This section refers to settings that are specific to Adobe PDF.
Adobe PDF Export
Create border around PDF designs
Switch this option on to create a border around the drawing when exporting in PDF format.
Units
From the pulldown list choose either Distance or Percentage. This setting determines how the border size will be measured.
Size
Enter either a distance or a percentage value to determine the border size.
Text
TrueType fonts as filled areas
Switch this option on to export TrueType text fonts as a filled area rather than as a text entity.
Palette Patterns/Colours
From the pulldown select one of the following:-
- Ignore Patterns
- Screen Display
- Printing Display
This option specifies whether or not line patterns (such as dot-dash) should be used when exporting in PDF format. The pattern used is the one that is defined in the palette attributes. If Printing Display has been chosen then the printer colour from the palette attributes will be used as the export colour instead of the normal display colour.
Colour mode
- RGB
- CMYK
Choose the appropriate radio button to select the desired colour mode for the PDF file.
Create spot colours for each palette
Switch this option on to create PDF spot colours for each Impact palette that is exported.
Enable overprinting
Switch this option on to set the Overprint property of all exported PDF elements (except graphics). Normally you would also switch on the Create spot colours option when using overprinting.
Palettes
Create a PDF layer for each exported palette
Switch this option on to create a separate PDF layer for each Impact palette that is exported.
Graphics Layer Name
You can optionally specify a layer name to override the default name of Graphics. If left blank, then an unnamed layer will be created. This option is only available if the previous option has been enabled.
Create a PDF path for each exported palette
Switch this option on to create a PDF path for each Impact palette that is exported.
The option allows for Simple Paths (the grouping together of end-to-end geometry of the same palette) or Compound Paths (the grouping together of all geometry of the same palette).
Respect drawing order
Because of the way PDF files group different line types there can be confusion when trying to identify combination line types (in particular cut-crease entities). Switching this option on gives you more control over the order that the entities are exported. The drawing order is defined at Options > Project > Palettes > Drawing Order.
Image Downsampling
This option can be used to limit the size of the exported PDF image.
Resolution
Enter the required image resolution in dots per inch.
Threshold
Enter the threshold, in dots per inch, above which image downsampling will be applied.
Document Compression
Compress the document
Switch this option on to compress the exported document. Some earlier versions of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Illustrator may not be able to read compressed documents.
Image Compression
There are two options available for compressing PDF images, one for the Impact 2D layer and the other for the Impact 3D layer. Using these options will reduce the exported file size.
Compress Images in 2D Layer
Switch this option on to compress the PDF image in the Impact 2D layer before exporting.
Compress Textures in 3D Layer
Switch this option on to enable texture compression in the Impact 3D layer.
3D Layers
Export animation
Switch this option off if you want to export a static model.
Texture Quality
From the pulldown list choose Low, Medium, High or Very High. Choose a lower quality if you want to produce a smaller output file, or to give a faster export process.
Document Scaling
UserUnit
It's not uncommon for PDF designers to create a document which is ostensibly outside the limit for PDF document sizes when displayed within Adobe Reader. This means you could get the The dimensions of this page are out of range. Page content might be truncated. message. As a result you are only able to view a partial PDF document. Adobe Reader has a document size limitation which is commonly read as 200" x 200" but as of PDF 1.6, a UserUnit feature was introduced. The default value for UserUnit is 1.0 with each unit corresponding to 1/72". So, the actual maximum page size isn't a physical distance but a number of units (14,400 units, corresponding, by default, to 1/72" per unit), which works out at 200 x 72 units per inch. The UserUnit value can be altered - so a value of 2 would allow a maximum page size of 400" x 400" (where each unit would be interpreted as 2/72" as opposed to 1/72"). This means that the scale of the drawing is unchanged, but you are still able to display a large drawing.
PDF Security
Impact offers the option to password protect PDFs, protecting them from being opened, printed, edited or reused.
Require a password to open the document
Password
Switch this option on and enter a password to prevent the exported document from being opened without entering the supplied password. This is known as a User password.
Use a password to restrict permissions
Password
Switch this option on and enter a password to restrict access to the exported document. This is known as an Owner password.
Enable printing
Switch this option on to allow explicit printing of a document with restricted permissions.
Enable Editing
Switch this option on to allow explicit editing of a document with restricted permissions.
Enable copying of text, images, and other content
Switch this option on to allow explicit content copying within a document with restricted permissions.
PDF Security example usage:
You might create a PDF file with the User password Pass1, the Owner password Pass2 and enable printing switched on. When this file is opened in Acrobat Reader, you will be asked for a password. If you enter Pass1 (User password) then the only permission enabled will be Printing, however if you enter Pass2 (Owner password), then all the other permissions will be enabled (except Assembly and Extraction).
Alternatively, you might do the same as before but enable editing rather than printing. This time, entering Pass1 (User password) will enable Filling of form fields, Signing and Creation of Template Pages, whereas entering Pass2 (Owner password) will have the same effect as before.
If you create a PDF file with a User password but without specifying an Owner password, then opening the file and entering the User password enables all permissions (except Assembly and Extraction).
Alternatively, creating a PDF file with an Owner password but no User password, allows you to open the PDF file without specifying a password. However, the only permissions granted will be those that were specified in the settings.