DWG to PDF or EPS Conversion?

[loser]

I am trying to find a way to convert a DWG file to some vector file format that I can open in Illustrator. Actually, opening in Illustrator is not absolutely necessary. I am trying to output film (to an imagesetter) from a customers CAD file. He has tried sending me every format he can save, but they are all rastered, including his save as eps option. I can open his DWG file in Illustrator, but it is obviously not correct. Is there some software, preferably free(!) that will convert his file accurately to a format I can output? My RIP will accept .ps, .eps, or pdf. And it really needs to keep the art as vector.

Thanks for any help.

 

[JasonElise1983]

windows only

http://www.eprintdriver.com/to_pdf/DWG-to-PDF-ex.html

but one quick google search pulled that up.

 

[loser]

Thanks for the reply, I guess I forgot to mention that it needs to be something that will work on a mac. I did try searching for a while w/google, and found some that said they would do it, but did not have much luck. I was hoping someone might have some experience with something that worked well.

Thanks anyway. I appreciate the effort.

 

[Dave the Great]

Thanks for the reply, I guess I forgot to mention that it needs to be something that will work on a mac. I did try searching for a while w/google, and found some that said they would do it, but did not have much luck. I was hoping someone might have some experience with something that worked well.

Thanks anyway. I appreciate the effort.

Corel Graphics Suite (CGS) 11 will do it. It was also the last version for the Mac from Corel.

 

[Swarmlord]

Corel Graphics Suite (CGS) 11 will do it. It was also the last version for the Mac from Corel.

I'll second that. I've had my best luck converting vectorized files with Corel than anything else. Using the various versions of EPS can be an art rather than a science sometimes.

 

[Snark]

You might want to try posting your question on the Architosh Mac CAD forums too.

Snark

 

[iMeowbot]

Illustrator can open .dwg files, ,and usually does a pretty good job with the translation. Have you tried that option before looking at external conversions? What in particular is not correct about the translation?

 

[loser]

Illustrator can open .dwg files, ,and usually does a pretty good job with the translation. Have you tried that option before looking at external conversions? What in particular is not correct about the translation?

I did try that. It opened the file, but with an error message about fonts. But after opening, all the fonts appear to be outlined, so I'm not sure what the error is about. There are also many artifacts and objects that have shifted place or should not be present. There were several triangular objects that appeared in the illustrator file that were not in the raster eps file he sent me. Also, some of the other shapes have been distorted / have artifacts in them.

 

[IJ Reilly]

This commercial product is supposed to work, but I've never tried it. I have tried this free solution, but I find it opens only some DWG files.

 

[Dave the Great]

I'll second that. I've had my best luck converting vectorized files with Corel than anything else. Using the various versions of EPS can be an art rather than a science sometimes.

Yeah, I wish Corel would release a more current version of Draw for the Mac.

 

[CanadaRAM]

CadMover

 

[anawapac]

Opening DWG Files with Illustrator

What version of Illustrator are you using? I'm on a Mac and using CS2 and cannot open DWG files. I can open EMF files. Do I need a certain filter?

Illustrator can open .dwg files, ,and usually does a pretty good job with the translation. Have you tried that option before looking at external conversions? What in particular is not correct about the translation?

 

[Photek]

use 'eDrawings'.

then print to pdf.