x selected)
Select the layout pages to print.
The label shows how many layouts will print and the total number of layouts in the model.
To preview layouts to print
-
Click the arrow buttons
above the preview area to navigate through the enabled layouts.
To select a range of layouts
- Click on a layout.
- Hold down Shift and click on another layout.
To add/remove a single layout to/from selection
- Hold down Ctrl(CMD) and click on a layout.
To enable/disable multiple checkboxes at once
When multiple layouts are selected...
- Hold down Shift or Ctrl(CMD) and click on the checkbox of a selected layout.
To enable/disable all layouts
- Click the "Print" column header.
-
If Rhino PDF is not selected, printing to PDF results in a single PDF file with multiple pages of the same paper size.
-
Exporting to SVG creates one file per layout.
-
When printing multiple layouts to image file, multiple image files will be created with ascending numbers appended to the file names.
Rhino PDF layout save options
These settings are only available when Rhino PDF is selected as the printer.
Save each layout to a separate file
Creates multiple PDF files with ascending numbers added to the file names.
File name prefix:
Every PDF file name begins with the specified text string.
Add page number to file name
Adds layout index numbers, instead of ascending numbers, to the file names.
Add page name to file name
Adds layout names to the file names.
Scale
Displays current display magnification as percentage. Select scale from the list or set the scale in paper units=model units.
On paper = In model
Sets the units used on the printed page and the equivalent units used in the model.
Margins and Position (model views only)
Sets or expands the non-print areas around the page.
Each of the options controls the position, margins, width, and height options.
Margins
Sets margins for all four sides.
Top, left, width, height
Sets the top and left margins and a width and height for the print area.
Top, right, width, height
Sets the top and right margins and a width and height for the print area.
Bottom, left, width, height
Sets the bottom and left margins and a width and height for the print area.
Bottom, right, width, height
Sets the bottom and right margins and a width and height for the print area.
Centered, width, height
Centers the print area and sets a width and height.
Sets the margins and position to the same aspect ratio as the selected viewport.
Sets the margins to the printer maximums.
Position
Centered
Centers the image in the print area.
Offset from
If the Centered box is not checked, choose from offset options.
Lower left
Offsets the image in the print area from the lower left.
Upper left
Offsets the image in the print area from the upper left.
Lower right
Offsets the image in the print area from the lower right.
Upper right
Offsets the image in the print area from the upper right.
X, Y, offset values and unit system
Specifies the offset amount in the x and y directions and sets the offset units.
Linetypes and Line Widths
Linetype
Match pattern definition
Printed line type pattern matches values in linetype definition file.
Match viewport display
Printed linetype pattern matches the current display properties
Line width
Linetype units are model/page lengths
These settings decide how linetypes with a width of length unit are printed in model and detail views.
Model lengths prints a linetype with a width of 2 mm thicker when zooming in, and thinner when zooming out. Page lengths always prints the linetype with 2 mm thick.
Scale by
Multiplier to globally change printed line widths.
Default line width
Ranges from Hairline to normal drafting widths (in millimeters) and No Print.
Hairlines are defined as 0.0001 mm curves and are not scaled by the Scale by multiplier value.
Define your own line widths (For Windows version only)
-
Add line width values to the printwidths.txt file in Rhino support folder > Localization > [Language] > Support
In the printwidths.txt file:
-
Lines begin with ; or // will be ignored.
-
Line width values have to be larger than 0.
Apply Display Mode Scale
Applies the object width scale factor from display modes.
Non-scaling objects
Point objects
Size for point objects on the printed page.
Arrowhead size
Size for arrowheads on the printed page.
Text dot scale
Scale factor for text dots on the printed page.
Visibility
Optional items to include on the printed page.
Show
Background color
Background bitmap
Prints the viewport background bitmap.
Wallpaper
Prints the viewport wallpaper.
The wallpaper will always scale to fit the extents of the print window.
To keep the background size constant, use a background bitmap.
Lights
Prints light objects.
Clipping Planes
Prints clipping plane objects.
Only selected objects
Prints selected objects only.
When enabled, the print preview area shows "Printing Only Selected Objects".
Locked objects
Prints locked objects. Clear the check box to hide locked objects on the printed page.
Grid
Prints the construction plane grid.
Grid axes
Prints the construction plane grid axes.
Margins
Allows printing a dashed line at the margins.
Text
Notes
Prints the contents of Notes window.
None
No notes printed.
Top
Prints the notes at the top of the page.
Bottom
Prints the notes at the bottom of the pages.
File name
Prints the full file name including path.
None
No file name printed.
Top
Prints the file name at the top of the page.
Bottom
Prints the file name at the bottom of the page.
Printer Details
Type
The printer model name.
Paper type
The paper size and dimensions.
Printable area
The area of the paper that the printer can use.
Scale X/Y
If the printer requires calibration in order to print exactly, a scale factor can be applied.