Anyone who has seen HD PDF instructions?

[XAxles]

Like, REALLY CLEAR AND AMAZINGLY HD PDF INSTRUCTIONS?

I ask after finding the instructions for Technic 9391 just to find out how the small Technic turntable works and how I can make it work for a build of mine: a 28-axle crane. More on that after this segment.

Here's a screenshot as a sample:

There. Now that you have an idea of what I'm looking for, maybe you know what set has PDF instructions that look this crisp.

I'll edit this topic so I can post my WIP. For now, dinnertime!

[jodawill]

Most of the older instructions on the Lego website are in vector format, so they can be scaled as large as you want them to be. I have no idea why the newer ones are such crap. I can't even tell what I'm looking at in those. It must be on purpose, I'm sure, but I don't know why they do it.

[Erik Leppen]

It must be on purpose, I'm sure, but I don't know why they do it.

File size, download times, bandwidth, compatibility, rendering time :)

Also, your actual question seems to be "how does the 28t turntable work", and getting instructions files seems to be just one means to an end. Am I correct?

Edited February 3, 2015 by Erik Leppen

[jodawill]

File size, download times, bandwidth, compatibility, rendering time :)

I don't think so. Vector graphics are much more efficient in each of those respects. They don't have to be rendered, the file sizes are much smaller, and the PDF format supports vector graphics natively. Take a look at Fort Legoredo's instructions. Every page is in beautiful vector form.

I think there's some legal issue at play. Maybe they're afraid the Chinese companies will directly copy their instructions if they post the new ones in high quality.

As for the original question, have you seen the instructions on lego.com? They're not bad. http://cache.lego.com/bigdownloads/buildinginstructions/6002091.pdf

[Duq]

They are fine. Unfortunately many of the instructions on lego.com are shite. See for example the Sandcrawler: http://cache.lego.com/bigdownloads/buildinginstructions/6125533.pdf

I built it with my wife. She used the book, I used the laptop. There were pages where I need the actual book as I couldn't see the detail on the badly pixelated scans.

[Robianco]

A giveaway with the above example is the crop marks and colour boxes which tells me that was an artwork ready PDF which may have been used for print of the physical book but was then uploaded for use digitally.

Jodawill is completely correct with his descriptions of vector graphics and how Acrobat (or other pdf software) handles it natively... Sometimes extremely complicated vector files can also give large document sizes but I'm sure the original vector files in these documents are very cleanly drawn with as few points as possible which keeps the file size down.

[henrysunset]

On a Related note, I *WISH* it was possible to output Vector graphics from LDraw. (EX: SVG Format) It would make it so much easier to create beautiful printable instructions for your MOC's.

[XAxles]

Actually, I've seen some actually HD instructions PDF's, though I forgot what sets exactly. But if I find one, either it will be either on Technic or Creator. I shall now scour Brickset's database.

Also, your actual question seems to be "how does the 28t turntable work", and getting instructions files seems to be just one means to an end. Am I correct?

Yeah, actually. See, I have this 90%-completed crane boom:

and I wonder where and how I can attach that turntable to a System chassis, which is, for me, the only turntable that can take the boom's weight.

Basically, I just got the instructions for 9391 because it was in around the same size with my build (let's just say that this is going in the record books as the biggest mobile crane ever) and is mounted in a much simpler way, but I'm afraid that I'm not gonna be able to make it work, so I went with the simpler 4x4 System turntable shown in the picture. But then the quality of the PDF instructions plain struck me broadside.

Then again, I think there are instructions that are the same quality as this. And that there are many of them. I think there's another two or three in the polybag Creator sets.

Edited February 7, 2015 by XAxles