Plotting with Transparency

[Mike Skipta]

Hello All
Has anyone had a problem when plotting with the viewport layer transparency set and the transparency box checked in the plotter dialogue box?
I’m plotting to a HP Designjet 800 plotter.
When plotting one of two things happen.
One: I can send my plot and it takes a longtime to clear and then it takes another 10 min to plot. The plot is only 7.4 mb.
Two: I can send my plot and it takes a longtime to clear and then I get a fatal error in the plotter and I need to restart the plotter and resend the print.
When I don’t have the transparency box checked as soon as it clears it begins to plot. This isn’t just me. All the users using transparency have the same problem.

Mike

[ccowgill]

If you plot with transparency, drawings plot as raster images instead of vector images, so AutoCAD has to spend some extra time on converting the plot output. Or at least that is how I understand it. So it is nothing you are doing, it is just how it is.

[Jmurphy]

If you plot with transparency, drawings plot as raster images instead of vector images, so AutoCAD has to spend some extra time on converting the plot output. Or at least that is how I understand it. So it is nothing you are doing, it is just how it is.

That's my understanding too. If you plot to dwf and have layer info on with plot transparent you notice there is no layers in the dwf. :( (or didn't used to be in 2010)

[Mike Skipta]

Thanks Guys,
I did make a dwf and it plotted quicker but I wasn't happy with how the solid hatch turned out. I thought I had to many switches set that it was in a loop and couldn't figure out what I wanted. The reason it took so long. I'm glad I don't need to plot a lot of transparency's.
I might just go to AutoDesk and see what they suggest. After all they put the trans... box in there for you to select.
Have a good weekend.
Mike