The ability to have control over layers while in a PDF is a cool/useful feature but there are times when you might not want to include them. Here’s how to turn OFF (or on) layers when creating PDFs.
(Below is an example of a PDF with Layers)
When the Plot dialog box is open: Select the “DWG To PDF.pc3” plotter and then click the “Properties” button that is next to where you selected the plotter.
- Click the “Device and Settings” tab
- Select “Custom Properties”
- Click the “Customize Properties” button at the bottom
- Uncheck the box next to “Incude layer Information”
- Click OK
From the Export option:
- Open the Application menu (Big red A)
- Click “Export”
- Select “PDF”
- In the “Save as PDF” dialog: CLick the “Options” button
- Switch the option that is next to “Layer Information” to “Include” or “Do not Include”
From the Output Tab: (quickest way)
- Click the “Output” tab of the ribbon
- Click on the “Export to DWF/PDF Options” button that is located in the “Export to DWF/PDF” panel
- Switch the option that is next to “Layer Information” to “Include” or “Do not Include”
AutoCAD Tips 
Thank you! That’s the tip I was looking for!
The best… Thank you so much! Exactly what I needed :)
Thanks a lot. Very helpful tip. Cities in Toronto don’t accept layers in PDF files. I couldn’t find a logic reason for that, but they just want it flat file. Thanks again
Very good information but i need to find how to show layers when exporting PDF of a 3D model
This setting is for this particular plot driver “DWG to PDF.PC3”
I don’t think that this setting is available in other plot drivers.
Are you trying to make a 3D PDF? If so, the setting to include or not include layers would be driven by that particular 3D PDF creator not by AutoCAD.
~Greg
OK understood, thanks Greg
Thanks for the info Greg. We do shop drawings for the HVAC industry utilizing AutoCad 2013 and have a lot of customers asking how to optimize the PDFs to speed up the printing process. Our problem is the it takes a while to flatten the PDFs when printing on a plotter. Is there a way to do this?
I know that this might seem as a long work around but it will create smaller PDFs.
You will need to install the free DWF viewer “Design Review” http://usa.autodesk.com/design-review/
From AutoCAD you can print to .dwf file or you can export the drawing to as a .dwf using the EXPORTDWf command. Printing the specific layout tab to a .dwf will make sure that you have the correct page to work from…
Open the dwf with “Design Review” and then print the .dwf to a .PDF using your PDF printer.
The resulting PDF should be smaller and even have clearer (less pixelated) resolution than when printing straight from AutoCAD to a PDF.
Here is a link that initially lead me to try this method.
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Printing-and-Plotting/FOUND-Best-way-to-create-PDF-s-in-AutoCAD/td-p/2466194
I am interested to see how it works for you. It might be more steps but the end results may be a better (PDF) product that you give to your customers.
~Greg
Most excellent guide!! Thank you
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no this is not working for me . nor in the dwf nor in the pdf. using cad 2007. not even “0” layers is showing.