How to Print BricsCAD Drawings to PDF
BricsCAD can create PDF output from the Print workflow. A dependable PDF starts with the correct Layout, paper size, plot scale and plot style before the file is generated.
Beginner takeaway: Treat PDF as a real output device: use the correct paper and 1:1 Layout scale, then verify page dimensions in the resulting file.
What you need to understand first
A PDF can look correct on screen while still having the wrong physical page size or scale. The PDF step should therefore be verified like a physical plot.
- BricsCAD provides Print As PDF.pc3 for PDF output.
- On macOS and Linux, PDF output is the required bridge to physical printing.
- Print Preview should be checked before the file is written.
Related guides: BricsCAD Print As PDF.pc3: What It Is and When to Use It, CAD PDF & Publishing Guide, and AutoCAD PDF Is the Wrong Scale: How to Fix It.
Step-by-step workflow
Step 1 — Open the production Layout
Where: Layout tab
Do this: Activate the exact sheet to export.
Check: Title block and viewport are final.
Step 2 — Open Print
Where: Ctrl+P / PLOT
Do this: Choose Print As PDF.pc3 or the approved PDF Page Setup.
Check: PDF device is active.
Step 3 — Match paper and scale
Where: Paper size, Plot area, Plot scale
Do this: Use the real sheet size and 1:1 for a prepared Layout.
Check: Preview is not being resized to fit.
Step 4 — Apply plot style/options
Where: Plot style table and Plot options
Do this: Enable the required CTB/STB and other office settings.
Check: Lineweight/color intent is visible in Preview.
Step 5 — Create and verify PDF
Where: Print > save file > open PDF
Do this: Check page dimensions and one known measurement at 100%.
Check: The PDF is usable as a scale-controlled deliverable.
What usually goes wrong
| What you see | Likely layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| PDF page is wrong size | Paper/Page Setup | Match the title block. |
| PDF is reduced | Fit/scale | Use 1:1 Layout output. |
| Lineweights wrong | Plot style/lineweight settings | Verify CTB/STB and plot options. |
| Physical print differs | Downstream viewer/printer | Print PDF at Actual Size. |
Practical example
A drawing is meant to issue as A1. Before sending it to a client, open the PDF properties or measure in a trusted viewer to confirm the page is actually A1 and a known paper-space distance is correct. A visually similar A3 PDF enlarged by a viewer is not the same deliverable.
What not to do
- Do not judge PDF scale only by how it fills the monitor.
- Do not use a PDF viewer’s Fit option for scale verification.
- Do not repair a wrong PDF by asking the printer to enlarge it later.
Good office standard
Create named PDF Page Setups for each issued paper standard and use consistent file naming so PDFs can be compared and reissued predictably.
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 required on macOS and Linux?
Bricsys documents that those platforms print to PDF rather than directly to system printers.
Should a Layout PDF use 1:1?
Yes for a scale-controlled paper-space Layout.
How do I prove the PDF is correct?
Check page dimensions and measure at least one known paper-space or drawing-scale distance.
Explore more in BricsCAD Printing & Plotting Guide.