Print2CAD is a software that converts PDF files into a DWG or DXF file that can then be converted into a format to be imported into, and edited with any CAD system.

Print2CAD also converts PDF into raster formats (TIFF, JPEG, etc.) and EPS (PostScript). Print2CAD also converts DWG or DXF into PDF files. Print2CAD is a stand alone program that works independently with all CAD systems. You don't need a CAD system or AutoCAD to use Print2CAD program.

Print2CAD is based on the original Adobe PDF libraries, and therefore converts the files directly into a DWG, DXF or a raster file. The resulting files then have excellent accuracy and quality. Print2CAD also supports the newest version of PDF.

Print2CAD converts files into DWG version 14, 2000 - 2011 or DXF version 12, 2000-2011. All vectors, lines, circles, arcs, surfaces, splines, text, and pixel images are transferred into DWG or DXF. The pixel images can be converted into vectors, embedded or stored in separate files. Special functions generate circles and arcs. PDF layer structure is supported, or if not available, this can be created on the basis of color or line widths. PDF characters are put together to create new texts. PDF properties such as line widths and line types are also converted into CAD properties.

Print2CAD converts PDF colors into CAD indexed colors or full RGB colors. Print2CAD also supports TTF fonts. With multi-page PDF documents, you can specify which pages to be converted.

Invented by Adobe systems in 1993, the portable document format (PDF) is a data format for documents, which can be used on many different platforms. In the last few years the PDF format has had unrivaled success, and is not only for text documents but can also be implemented for blueprints from CAD software. The ground breaking idea behind the success is the scalability of the document. The scalability of PDF is possible because PDF is vector based and not pixel based.

This allows you to enlarge a blueprint and still keep the original clarity of the drawing when printing. The layer technology allows one to print or omit any layers or groups of layers you want. The native PDF text format allows you to search a document with keywords. In short, PDF is incredible for the use of CAD. Unfortunately the possibilities of the PDF exchange are often not used. A lot of files that are called “PDF“ are really not a true “PDF“ format, they are only a relater picture with a PDF frame.

1. Vector Based PDF Made from CAD Systems
Vector based PDF files are the real PDF data format. The native PDF entities such as native polylines, native texts, and native hatches are used. This kind of PDF files are created directly from a CAD application without using a plotter interface. This kind of PDF is excellent for converting the data into DXF and DWG. The coordinates are exact enough to be used for the purpose of CAD.

2. Vector Based, Through a Plot Interface Exported PDF File
This type of PDF data is exported from a CAD application through a plot interface. This type of PDF data has only lines and hatches, often with a resolution of 75 dpi. The principle of scalable data, because of the inaccuracy of the coordinates, is really degraded.
This kind of PDF is expectable for converting the data into DXF and DWG. The coordinates are of bad quality but are enough to be used for the purpose of CAD.

3. PDF File with Raster Pictures
This type of PDF data doesn‘t include any native PDF elements like lines, hatches or text. This can only be converted with a fair amount of quality. This kind of PDF contains only raster pictures. These raster pictures have to be vectorized during a conversion to DWG or DXF. This kind of PDF is not expectable for converting the data into DXF and DWG. The coordinates are of very bad quality and are not enough to be used for the purpose of CAD.

4. Hybrid (Vector and Raster Based) PDF Files
This is a combination of vector and raster formats, with all the pros and cons in one. The hybrid PDF is the real PDF file that contains the lines, texts and hatches within. This data also contains raster pictures. In this case using the program Print2CAD you have to decide how you handle the PDF raster pictures. Print2CAD offers you a lot of possibilities to vectorized raster pictures. This kind of PDF is very expectable for converting the data into DXF and DWG. The coordinates are of good quality and are enough to be used for the purpose of CAD.