Wouldn’t it be great if you could generate PDF files that show your complete 3D view and let your clients turn around and zoom in and out of your drawing to see every detail – without having them use CET?

The 3D PDF Extension lets you save your drawings and send them to your clients as 3D PDF files that can be opened and viewed in Adobe Reader version 8 or later, one of the most common, free PDF viewers.

You can purchase and install the 3D PDF Extension from our Marketplace. After installing it in CET, you will have a 3D PDF component tab with the following options:

The 3D PDF component tab

Export active 3D view

To create a PDF that contains all 3D objects currently visible in your current view, follow these steps:

1. Go to the 3D PDF component tab.
2. Click the Export active 3D view option. Your 3D view opens in Adobe Reader, where you can zoom and pan in your drawing, or save your file.

Email active 3D view

To generate an e-mail with an attached PDF document containing all the 3D objects visible in your current view, follow these steps:

1. Go to the 3D PDF component tab.
2. Click the Email active 3D view option. Your installed e-mail client opens a new e-mail with the PDF file attached to it.

3D PDF Settings

The 3D PDF settings dialog allows control over View settings (Light settings and Render mode) as well as Compression settings (Embedded 3D format and File size vs. quality). Using these settings is a way of preparing the 3D PDF file for the person who is going to open it, and to control the size of the file.

In the Miscellaneous settings, select the Open PDF after export checkbox if you want the file to open automatically after the export has finished.

The 3D PDF Settings

Change the Render mode output for a unique look when the client opens the 3D PDF.

Render mode options in 3D PDF Settings

Creating a 3D PDF from the Paper View

You can also create 3D PDFs from Paper View. On the 3D PDF component tab, use the Viewport 3D for 3D PDF Export button:

3D PDF component tab in Paper View

This is the exact same thing as adding a regular 3D viewport and checking the to 3D PDF option in the input box, which is available for all 3D viewports:

The To 3D PDF option for 3D viewports