Revit Is Not Printing to PDF?

Troubleshooting Revit PDF Printing Issues

Experiencing difficulties printing PDF files from Revit can be frustrating. This guide provides detailed steps to diagnose and resolve the problem, ensuring a smoother printing experience. Follow this structured approach to identify potential issues and implement the necessary corrections.

Check Your Print Settings

Firstly, confirm that you have selected the correct print driver for PDF output. To do this:

1. Access the File menu and select Print.
2. In the Print dialog box, ensure you have chosen your PDF printer driver from the list.
3. Navigate to the Properties section to review any specific settings related to the PDF output.
4. Adjust the settings if necessary and save your changes.

Inspect the Print Queue

A clogged print queue can prevent new prints from being processed correctly. To resolve this:

1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to Devices and Printers.
2. Locate your PDF printer in the list and right-click on it to select “See what’s printing.”
3. Examine the print queue for any stalled documents. Right-click on any problematic item and choose to cancel or clear the queue.

Resetting Printer Drivers

Sometimes outdated or corrupted printer drivers can hinder printing capabilities. To reset your drivers:

1. Visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers for your PDF printer.
2. Uninstall the current drivers from your system via the Device Manager.
3. Install the newly downloaded drivers following the provided instructions.

Adjust Adobe Acrobat Settings

If you’re using Adobe Acrobat as your PDF printer, settings within Acrobat may need adjustment:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat and navigate to the Preferences menu.
2. Locate and select the “Create PDF” section.
3. Ensure that the option to let Adobe manage the PDF output is enabled, as this can affect your print jobs.

Test Using Standard Print Options

If after checking your settings the PDF print still fails, consider using the standard print functionality as a fallback:

1. Open the file you wish to print in Revit.
2. Choose File > Print and select a conventional printer temporarily.
3. Print a test page to confirm that the issue resides specifically with PDF output.

Explore PDF Export Options in Revit

Revit also allows you to export views and sheets as PDF directly. To use this feature:

1. Select the view or sheet you want to export.
2. Click on File > Export > PDF.
3. Follow the prompts to configure the export settings, such as output folder and resolution.
4. Review the exported PDF to confirm that it has been generated correctly.

Common Questions About Revit PDF Printing

What should I do if my PDF is still blank after attempting to print?

Check for any software updates for both Revit and Adobe Acrobat. Also, inspect the layers in your Revit file to ensure they are visible and not hidden.

How can I increase print quality when exporting to PDF from Revit?

In the print settings, adjust the quality settings to a higher resolution. Also, ensure that the appropriate paper size and scaling options are correctly configured before exporting.

Is there a different method to create a PDF in Revit besides printing?

Yes, you can use the “Export” function in Revit to directly create PDFs from sheets and views, providing a more tailored export process that can bypass printing issues.