Convert a black-and-white PDF/AI to clean lines without intersections

[Rosita]

Is there an easy way to convert a black-and-white PDF/AI to a file with 'clean lines'?

A black-and-white file can look 'clean' at first glance, but if you type CRTL+Y in Illustrator, you see al the hidden lines. Most of the times there are a lot of duplicated/intersecting lines. I need these lines to be cleaned up to only the outlines of all the (merged) black objects. This is necessary to import them in the engraving software we use further in the proces. With intersecting or duplicated lines, we can not use the files, this will give corrupt files. At this moment it costs too much time to clean them up by working with the pathfinder.

Download sample file to clean up here 

clean lines, how we need themmessy intersecting linesthe original black-white file at first glance

[John Mensinger]

Having no idea what will or won't work in your engraving software—on a copy of the file—you may try:

Select All, choose Object > Expand [Stroke] [Fill]

Deselect

Select one black-filled element, choose Select > Same > Fill Color

Click the Unite button in the Pathfinder panel

Check Outline view and confirm whether the result meets your objective

[Rosita]

Hello John,

Thanks for your help. But unfortunately this does not work.

The whole artwork gets United, most of the lines are now missing. As seen in the following images.

result as linesresult as black-white

[chrisl41501719]

This is cool. The original is a positive space image, the finished state is a negative space vector. In other words, you have black lines on the original (positive space) but the lines are changed to geometric shapes. 

This is worth a try at least.

Open in Adobe Acrobat, go to the Flatenner tool, and try clicking the box "Convert all strokes to outlines". Hit apply.

[chrisl41501719]

Oh and make sure "clip complex areas" iis checked also.

[Rosita]

Thanks for your help. But when I do that, all hidden (intersecting) lines are still there

[Monika Gause]

Please upload a sample file.

[Rosita]

Sample file to clean up 

[Monika Gause]

Thank you. That was simple.

You need to outline all text and outline all strokes.

Then select all and use the pathfinder "Merge"

Then select all white or invisible objects. Best would be to create an unfilled unstrokes object and select > Same > Fill&stroke. Same goes for the white.

Delete those objects.

[Rosita]

Wow, thanks very much! That was exactly what I meant.