A framing plan often needs to leave the tool you drew it in, whether for review, for sharing, or to continue in CAD. Which export format you choose depends entirely on who's receiving it and what they'll do with it. This guide compares the three common options (PDF, PNG, and DXF) so you pick the right one.
If you've not drafted the plan yet, start with how to draft a preliminary floor framing plan or the framing plan overview.
Quick comparison
| Format | Type | Best for | Editable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed page | Review, printing, formal sharing | Annotation, not model geometry | |
| PNG | Raster image | Quick snapshots in messages/docs | No |
| DXF | CAD geometry | Continuing in CAD, handoff to engineers | Yes (in CAD) |
PDF: for review and printing
A PDF is a fixed, presentation-ready page, typically with a title block carrying the project name, date, and a "preliminary / not for construction" note. It looks the same everywhere and prints cleanly, which makes it the natural choice for review meetings, formal sharing, and record copies. In Framing Plan, PDF and PNG exports always fit the whole plan to the page regardless of your current zoom, so the download shows the complete drawing.
The trade-off: a PDF is flat. The recipient can read and print it, but not edit the geometry.
PNG: for quick sharing
A PNG is a raster image: pixels, not geometry. It's the fastest way to drop a plan into a chat, email, or document for a quick "what do you think?" It's not scalable or editable, and it has no layers, but for an informal snapshot it's perfect.
DXF: for CAD and handoff
A DXF carries geometry on named layers (Walls, Bearing, Joists, Beams, Grid, Columns, Openings, Elements) in millimeters. Choose it when the recipient requests editable CAD geometry in a compatible application. Import results vary, so verify units, scale, layers, text, and linework after handoff. See exporting a framing plan to DXF for the layer breakdown and checks.
How to choose
- Reviewing or printing? → PDF
- Quick share in a message? → PNG
- Continuing in CAD or handing to an engineer? → DXF
Many projects use more than one: a PDF for the review copy and a DXF for the CAD handoff.
Keep it preliminary
Whatever the format, an export of a preliminary plan is still preliminary: a clean starting point for review, not a construction-ready document. Have a qualified engineer complete the structural design before building.
Try it
Draft a plan and choose the format that fits the next step. Open the framing studio to preview the outputs. Current export entitlements are shown in the app: a free account exports watermarked PNG and PDF, while Pro adds DXF and watermark-free files.