How to Batch Convert DWG and DXF Drawings to PDF or Image Format

CAD drawings, created in AutoCAD or similar software, often require the final output in PDF or TIFF format for sending to clients or contractors for approval. While DWG to PDF, DXF to PDF, and general CAD to PDF conversion is usually possible from the CAD program used for designing technical drawings, these programs often lack the ability to automate converting multiple files at once.

This article covers various settings and parameters available in DocuFreezer for technical drawing files' conversion, such as DWG to PDF, DXF to PDF, or DWG/DXF to TIFF. Converting CAD files to PDF or image formats like TIFF allows anyone without specialized software to easily open and view the files.

DocuFreezer can be an easy-to-use CAD to PDF converter and a huge time-saver when it comes to saving CAD drawings in PDF (or image format) since it allows processing multiple files without any attention required from the user. It provides high-quality PDF or image output maintaining the original file's appearance and quality. Before conversion, you can adjust output quality and other parameters.

Quick steps to convert multiple DWG or DXF to PDF or image format

1. Download and install DocuFreezer;
2. Add the files you need to convert to DocuFreezer;
3. Select Output file type: PDF or image format (TIFF, PNG, JPG, BMP);
4. (Optional) Open Settings, then check and modify Advanced → File loading settings → CAD;
5. Click the Start button to start file conversion;
6. Check the Output folder for the results.

DocuFreezer is installed locally on your computer and doesn't require an Internet connection, thus ensuring your files remain completely safe. Click the button below to download our DWG and DXF to PDF converter:

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Supported CAD formats

The program supports popular CAD formats: AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor (DWG, DXF), Solid Edge (DFT), Microsoft Visio (VSD, VSDX), KOMPAS-3D, Mathcad Prime (MCDX, MCTX) drawings, and more. 

Note: Additional software is required to process some specific CAD file types:

• SolidWorks – for SLDDRW, SLDASM, and more
• Solid Edge Drawing – for DFT
• Microsoft Visio – for VSD, VSDX, VSDM

As for other supported file types, DocuFreezer can process most of them via internal engine only, so you won't need to have any additional programs installed.

View list of supported formats and required software

Advanced conversion settings for CAD drawings

You might want to check and modify DocuFreezer's Advanced Settings before starting the conversion process. You'll find them under the File loading settings → CAD format section on the Advanced Settings tab. Here are the defaults:

Setting	Description
Worksheet name	Defines which worksheets should be converted. You can set it to: *all* – Convert all worksheets contained in a file *default* – Convert default (also referred to as "active sheet") worksheet only My worksheet 1 – Convert a specific worksheet by entering its name
Split worksheets	Splits multi-sheet spreadsheets – each worksheet will be saved as a separate file.
"Model view" tab processing	CAD drawings usually have a "Model view" tab and "Layout" tab(s). With this setting, you can choose how to process the "Model view" tab: Ignore "Model view" tab Process all tabs Process "Model view" tab only
Disable "Not to Plot" layers	CAD drawings may have "Not to Plot" layers that are not meant to be processed. Enable this setting to respect "Not to Plot" layer property.
Fonts to bold	Makes fonts bold to make the text look thicker.
Default line weight	Changes how the lines should look on a printed CAD drawing. You can make them thinner or thicker.
Display line weight	Change the way of text rendering: As in document – means that the program gets the line weight value from the DWG or DXF file header; Yes – means that the program uses line weights as in DWG or DXF drawing it processes; No – means that the program uses the default line weight value for rendering lines.
Paper size limit	Sets the maximum paper format (page size) for converting CAD drawings. You can select a Standard or Custom page size in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.
Try to use SHX fonts	The program tries to use SHX fonts (if your drawings have them). It is enabled by default. The ability to use SHX fonts that can be included with Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk DWG TrueView, eDrawings Viewer, SolidWorks, and other CAD software.
Grayscale	Converts the CAD drawing into a black-and-white (grayscale) PDF or image
SHX font folders	You can specify folder(s) containing SHX fonts. Consider adding them if the text is too thin or hard to read.
Page margins	You can set custom page margins for CAD drawings in points: left, right, top, and bottom margin.

How to set output resolution (DPI) for CAD drawings

When saving a drawing to a particular format, you may want to check output file parameters such as DPI (dots-per-inch) and other parameters affecting the output quality. High-quality drawings usually require a DPI value of 600-2400 dpi (this may depend on the industry, but we do not recommend making it lower than 300).

To change this setting, navigate to Advanced Settings → Page layout → Rasterization resolution:

How to watermark CAD drawings: Add text, image, or QR code/barcode

When you convert, for example, a DWG file to PDF, you can additionally add the author's name, date and time, copyright notice, company logo, or barcode/QR code. With flexible customization, you can manually add custom text and automate the insertion of specific data using built-in macros. You can add multiple different watermarks and adjust their positions.

To use this feature, navigate to Settings → Edit operations and select the desired operation.

Learn more about adding watermarks via DocuFreezer → 

How to resize or crop CAD drawings: Resize, Auto-crop, Crop margins, Crop rectangle

DocuFreezer allows you to change the scale of your drawings or crop them. For the Resize operation, you can specify a new size in pixels, millimeters, centimeters, inches, or percent. For cropping, choose the appropriate Crop operation based on your task:

• Auto crop – crops automatically by detecting white space around the drawing and removing it;
• Crop margins – crops by user-defined margins;
• Crop rectangle – crops by user-defined rectangle.

Learn more about resize and crop operations in DocuFreezer → 

How to convert DWG and DXF to grayscale (black and white) PDF or TIFF

When you save a CAD file as PDF (or TIFF), the output files sometimes need to be saved in black and white – more precisely, in Grayscale mode, which converts all colors to shades of gray. You can enable this feature in DocuFreezer.

Open Advanced Settings and enable File loading settings → CAD → Grayscale:Yes;

How to disable converting "Not to Plot" layers

DWG and DXF drawings may have the "Plot" property turned off. These are "non-printable" layers that are not meant to be processed. DocuFreezer can recognize this parameter and prevent such layers from being converted, too. To ensure this feature works, change the Disable 'Not to Plot' layers setting to Yes.

How to merge multiple CAD drawings into one PDF

You can combine several drawings into one multi-page PDF document. To batch convert DWGs to a PDF, which would contain all your drawings, follow these steps:

1. Add drawings to DocuFreezer's List of files;
2. Set Output file type to PDF;
3. Go to Settings;
4. Select Multipage: Merge into one PDF;
   
5. Click OK and Start to begin merging all files to PDF.

Tip: By choosing Output file type: TIFF, you can create a multi-page TIFF file the same way.

How to convert DWG and DXF to searchable PDF

If you need to keep copyable text in your output PDFs, you can easily create PDF files containing the original text from your CAD drawings. To do this, activate the Make PDF searchable (OCR) option in the Common Settings. Additionally, make sure to select only the relevant languages in the OCR languages setting.

Often, users need to send multiple AutoCAD designs to another person in an unaltered format, but AutoCAD doesn't allow batch conversion of AutoCAD files to PDF, so a third-party DXF to PDF converter is needed. By using a reliable CAD to PDF converter, you can batch convert or merge your AutoCAD drawings (DWG, DXF) to PDF or images. Once saved as a PDF or image file, there's no need for special CAD software. The drawing can be opened on any computer – even in a web browser.

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