BricsCAD Print As PDF.pc3: What It Is and When to Use It
Print As PDF.pc3 is BricsCAD's built-in PDF plotting configuration. It is especially important on macOS and Linux, where BricsCAD does not print directly to system printers.
Beginner takeaway: Use Print As PDF.pc3 as a controlled PDF device, and remember that BricsCAD’s PC3 behavior is not identical to AutoCAD’s.
What you need to understand first
The filename looks familiar to AutoCAD users, but BricsCAD has its own PC3 rules. Understanding the platform difference prevents broken migrations and wrong assumptions.
- BricsCAD documents Print As PDF.pc3 as the output path on macOS and Linux.
- On Windows, BricsCAD PC3 files apply to Windows system printers.
- A PDF configuration can still hold paper and other output properties that should be standardized.
Related guides: BricsCAD PC3 Files Explained: Important Differences for AutoCAD Users, BricsCAD Printing on Windows vs macOS and Linux, and Printer Driver vs PC3 in AutoCAD: The Hardware Layer Explained.
Step-by-step workflow
Step 1 — Identify your platform
Where: BricsCAD workstation
Do this: Confirm Windows, macOS or Linux before copying any PC3 advice from another CAD product.
Check: You know whether system-printer output is available inside BricsCAD.
Step 2 — Select Print As PDF
Where: PLOT/PRINT > Printer/Plotter configuration
Do this: Choose the built-in PDF configuration.
Check: PDF paper options appear.
Step 3 — Choose paper and Layout settings
Where: Paper size / Plot area / Scale
Do this: Match the real sheet and use the correct Layout workflow.
Check: Preview has the intended physical page.
Step 4 — Save a named Page Setup
Where: PAGESETUP
Do this: Store the PDF settings in a reusable Page Setup.
Check: Users do not configure the PC3 manually each time.
Step 5 — Verify on another file
Where: Second representative DWG
Do this: Use the same Page Setup and compare output.
Check: The configuration behaves consistently.
What usually goes wrong
| What you see | Likely layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Copied AutoCAD PC3 assumption fails | Product difference | Use BricsCAD PC3 rules. |
| macOS/Linux printer not listed | Platform design | Create PDF then print via OS. |
| PDF paper missing | PDF configuration/media | Review built-in PC3 settings. |
| Old Page Setup points to unavailable config | Configuration path/change | Remap to current PDF setup. |
Practical example
A team moves some users from AutoCAD Windows to BricsCAD Linux. Instead of trying to recreate every physical-printer PC3, standardize BricsCAD PDF Page Setups and send the resulting PDFs to the physical printers through Linux. That follows the platform’s documented output model.
What not to do
- Do not assume an AutoCAD PC3 and a BricsCAD PC3 are interchangeable.
- Do not tell macOS/Linux users to select a physical system printer inside BricsCAD when the product workflow is PDF-first.
- Do not confuse the PC3 file with the saved Page Setup that selects paper, scale and styles for a sheet.
Good office standard
Document PC3 standards by CAD product and operating system. For mixed-platform BricsCAD teams, make PDF the common verified handoff where practical.
Quick verification before you move on
- Use one representative drawing or sheet, not a production batch.
- Verify page size, orientation and a known dimension.
- Compare Preview/PDF with the physical output when a printer is involved.
- Save the setting or set only after the result is repeatable.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Is Print As PDF.pc3 only for macOS/Linux?
No, it is a PDF output configuration; it is simply essential on macOS/Linux because physical system-printer output is not direct from BricsCAD.
Are BricsCAD PC3 files the same as AutoCAD PC3 files?
No. Bricsys documents an important difference: BricsCAD PC3 files apply to Windows system printers only.
Should I still use Page Setup?
Yes. Page Setup is the practical place to store the full sheet output recipe.
Explore more in BricsCAD Printing & Plotting Guide.