TR TRADES MOST COMMON FILE FORMATS FOR CAD PLOTTING 

Print Ready Files: 

PDF files   the most widely used standard for CAD print ready files, are cross platform,  have compressed file size, embedded line width and shading, can be multi-paged, color or black & white, and are easily previewed in Adobe Acrobat. TIPS

HPGL2 Plot files  vector based print language developed by Hewlett Packard.Line width and shading of PLT files are controlled in the plotting process. Customers can have their CAD application control the plot settings, or TR Trades can store a customized pen set on file. For best results, PLT files should be created emulating the HP DesignJet 750C  or HP DesignJet 755CM, which is on the Windows installation CD, or may be already available through the “add printer” dialog box. TIPS If you prefer PLT files, please ask us about Oce Reprodesk, a free automated solution to preview and submit your PLT files directly to our FTP site. 

DWF files  “Design Web Format”  developed by Autodesk, can be previewed and printed from Autodesk’s freeware DWF Viewer. DWF files can be multi-paged and will plot true to Autodesk’s original design intent, as well as having some built-in security options. DWF plotter drivers ship with AutoCAD. 

LDF files  “Layered Document Format” is Oce Reprodesk’s solution for embedding page size, pen settings, and scaling within a vector based file, for error free plotting. 

TIFF files  for print ready CAD plotting please submit 1- bit (Black & White) tiff files only.

Application Files: 

AutoCAD DWG for best outputs from AutoCAD you should send TR Trades all custom fonts, image attachments, xrefs (or bind the xrefs) and CTB or STB plot style files for accurate  line and shading reproduction. It is also helpful for us to know scale (metric or imperial) and whether to plot Paperspace Layouts or Model space.  

Vectorworks if you cannot make a full size print ready file (PDF, TIF, PS) and send your application files to TR Trades, please let us know : MAC or PC, sheet size, custom fonts, saved sheets, or plot layers. 

DXF Drawing Exchange Format – is basically a large text file that can be imported into any vector based program. DXF file limitations include: no scaling information, no line or shading information, no font embedding.