OPENING A DXF FILE

[MARWEN]

I'm having a really BAD problem.

I have a 36" LARGE FORMAT printer.

The software that I use takes a really small amount of data in order to create LARGE reproductions.

This same software requires an RGB file and either a JPG or a TIFF file.

I generally use ILLUSTRATOR to open any DXF file and EXPORT it to a TIFF.

This works for me about 95% of the time without any problems at all.

The other 5% of the time, when I open the DXF file it looks just BRUTAL!

Instead of nice clean lines, it looks like all of the lines were drawn at about a 200 instead of a nice clean line that might have been created with a -- Oh, lets say, 5. Another way to describe the image I get is that "all lines appear to have been "STROKED" to a HUGE number. (200)"

Q) Has anyone ever seen this issue before?
Q) Does anyone have any clue as to what the problem might be?
Q) Is there a way to possibly "reduce" the size of any drawn lines?

[Disjuku]

I think that a DXF file is created in AutoCad. I would suggest one of the following:

1- get AutoCad - if you deal with those files often it may be worth it.
2- Try opening the files in other applications. Corel Draw, for example, may be able to open them Ok. If you have acrobat then you may be able to convert them into PDFs to then open in Illustrator.
3- If you're using an old version of illustator, then you will probably find they open Ok in a newer version
4- Download a stand-alone program to view them... although I would keep an eye on other things changing. (ie. http://www.escape.de/~quincunx/dxfviewer/index.html looks like it might be worth a look)

[MARWEN]

Thank you. First off, I'm on a MAC. Second, each time you save in a different application -- i.e. ACROBAT, 1) it's not as sharp as ILLUSTRATOR, and 2) every time you change formats, -- you lose definition. It's kind of like, scanning something. Every time you copy something you lose clarity and gain a pile of contrast.

I have tried FREEHAND -- sometimes it works -- other times I get the same issues.

AUTOCAD for MAC -- I doubt if that will ever happen

There is something called CADINTOSH but in comparison ---Nope!

Crappy quality when you change formats

I have CORELDRAW 10 on an old Win98 but I have so much trouble with that machine its almost scary. LOL

Still, there is the issue of what the existing creating program is doing.

Q) How do I attch an image so that I can show you exactly what is gong on?

Marwen

[Disjuku]

hmm... changing formats can be risky, although if done wisely the quality shouldn't really suffer (with vector images you mostly end up with problems when effects are used, or you end up with all sorts of trailing bits and pieces)

I don't have access to illustrator at home, so I can't check settings etc - but have you tried looking through the importing settings? I suspect the main problem will be version incompatability - especially if you have an older version of illustrator.

To display an image on here I think you're best to upload it on a site like photobucket and link to it.


Just thinking about that - are the file sizes the same? It may be importing but forgetting the document size, and you're then scaling it upto size with 'scale strokes' selected - resulting in these lines being scaled up to a stupid size.
If not, then you should still be able to select the image, scale it up with scale strokes turned off, turn scale strokes on and scale the image back down to get the strokes looking mostly right.

[MARWEN]

That's worth a try

Sometimes You so damn close to the forest, you can't even see the trees.

Thanks again

Marwen

[MARWEN]

Well, after a whole lot of experimenting, ALL images are actually coming out better than usual.

But at a price. Not $$$, but a whole lot of time involved to work with what I have.

1) OPEN the DXF file with CADINTOSH.

The only options I had that wanted to work, was to pinpoint an upper left & lower right corner. SAVE as a PICT and open the PICT in ILLUSTRATOR. From Illustrator, EXPORT a GREYSCALE as a BMP @ 72dpi.

NOW, open in PS and change back to a TIF.

PRINT

Low & behold, with all this stupidity, the raster lines are really sharp.

BOY --- am I surprised.

* The only reason I go bak to the LARGE -- RGB and a TIF is because the RIP that I use requires all of these features.

Your suggestions really helped & prompted me to dig a little farther than normal

Then again, If I had have had AUTOCAD, -- well, you get the point.

later,

Marwen

[Disjuku]

Excelent - workin a print shop myself I am very used to trying to deal with all manner of files customers throw at me - but there are so many variations it can be quite tricky.

[MARWEN]

ot too far back, when digital was in it's infancy, I had a photography studio. We had three MACs and one PC -- People would bring me all kinds of media for me to open.

Only ONCE, my system picked up a virus prior to opening anything. When it showed up, the whole screen did everything but SHOUT. --- and all it was was a small MACRO virus on a 3.5" - 1.4MB floppy

It aint often that we can't open stuff but now & then -- well, you know !

Have a great day. I have to put my family on the plane to MONTREAL today

Looks like I'm batching it for a couple of days

marwen