Best way to convert PDO to PDF ?

[Flarebaffled]

When I try and export a PDO file to bmp to put it on a pdf file, the end product is very poor in quality! What is the best way to get this doen?

I don't want the finished products in PDo format...PDF seems a lot better for distribution and sale.

[Paragon]

Print the PDO to a PDF file. Adobe Acrobat is the best for that, but its expensive, and there are free alternatives. I use PrimoPDF, which you can download from their website, at http://www.primopdf.com/

The major limitation I've found is only being able to make two-page long PDFs from seperate files. I haven't tried printing from PDOs though, it might allow more pages.

Edit: just ran a test, printing a PDO to a PDF using Primo, and it CAN handle at least four pages.

Second Edit: Just ran another, I printed a 41-page Star Destroyer PDO to PDF using Primo, worked great. So yes, I suggest installing Primo. When you print the PDO, just select PrimoPDF as the printer. It'll print, and then a minute or two later, Primo will open a menu where you can specify where to save the file, and some other settings. Then it opens the file. You can also append new pages to the same file.

[Flarebaffled]

I have access to Acrobat... but I am not good at using it.

The problem is simple:

When I import a picture, it is too big to fit on a page at default size. I do not know how to make the page big enough to fit the picture. Making the picture small enough to fit hte default page ruins the quality of hte image.

[Flarebaffled]

OK...made some progress with PrimoPDF. I have found out what I was doing wrong, and got some fairly good results...though I have not hit the sweet spot between file size and quality yet. (mb to a page is probably a bit much for a download! We would spend more on band-width than the thing would raise in revenue!!!

At least I know how to get the results I need.

[marinesniper2008]

I would be happy to transfer any pdo file to pdf for any of the folks in here and send it back to them or get it to chris to put up. let me know i have adobe illustrator 10 and reg. adobe, I will help any of you guys to get files were you need them...

george

[Flarebaffled]

Thanks for the offer George. It's good to have a plan B!

[kjev]

I use PDF995, and have had no problems. It's free, but it does bring up a sponsor page each time, unless you want to spend 10.00 for a registration key.

I simply choose the PDF printer as my printer, and tell it to print. I get great PDFs with no hassle. In fact, I have several 'mechs, Flarbaffled's Baneblade, and a few others already done.


When I need to copy parts into Illustrator I print them to a PDF, then open the PDF in Illustrator or Photoshop and do whatever I need. It's a slick way to kitbash. (Legs of Battlepod, Torso of Master Chief, Guns of . . . Navaronne . . . CPU Boil and Graphics Card Bubble. . . POOF! Instant Kitbash. Can you tell it's late and I'm tired?)

I'd be happy to print whatever for someone if you want to e-mail me the PDO file. PM me for my e-mail address.

K'Jev
8)

[nothing]

i also have been using pdf 995 and think its great. if you are using pep 3, cute pdf will not work!

[panzer]

Wow, I can already post a suggestion... ;D

I'm using Leadtools ePrint. I also have an older Acrobat version but in my opinion ePrint is far better for conversion.

It's a driver software that emulates your standard printer (or any printer if you there is more than one) but "prints" the document as about 160 file formats like pdf, jpg as well as differrent vector and document formats. So you are not just able to convert into pdf but also easily convert pdf's or Office documents to graphics in a very high quality.

Everything that can be printed can be converted as well. My version is IV, the actual one is V. It's not for free but in my opinion it's worth every Cent of the 49$.

After installing, it will appear in the print context menu. Standard resolutions are 150, 300, 600 and 1200 dpi but you can choose a custom resolution as well.

More information and a free trial for download can be found here:
http://www.eprintdriver.com/default.html

[Enterpriser10]

Dear Modelers,

First of all, please, sory my poor english (I'm not american). I'm a initial papermodeler, and had some problems with PDO files because I haven't printer machine in my house, so I use the printer machine in my job. I instaled the PrimoPDF program and its works very well. But I had another idea: I instaled the PepakuraViwer program in my pendrive as well some PDO files (they uses a small space in my 4GB pendrive). With the pendrive in may job's computer, a color printer give me a perfect result printing the PDO files directely, without any convertion to PDF files. Is it possible to you too?

Thanks for you attention,

Enterpriser10.

[cfuruti]

In line with Paragon's suggestion, I've used PDFCreator (another virtual printer) and Pepakura Viewer to generate PDFs. PDFC is free and requires no registration (some users complain about how installation may, if one is not careful, change browser settings); it has worked flawlessly for me.
Regarding file size, you might want to play with PV's settings, like printing lines sharp vs. smooth. While editing PDFs I've noticed textures are included even for fully blank areas, although I guess that due to bitmap compression they don't add much to the file size.

[Retired_for_now]

And a similar option is the DoPDF free utility. It's essentially a printer driver (installs as another printer on your system) that outputs a pdf file instead of a printed page. Since your computer sees DoPDF as just another printer, it should work with any of your software capable of printing. The resulting pdf can then be printed as desired (on your actual printer) from Adobe Acrobat (Acro Reader, the free one works fine).
I've used it to create all my pdf documents so far - only strange bit is the resulting file size, some have come out larger than the original file (usually PowerPoint/ppt) for no discernable reason.
Yogi

[dell_zantoz]

I have used pepakura viewer 3 to open the pdo file and convert it using CutePdf as a PDF file then print it using your regular printer. Works great for me.

[cfuruti]

Regarding variable file sizes in output of virtual printers like PDFCreator and DoPDF, a possible cause is bitmap handling: the software may rescale them to a different resolution, or expand then recompress with a different algorithm. I wish I had more control about it - for instance, using a lossless internal format, because I often edit the resulting PDF.

[cdavenport]

I found your thread, Paragon, and followed your instructions. The file conversion was very simple, but I notice that the resolution of the jpeg file is not nearly as good as the PDO. Any suggestions?

[cdavenport]

I found your thread, Paragon, and followed your instructions. The file conversion was very simple, but I notice that the resolution of the jpeg file is not nearly as good as the PDO. Any suggestions?


Nevermind; I solved the problem myself. Thanks anyway.

[Zathros]

If all the people who model in Pepakura would enable "Copy Development to Clipboard", this would enable easy transfer of all .PDO models to whatever format you choose. I open Paint, then click "Paste", and the picture appears. I use Photoshop CS3 to put the picture and or parts arranged the way I want them.

[Blue Angel]

If all the people who model in Pepakura would enable "Copy Development to Clipboard", this would enable easy transfer of all .PDO models to whatever format you choose. I open Paint, then click "Paste", and the picture appears. I use Photoshop CS3 to put the picture and or parts arranged the way I want them.
I agree with Zathros. I think this is the best and the most easy way to do this job.The picture i show here is a PDO file and i copy first to the "clipboard" (here you can choose the wanted resolution)and then i paste it as a new image in paintshop-pro. Then save it as a JPG file.After this all you can change it in a PDF file.

[codex34]

If all the people who model in Pepakura would enable "Copy Development to Clipboard", this would enable easy transfer of all .PDO models to whatever format you choose. I open Paint, then click "Paste", and the picture appears. I use Photoshop CS3 to put the picture and or parts arranged the way I want them.

There are ways around the locked pepakura files.
Incidentally, it's a pity pepakura doesn't have a better "size of opening(after folded)", as it is the parts are scaled downwards to increase the opening, if they were sent along the vector from the model center to the part center instead, you would have an instant exploded view... for instructions.

[Zathros]

There are ways around the locked pepakura files.
Incidentally, it's a pity pepakura doesn't have a better "size of opening(after folded)", as it is the parts are scaled downwards to increase the opening, if they were sent along the vector from the model center to the part center instead, you would have an instant exploded view... for instructions.

So what's the work around? I do have a functioning P.M., Please, with sugar on top?:)

[Silmarillion]

Hi everyone,

Export> to> multiple files. You then have the choice of .bmp, .jpeg, etc. Will also offer selection of scale size and resolution. Then just open in GIMP, Photoshop or whatever you use to paint with. Hope that helps.

Mike

[seantlc]

hey do you mind to convert some pdo files