How to print from layout with transparency?

Hi, I would like to print a PDF/TIFF/PNG with transparent background from a layout window.

I use the layout to set the specific scale and size in real life units (centimeters) of my drawing. I would like to be able to directly export with transparent background instead of having to delete the background in Photoshop. Is this possible?

ViewCaptureToFile really does not suit me because I can’t control the PDF dimensions.

Did not get what you mean out here. Can you post a picture of the background or the image that you are trying to export?.

Sure,

I have my layout measuring 22.5cm x 22.5cm, I want to export this image in rendered, but instead of white background, I want it to be transparent.

@brian Hi Brian, I think you can help this guy out. Take a look.

I think the best way would be to export to image and then use a tool to create pdf fron the image. Most advanced pdf viewers also have tool to transform images to pdf, where you control the margins. Alas, most ot them are paid.

Maybe another way would be to install virtual pdf printer and print the exported image.
These are free in most cases. Chrome has one integrated. Just open the image in the browser and hit ‘print’ and select ‘save to pdf’

Hi Ivelin, thank you for your reply. Do you mean to export an image with ViewCaptureToFile?

If so, I feel like my current method is simpler, just export desired size and delete background in Photoshop. I was trying to avoid this last step given that Rhino can export with transparency, it just doesn’t seem to be available within the layout, but in the end, the layout is just another viewport.

It is actually quite incoherent to support file formats like PNG and TIFF without offering the possibility of a transparent background. What is the point of being able to export PNG from layout then? :man_shrugging:

4 Likes

@ShynnSup can you describe your downstream process for me? What will you do with a properly sized PDF with a transparent raster image in it?

1 Like

Hi @brian. I need to overlap a couple of drawings in order to create some diagrams. I would like this drawing to be on top of everything, and I will add opacity to it in illustrator. Below this layer there would be other drawings from the same model… some vectorial and some raster.

In order for the overlap to be flawless all drawings must have same size and be taken from the same view with the same scale.

1 Like

I understand. Thanks. I think bypassing PDF is probably your best bet, and instead figure out the pixel size you want for each screenshot. You can control the view, size, and aspect ratio - and you can get transparent backgrounds using ViewCaptureToFile.

If all your images are from the same view, with the same pixel resolution, you should have the same overlay quality as you are imagining with PDF. I think PDF makes things more complex for you.

1 Like

Problem is, I need some layers of my diagram to be in vector output.

How about this:

  1. Create a rectangle at the furthest extents of your raster images, so that the very border of the raster images are this rectangle
  2. Export your raster and vector images from the same view
  3. Use the vector rectangle to scale the vector geometry to the same scale as the raster rectangle

This will get you within a pixel or two - which is probably as good as it gets with raster and vector.

Does that work?

Will it work if my vector images is a make2d of my model? Will try it, thanks for your suggestions Brain. Doing a very quick guess I still feel my current workflow + a small background delete in PS is faster and tidier, but I will try your suggestion just to be sure!

Your workflow may be faster. Sorry I don’t have a better option for you.

Hi, I have quiet the same problem.

Downsides of ViewCaptureToFile is that it depends on viewport proportions, size, Rhino window size and UI elements size. All of these can be easily altered and could not be fixed especially when opening file on another PC with another display resolution and aspect.

Layouts with Details looks like perfect and precise method to form your output in terms of size and aspect, as well as lines print settings.

I have set up details and all line types and want to save (“print”) Layout output as an image with transparent background. I tried to do it using “Image File” among available printers.

123

But it does not have an option to save transparent background, even if i set transparent background as display mode background setting.

How can results with consistent and precise size and transparency could be saved as an image?

4 Likes

Hi,

I also have the same problem. I didn’t see any easy solutions here so far.

Another issue is, if you want several detail views on one layout, with background transparency, it would really be much easier to print directly from the layout window, instead of capturing the views one by one and edit them together in another program.

1 Like

Hi -
I couldn’t find the feature request in the system so now I’ve put it on the list as RH-66636.
-wim

4 Likes

I second this feature request.

Two other potential solutions:

  1. create a display mode where all objects of all type are black, and then use that as a mask.

  2. Make 2D of the objects, paste the make 2D i to layout space on top of the detail view, create a solid hatch using curve boolean, and then use the hatch as a clipping mask. After it is printed to pdf with Rhino pdf.

1 requires printing the layout once with the standard display mode and once with the new one.
2 only requires printing from layout once, but there is work in making a vector mask.

4 Likes