In most cases, Plan images in PDF format will be highly legible and clear in SiteOwl, even when zoomed in. However, there are cases in which the quality of the Plan image may not meet your needs. This can occur when the PDF contains a large amount of fine detail and has been generated in a particular way. This article explains the cause and offers suggestions for improving the image quality of Plans in PDF format.
Overview
PDFs are rather complex and, as a result, offer a lot of flexibility in how they can be generated. Some Plan PDFs will have a high level of detail, while others may be very simple. These variances in detail ultimately effect the quality of the imported Plan.
The size of the Plan image file is also a consideration. Generally speaking, the higher the quality, the larger the file. A very large file can cause slowness when downloading and cause frustration in the field.
When SiteOwl imports a PDF, many factors are considered to achieve the right balance between quality and size. Our testing determined the ideal resolution is 96 pixels per inch (PPI). The higher the PPI the better the quality but also the larger the file size. Based on this understanding, the first step SiteOwl takes when importing a PDF is to gather its dimensions. SiteOwl then imports the Plan image at a resolution based on 96 PPI and the size of the Plan image.
If an imported Plan PDF does not have the image quality you need, review the two suggestions below to improve the image.
Suggestion 1: Increase the Page Size of your PDF
Determine the size of your PDF. Most PDF viewers will provide a way to get the dimensions. You may also be able to right click the file in your file explorer and use one of the options to get this information. If you've used a 'Print to PDF' function to create the file, it's likely to have 8.5 X 11 inch Page Size dimensions. For a highly detailed Plan, this is likely too small. One way to think of this is, if you printed the PDF at its defined Page Size, would you be able to easily read the fine print that is hard to read in SiteOwl? If not, then that's why SiteOwl is not providing a clearer image when you zoom in.
To improve the quality, use the same tool you used to create the Plan PDF and export a new version with a larger Page Size. Keep in mind that the larger you make the dimensions the larger the Plan image in SiteOwl will be, so you only want it to be as big as required. After you create the new version, use the Replace Plan option in the Plan Library to update the Plan image. Once done, all related Project Plans and Live System Plans will automatically be updated. Navigate to a Project that uses this Plan or to the Plan in the Live System and evaluate whether the image quality meets your needs. If not, try a version with larger dimensions.
Suggestion 2: Try Another Format
If the tool you used to create the Plan PDF supports the JPEG or PNG image formats, try exporting to one of these formats. If you have the option to select a PPI or DPI when exporting, select 300. Follow the steps mentioned in Suggestion 1 to replace the image and then evaluate the Plan image quality. If it's not at the quality level you want, try a larger PPI/DPI, such as 600.
Not sure what tool to use? Try the following:
- Go to: https://avepdf.com/
- Choose “Convert”
- Choose "PDF to PNG”
- Upload your PDF file and select 300dpi / Large image quality
- Once converted, download the file to your computer and upload it to the Plan Library.
If neither of these suggestions addresses the issue, please send an email to support@getsiteowl.com and attach the original Plan image file for review.
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