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Generate Outputs in Color

adamwebber

While generating outputs, I've been trying to generate schematic prints and PCB prints in color but all I get is grayscale.  The PCB 3D Print generates color outputs.  Can anyone tell me what I need to do?  I've used Altium quite extensively without any issues but with CS, I can't seem to find a solution.  I can go into the Default Prints and select Color in the Page Setup of the Schematic Prints  and PCB Prints but to no avail.  Is this even an option in CS?  I am using version 1.3.0.

  • I don't know how to set this up using a dialog (hopefully someone can chime in with a better answer.)

     

    However, once you've setup you're output job and run it once it creates a file with a .OutJob extention.  If you edit this file with a text editor, you'll find a line for each output document that looks like:

     

    PageOptions1=Record=PageOptions|CenterHorizontal=True|CenterVertical=True|PrintScale=1.00|XCorrection=1.00|YCorrection=1.00|PrintKind=1|BorderSize=5000000|LeftOffset=0|BottomOffset=0|Orientation=2|PaperLength=1000|PaperWidth=1000|Scale=100|PaperSource=7|PrintQuality=-3|MediaType=1|DitherType=10|PrintScaleMode=1|PaperKind=A4|PaperIndex=9

     

    Which is the print settings for the output job.  If you find the property "PrintKind=x", and change it to 0. For reference 0=Color, 1=Grey, 2=Mono

     

    This also is an easy way to modify the print settings on every output job type with a search and replace. Save and you should now generate color docs on whichever outputs you changed.

  • in reply to harvie256

    Holy Crap it worked!  This is an awful method to use each time that I wish to generate a PDF file.  I have also been using this method when designing rules for the PCB.  "IsVia" is available in the text editor but not the program.  It's sad that the features are all the same as Altium but they have just removed them.  Do you think this method is the only way to perform this task in CS or is my problem uncommon?  Maybe I should write a batch file that will update the rules so I don't have to manually do this every time I make a project.

  • in reply to adamwebber

    This is an awful method to use each time that I wish to generate a PDF file. I have also been using this method when designing rules for the PCB. "IsVia" is available in the text editor but not the program.

    I have zero idea if there is a way of setting this up within CS as a default starting point, or even if there's a dialog somewhere that allows you to change it for the project in question.  There should be... But it won't be the first thing they've messed in creating CS (or far from the worst).  I've just provided this as a solution to your immediate problem.

     

    Scripting is the key to managing this sort of thing, you wouldn't actually do it manually each time.  I have a number of scripts that I use to automate parts of my workflow.

  • Hi James (and harvie256),

     

    Thank you for reporting this. It is logged for consideration by the developers. Currently CircuitStudio does not have Page Setup dialogs so there is nowhere to set the color option.

     

    harvie256's work around is currently the best method to set the color for your PDF's, although you can also go to the Outputs tab and Print to a PDF file:

    e.g. in Windows 10, set the Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.

    Set the Page Setup to color.

    In the Printer dialog, in the Print What section, choose Print All Valid Documents. This will allow multiple schematics to be saved into the same PDF, but it won't allow you to combine the PCB into the same PDF as the schematics.

     

    Best regards,

     

    James Harriman

    Altium Limited

  • in reply to jamesharrimanaltium

    An update for anyone finding this old thread - you can now select colour / grey / mono prints from the Generate Outputs dialog from the Printer Setup dialog.