"Printing PDF"s vs "Save As" pdf - which is better

[Dale_Rosema]

Late to the game of printing/saving pdf's. Is one of these better than the other? Or do they do the same thing?

[BenLoosli · Accepted solution]

They are different. You need to do a test of each option and compare the printed results.

The Save-As uses internal code to create the PDF. The Print option uses the system PDF printer code.

[Dale_Rosema]

Thanks for the heads up on differences. One thing so far, how do keep a number centered inside a balloon when "Saving As"

Saving As

Printing

[StephenW]

I use "stroke all fonts". It usually gives a better looking PDF. 

[TomU]

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@StephenW wrote:

I use "stroke all fonts". It usually gives a better looking PDF. 

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Just realize that the PDF file size can increase significantly by stroking everything, especially if there are large tables or repeat regions with lots of text.  My preference is to only stroke non-TrueType fonts.

Also check these two options:

[TomU]

This is from the quick export to PDF.  Note that our default font in Creo is a TrueType font.

[Dale_Rosema]

What do you consider to be a large file size?

After the conversion over the weekend, I only have 5 files out of 16k that are above 1,000 KB and 32 between 500-1,000 KB.

[StephenW]

I think you need to compare the same file exported with the setting active or not. The only time i have PDF file size issues is on large, multi-page drawings. 

[TomU]

It's not just file size, it's also the PDF creation time and the performance when moving around and zooming inside the stroked pdf.  I don't have a good 'real' drawing available at the moment, but here are the results from a quick test drawing I threw together.

Sample drawing and output from each of these methods is attached.  This is from Creo Parametric 8.0.4.0.

[Dale_Rosema]

Reading through this discussion:

https://community.ptc.com/t5/System-Administration/Switching-from-Stroked-Fonts-to-True-Type-Fonts-Drawings-amp/m-p/692911

It talks of the pains of switching over to "true type fonts" (TTF's). I am only on Creo 4, Have these issues been resolved? What about later releases?

... and also through this product suggestion:

https://community.ptc.com/t5/Creo-Parametric-Ideas/Add-option-to-change-and-save-the-default-PDF-export-settings/idi-p/464380

[TomU]

For the most part, yes.  It helps to use automation to more easily update things like drawing options and detail options.  (We use SmartAssembly, but mapkeys could be used as well.)

[TomU]

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@Dale_Rosema wrote:

What do you consider to be a large file size?

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I've seen PDFs in the 50 - 70 MB range, caused by stroke all fonts and containing large amounts of text and dimensions.  I've also seen PDF generation take so long that the publishing jobs would fail.  Both of these issues were eliminated by switching to only stroking non-TrueType fonts.

[StephenW]

We have not converted to TTF. 

[StephenW]

I prefer to print to PDF. Others in my company uses the save as/export option.

Years ago, when we first started generating PDF files, the save as option would crash on my large assemblies. So I'm biased by my experience. I've tried it since and it doesn't crash anymore but I can't get over my preference! I do have my setup well defined for print to PDF so its just easier for me to continue using my method.

[Dale_Rosema]

Same but new question:

What's the difference between SaveAs and Export?

[TomU]

SaveAs let's you choose the file type (PDF), set the file name, then change any of the PDF settings.

Export puts you into a preview mode and requires you to manually open the PDF settings if you want to save them before setting the file name and exporting.

As far as I can tell, there is no difference in the file created, it's just a different workflow and whether or not you want to see a preview before saving.

[Dale_Rosema]

Thanks. I was wondering that, but since there was a difference between SaveAs and Printing a .pdf, I didn't want to get stung by something else changing.

[Dale_Rosema]

I would like to thank everyone who help me learn the difference between the various  .pdf outputs the last few days:

@BenLoosli 

@TomU 

@StephenW 

[Patriot_1776]

'Sup Dale!  I usually create a PDF with truetype fonts (Arial), and print that from Adobe.  It seems to work out well.  Best of luck!