PDF import to Sketchup

2019 wasn’t the last version to be able to import pdf as vector, maybe you had installed a plugin to do that, also on windows you can’t import pdf even as an image, that feature is only available on mac, if you can do that you probably have a plugin installed.

I’m actually needing to import vector based PDFs into Layout.

I use Qcad to import PDF files as vector, I’m not sure if the free version of Qcad has this feature, the pro version is $40 though.
There are plug-ins that can import pdf files as vector lines to sketchup. I had the pdf importer from estimator but there are more out there.

It is common. A client pays me for the design of, say, a shower tray. Dimensions 120x90 cm. He gets drawings as a pdf and a model in np, STEP format. And no one gives native files for free so that he can create a whole dimensional group. Unless it’s written in the contract. But then the price for the project is different, because the creator consciously resigns from later earning opportunities.

Besides, you can open pdf even on a smartphone, SKP file, DXF PRT not anymore. therefore customers have this format

Try to use Ink-Scape you can export to dwg and dxf from pdf

I understand it’s common, but it is not the intended purpose of that format and causes issues that wouldn’t happen if a more appropriate file format was used.

So you don’t want to give clients files they can edit from , but you want to receive files you aren’t meant to edit from to edit from?

:person_shrugging:

…I’m not sure if the free version of Qcad has this feature…

Nope, can import only .dxf and .svg in the free version.

As a workaround one can install pCon Planner, use it to open a PDF and then it can save this PDF as a dxf/dwg. Open this DWG in SU. A few extra steps but doable and will need CLEAN UP! :wink:

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One thing to note is that PDF is less accurate than any CAD format. It is based on the PostScript page description language (contents of an EPS and PDF file are identical, the differnce being that PDF is compressed). So what is in a PDF is a description of a printed page. When you convert a PDF to a CAD file and import that to the original model or CAD file, you will notice there are differences, especially when the drawing scale is small…

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I thought this was always a given. Used in last case only.

Exactly. I have nothing against the FR itself, it would be an useful feature, while remembering the limitations.

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