In this tutorial we will learn to create a PDF File from an AutoCAD drawing. There are four possible methods to bring an AutoCAD drawing into an Adobe Illustrator file ...

Method 1 is the simplest, as one can simply place the AutoCAD drawing in the Illustrator file by using th e place command. However in this method the drawing is not at any particular scale and needs to be scale d manually using a scale bar as a reference. This process can be tedious and not highly accurate .

Method 2 involves one extra step of making a PDF file out of the autocad drawing. The advantage in usin g this method is that the output PDF can be at the required scale. Thus when we place the PDF into th e Illustrator file it is at the required scale and requires no further adjustments in terms of scale .

Creating a PDF:
Note: Adobe PDF writer / Acrobat distiller are required to be able to convert a drawing from AutoCAD to a PDF. Creating a PDF is similar to printing from AutoCAD, the only difference is to selection of the Adobe PDF writer or Acrobat distiller as the printer.

STEP - I. Selecting the Printer:

1. Open AutoCAD and open the footprint map created in the TUTORIAL B1
2. Type plot in command line. From the File menu select Plot..
3. A Plot dialog box will appear.
4. Click on the Plot Device tab if it is not already active.
5. Under the Plotter Configuration select the printer which is the PDF writer OR Acrobat distiller.
...
Source: www-dcrp.ced.berkeley.edu