3. Importing PDF, maintaining layer structure

Importing PDF, maintaining layer structure

  • P

    Hi,

    I work with Rhino software, and often export the drawings as PDFs and do the adjustments, hatching and colour processing in Illustrator, or affinity designer. I am discovering your software and would be very interested in changing my habits and using it.

    However, I realised that the layers created in Rhino are not preserved when the PDF file is imported into Vectorstyler. Whereas if I import it into Affinity designer, the layers are preserved, and even duplicated if necessary to preserve the display order. Is this an adjustable option in Vectorstyler? It would be really great to be able to read the layers in a PDF transfer? Then I'll switch to your great software!

    Best,
    Pipouille

    0_1740848332359_TestLayers.pdf

    1 1 Reply
  • administrators

    @Pipouille Hello, and welcome to VectorStyler.

    I tested the file, and VectorStyler will open it in a similar way as Adobe Illustrator (opened here), following the actual PDF content.
    I also tested in Affinity (latest version) and yes, it creates a separate layer for every shape in the file with layer names synthesized from the colors.
    But this structure and these names are not part of the PDF structure.

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  • P

    Hi,
    Thank you for your quick reply.

    I think the structure is really part of the PDF. Coincidentally, I named the initial layers with colours myself.

    Here's a pdf that's a fragment of a more complex design and layer structure to avoid confusion.

    • If you open it with Inkscape, the layer structure is recognised, it's the same as the CAD software. But then the order in which the objects are displayed can be different. This is because in the CAD software the display order does not necessarily follow the layer order but in Inkscape the display order follow the layer structure.

    • If I open it with Affinity the layers are also recognised, and so is the display order because I have the impression that affinity duplicates the layers if necessary to preserve the display order of the objects.

    0_1740870136412_Test3.pdf

    1 1 Reply
  • administrators

    @Pipouille I opened a bug on this and will try to find out more.

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  • P

    Alright, Thanks!

    1 1 Reply
  • administrators

    @Pipouille I correct myself: the names are in the PDF metadata.
    In the next VS build these will be used.

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