Need PDFs w/ Merge Control, Lines Merge vs. Overwrite

[wbs69117950]

After being in another career for almost a year, I am back to using AutoCAD again...I think the last version I was using was Arch Desktop 2006. Now, where I am, I am using Vanilla AutoCAD 2008. Quite the adjustment to having less features, and being away from any AutoCAD programs for a year. That said, here is my predicament:

I need to produce final plot sheets in PDF. Some of my linework is half-toned, and is underlayed. On top, I have some tags with Alpha-Numeric characters. Of course, I want the tags to "POP" when they are over the half-toned linework. At my previous job, and with ADT 2006, I had this all set up and could breeze through the plots with no linework issues. I am not having as good a time with this now, and I'm not sure if is because of the move to a 2008 version of Autodesk product, or a conspiracy by Adesk to move users away from PDF to DWF. I know about the Merge Control feature when plotting, ie: Lines Merge vs. Lines Overwrite.

First, I'm surprised that the OOTB PDF driver (DWG To PDF.pc3) does not have the Merge Control feature under Device and Document Settings --> Graphics. How would one ever ensure that they get the lines to merge or overwrite when they plot?

Second, I have Adobe Acrobat Pro, so I saved a .pc3 file (Adobe PDF.pc3), and set Merge Control to "Lines Merge". Which means that the "100% screened" tags should "POP" when they have "50% screened" linework underlaid, right? But, this doesn't happen, as I get unreadable tags in my PDF file, because the 50% screened linework overwrites the 100% screened tags. Argh!

Third, I plotted to my OOTB DWF driver (DWF6 ePlot.pc3), and received a great DWG plot, without any "apparent" layers. I can read the tags, as the half-toned lines are below them, etc. I love DWF...the problem is, my end userS need PDF files. They can all read PDF, not DWF...and the IT department is government run, so getting them to all have a DWF viewer installed is more aggravation than my little Line Merge Control problem.

So, I use my Adobe Acrobat Pro driver to printer from my DWF Viewer to PDF. Thinking that I will get the "WYSIWYG" solution, I am almost happy. Except, that for some strange reason, when I print the DWF to PDF, the linework reverts to a "Lines Overwrite" setting, and my tags are unreadable again. WTH?

Anyone out there see what I am missing? A setting, a dialogue box that I need to change, something? TIA,

[stevep.207601]

I have many porblems with Autodesk & Adobe conflicts or not doing what is expected.

After much frustration I downloaded "Cute PDF"

I Plot using Cute and then open with Adobe and edit/add security and save....seems to work better with out all the conflicts.

Hope that helps,
Steve

[rkmcswain]

The "DWG to PDF.pc3" file in AutoCAD 2010 includes lines merge control.
We use Acroplot which also has lines merge control.