How to Print a Point Cloud Safely (Snapshot Method)

PDF files are not built to handle raw point cloud data.
Too many points can cause PDFs to crash or render incorrectly.
This article describes a reliable workaround to capture a snapshot of your point cloud and include it in your print layout.

If applicable: Go to 2D. Settings > Layer manager Ctrl+L--> All Layers: uncheck V to make all Invisible

Open the point cloud in the 3D-window

• Right-click the document tab and select ‘Open document in 3D window’
• or use shortcut Shift+W

In the Screen Settings 

• Change projection type to Ortho
• Background: Change Background color to White

In the Navigation toolbar

• Click on ‘Top’

In the Create toolbar

• Select Take snapshot [Camera-icon]
• In the drawing area click and drag your cursor to select the region for your snapshot 
• A window opens which allows you to save the image as a .ptif (Pythagoras TIF image). 
• Click on Save. The image is by default added to the Clipboard. Click OK.

Return to the 2D window 

• Use Paste Ctrl+V to insert the snapshot image into the drawing

The image is georeferenced and appears in the correct location. If required you can adjust the image attributes, for example: Edit attributes = Display level -10 for correct stacking.

Export to PDF

The snapshot is now part of your 2D drawing. You can include it in any layout and use the standard Print or Export to PDF functions — without overloading the file.