Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Line Drawings in PDF thicker than in Word

[ghostanime2001]

When i make a simple line for example in word 2010, of width say, 0.25 pt, and print it to PDF format using Adobe Acrobat, the original 0.25 pt line appears much, much thicker. What is the problem with PDF printing thicker lines than the original?

If you do have word 2010 I advise anyone to test this out as I'm trying to make my physics diagrams i did in school into LaTeX but I can't have the lines being thicker/thinner and messy when I print with adobe acrobat.

Many thanks...

[localghost]

W0rd is not the appropriate tool for drawings at all. Have a look at alternatives like pgf/tikZ or PSTricks for LaTeX solution.


Thorsten

[meho_r]

And for those lazier (like me), GeoGebra might be a nice solution (export to Pgf/Tikz, EPS and PDF is a nice plus). Drawing in Inkscape and other vector apps and export to PDF would do for simple drawings, but note that you should include resulting PDFs at 100%, so that lines do not get thicker or thinner than originally created. Take a look at two black lines in the attached example, created by Inkscape (stroke width=2pt), exported as PDF file and included with different scale settings. Compare them to two blue rules created in LaTeX.

[ghostanime2001]

Firstly, I have used inkscape before but it was hard for me to reproduce a drawing I had originally made in word. Also, what do you mean by

include resulting PDFs at 100%

?

Secondly, when I used TikZ/PGF i created some lines except their edges and the top and bottom vertices were pixelated and not as smooth as meho_r showed the blue line example in LaTeX. I don't understand that part either.

[meho_r]

Firstly, I have used inkscape before but it was hard for me to reproduce a drawing I had originally made in word. Also, what do you mean by

include resulting PDFs at 100%

?

I meant that you shouldn't scale included file/image, so, if it's dimensions are, e.g., 2 x 4 cm in the original application with which it's created, then they should remain 2 x 4 cm when included. This assumes you're done planning for your projects: try creating graphic files having in mind dimensions of the project you're working on. The example shows what happens when you set scale=2 option to \includegraphics command: the figure is resized to 200% and everything gets thicker.

[ghostanime2001]

I didn't scale anything. When I export my made drawings from word/inkscape into PDF i crop out extra whitespace IN PDF. But the drawings themselves get thicker when converting from word to PDF.

[meho_r]

Then it is either Word's or the PDF creator's/converter's issue. How do you export to PDF from Word? Is there a direct export or via third party application like Adobe Distiller?

I tested Inkscape and Libre Office, PDFs created in both of them are exactly as should be.

[ghostanime2001]

Inkscape is alright except when i put a mathematical expression label with subscripts the font itself is bolded even though i clicked on the button to "un-bold" it. Wierd :S Also, I don't know if inkscape could put other mathematical symbols like theta/degree symbols/arcs etc...

As for Office Libre Office i haven't even heard what that is.

And in word 2010 there is an option labeled "save as PDF". You can also print it using Adobe PDF printer or save as ..selecting PDF. But the option that works for me best (yet) is "save as PDF" from the file menu. The rest either make circles too faint or lines way too thick. I've tested that endless times already. I just wish that word would print a drawing exactly as I made it look like in 100% view.. sighss the technicalities of microsoft T_T