The software does not maintain the original layers’ names but instead adds a prefix PDF- before each name.The conversion takes a short time, regardless of the number of elements within the PDF vector file.The conversion takes a relatively long time and if the PDF vector file contains a drawing with thousands of elements, the conversion is even more prolonged.
However, we stacked it against Scan2CAD and observed a few differences that make Scan2CAD superior. Notably, AutoCAD has an in-built conversion tool that enables you to convert PDF to DWG with layers. Under the Layers ribbon on AutoCAD, you will be able to see all the layers that were previously present on the PDF file.ĪutoCAD’s In-Software Conversion Tool vs. Launch AutoCAD and open your converted DWG file.Furthermore, using this approach converts the vector drawing to a lower-quality raster image. It is noteworthy that you can plot an AutoCAD drawing as a PNG or JPEG file, but you will lose the layer information, as both these file formats do not save additional data beyond the images themselves. For clients who may not have access to the CAD programs but still need to manipulate the drawing by hiding various aspects therein, exporting a DWG drawing (plotting) as a PDF complete with the original layers becomes the go-to course of action. Notably, this usefulness extends beyond the CAD program. In this way, they also lower the level of complexity. They enhance the drawing by enabling you to hide what you do not need to see at a particular time. While preparing a CAD drawing, the use of layers is recommended – they are the chief method of organizing objects within the drawing either by purpose or function. Here, we pick up from where we had left, this time by maintaining the layers in the PDF document. In an earlier tutorial, we took a deep dive into how you can convert either a PDF raster file or a PDF vector file into a DWG file. And this article will highlight one of them, as mentioned earlier let’s get into that. Thus, Scan2CAD offers numerous additional advantages over in-software conversion tools as well as other dedicated software applications through its comprehensive conversion capabilities and features. What’s more, with its advanced object recognition and text recognition (OCR) capabilities, it recognizes curves, arcs, and circles and converts them correctly – this is unheard of when using low-quality online ‘converters,’ which perceive curved objects as numerous tiny polylines and subsequently convert them as such. It is also customizable – you can make tweaks to the files according to your preferences and judgment before converting them. Scan2CAD is a dedicated conversion program capable of converting PDF raster files, PDF vector files, and files containing both vector and raster elements.
For instance, while some CAD programs, such as AutoCAD, contain in-software conversion tools, they can only convert PDF vector files.
When converting such files into DWG or CAD files, PDF raster files are particularly difficult to work with, especially without Scan2CAD. They contain images whose lines are made up of pixels, meaning that their quality depends on the resolution. In contrast, PDF raster files are created after scanning an existing drawing. As a result, they are always high-quality regardless of the resolution. These vector files feature lines that are not made up of pixels but are instead a product of mathematical formulas that create paths. The scenario painted above tells of a PDF vector document, i.e., a document exported directly from CAD software programs.
This article explains how to convert PDF to DWG with layers. But what if you are a recipient of one such PDF and wish to make a few changes to the drawing yet the original CAD drawing is unavailable? How will you go about this and still preserve the layers within the PDF/drawing?Īll you need is the Scan2CAD software, which offers additional advantages beyond simply converting vector PDFs.
More technically, particularly when it comes to computer-aided design (CAD) and drawings, PDF has proven indispensable as a way of sharing and opening the two-dimensional designs/drawings without necessarily having to install CAD-only software, such as AutoCAD, BricsCAD, Fusion 360, and more. In fact, with all these capabilities, the content can be compressed into a compact size for easy transfer and download. From the ability to display the accurate and exact layout and content regardless of the operating system or application on which it is viewed to storing various types of content, PDF is exceptionally versatile and convenient. As a popular file format, PDF packs a punch in terms of what it can handle.