Layouts, Plotting, Printing -...

Layouts, Plotting, Printing 1

Layouts, Plotting, Printing

Sacramento City College

Engineering Design Technology


Objectives

Print and plot a drawing.

Set up layouts using title blocks and viewports.

Create new layouts.

Manage layouts.


Objectives

Select a plotting device and modify a plotting device configuration.

Explain plot styles, plot style tables, and plot style modes.

Create and modify plot styles and plot style tables.


Objectives

Attach plot style tables to drawings and layouts.

Assign plot styles to drawings, layers, and objects.

Select plot settings.


Objectives

Calculate scale factors based on drawing scale.

Create a plot file.

Plot a group of drawings using the Batch Plot utility.

Explain keys to efficient plotting.


Plotting Procedure


Model Space and Paper Space

You can create plots from

The Model Tab (model space)

The Layout Tabs (paper space).

The general procedures for both cases are similar.


Terminology


Terminology

Model space.

The drawing environment in which the

drawing objects are constructed.

Model space is active when the Model tab is

selected.

Model space is also activated when you

double-click inside a floating viewport in a

layout tab.


Terminology

Paper space.

The drawing environment used to create

plotting layouts.

Plotting layouts are arrangements of

Various objects

Floating viewports

Title blocks

Etc.

on the page to be plotted.


Terminology

Paper space.

Is active by default when a layout tab is

selected.


Terminology

Entering “Model Space from Paper Space” (inside a Layout Tab)

If you double-click inside a floating viewport in

a layout tab, the

Viewport becomes active and

model space is entered.


Terminology

Switching back to Paper Space in a Layout Tab.

To switch back to paper space, double-click in

an area outside the floating viewport.

“Double-click paper space.”


Terminology

Layout/Layout Tabs.

A layout is the manner in which a drawing is

arranged in paper space.

May contain a

Title Block

One or more viewports

Text annotations.


Terminology

Each drawing can have multiple layouts.

11 x 8.5

36 x 24

44 x 30

Each layout is shown as a tab along the bottom of the drawing area.


Terminology

Each layout can have different

page setup and

plotting settings.


Terminology

Page setups.

Is the manner in which the drawing is

displayed on a sheet of paper in order to

create a layout.

Page setups determine:

How the drawing is plotted.

The plot device.

Pen settings.

Scales.


Terminology

Page setups.

Settings can be saved in the drawing file as a

named page setup

Named page setups

can be recalled each time the drawing is

plotted.


Terminology

Layout settings.

Are created in the Page Setup dialog box.

Include

Paper size and drawing units

Paper orientation

Plot area

Plot scale

Plot offset

Plot options.


Terminology

Plotters window.

Use to

Add

Delete

Configure

Reconfigure plotters.


Terminology

Plotters window.

Accessed by

Selecting Plotter Manager... from the File pull-

down menu.

When a device is configured, the settings are saved in a PC3 file.


Terminology

Plot styles.

Contain settings that are applied to objects

when they are plotted.

A “color-dependent plot style” is applied to all objects with a specific color.

A “named plot style” can be assigned to an object or layer.


Terminology

Plot style tables.

Is a collection of plot styles.

Two types of plot styles exist:

Color-dependent

Named.


Terminology

A plot style table can only contain plot styles of a single plot style mode

Can only be either

Color-dependent or

Named.


Terminology

The Model tab and each layout tab can have a unique plot style table attached.

Only plot styles in the attached plot style table can be used within a tab.


Terminology

Plot Styles window.

Use to manage plot style table files.

You can open and edit the plot styles within a plot style table.

You can also create new plot style tables.


Terminology

Plot settings.

Are created in the Plot dialog box

Include the same items found in the Page

Setup dialog box.

Control how the drawing is printed on paper.

Plot settings can be created at the beginning of a project and then saved to be used again.


Terminology

Batch Plotting.

Use after drawing files have been assigned:

Layouts

Page setups

Plot parameters


Terminology

Batch Plotting can be used to configure files for:

Plot off-line

OR

In the background as a group

OR

As "batch," while the user continues with other

tasks.


Terminology

Batch plot files

Are saved with a BP3 extension.

Can be created without opening a full session

of AutoCAD.


Layout Settings


Layout Settings

A layout shows the arrangement of objects on a sheet of paper for plotting purposes.

A layout may include

A title block

Floating viewports showing your model space

drawing, and annotation.


Layout Settings

A single drawing can have multiple layouts. A size sheet

C size sheet, etc.

Named layouts are displayed as tabs along the bottom of the drawing area.

Each layout tab represents a different paper space configuration.


Layout Settings

Drawings have two layouts by default.

These are identified by the

Layout1 and

Layout2 tabs

below the drawing area.


Layout Settings

When you pick a layout tab for the first time, the Page Setup dialog box for the layout appears.


Layout Settings

Select the OK button to enter the Layout tab.


Layout Settings

Select the OK button to enter the Layout tab.

When a layout tab is selected, an image showing a preview of the final printed drawing is shown.


Layout Settings

The dashed line around the edge of the paper represents the page margins.

The solid lines show the outline of a floating viewport.

By default, a single viewport is created.


Working in Layout Tabs



A layout can contain

Floating viewports.

(Holes into Paper Space)

A title block.

Notes.

Assemble these items in a layout to see exactly what the final plot will look like.



Settings that affect the display of layouts are contained in the Layout elements area of the Display tab in the Options dialog box.

Access this dialog box by

Selecting Options... from the Tools pull-down

menu.


Inserting a Title Block



Title blocks are saved in a template file and then inserted as a block when needed.

It is best to insert a title block into the layout and then save it as a template file.



You can then start a new drawing based on the template,

The layout with the title block will already be created.



To insert a title block,

Select Block... from the insert pull-down menu

to access the Insert dialog box.

Pick the Browse... button

Select the title block drawing to be inserted.



To insert a Title Block,

Select Block... from the insert pull-down menu

to access the Insert dialog box.

Pick the Browse... button

Select the title block drawing to be inserted.


Working With Floating Viewports



Create a viewport in Model Space.

After the viewports are created, the display within the viewport must be set to show the correct part of the model space drawing.



Create floating viewports after the title block has been inserted.

Position the viewports so they do not interfere with the title block.



Floating viewports are created using

The Viewports dialog box (VIEWPORTS)

OR

The MVIEW and -VPORTS command.



1. Create the first viewport using the Viewports dialog box.

The model space drawing is visible in the

viewport.



2. Create a second viewport.



3. Double-click in the new viewport to enter model space.



4. Use the XP option of the ZOOM command to scale the drawing.

Use realtime panning to display the part of

interest in the drawing.



5. Double-click outside of the viewports to activate paper space.

Re-size the viewports with

Grips or the

STRETCH command.



Using multiple viewports in a layout allows you to illustrate different aspects of the drawing.

Using multiple layouts, various types of drawings can be created from a single drawing model.



CAUTION !

If you use zoom to adjust the drawing inside the viewport, the drawing may no longer be to scale.

Always use the ZOOM XP option to properly scale the drawing inside the viewport.


Managing Layouts


Managing Layouts

The LAYOUT command allows you to manage layouts.

Access this command by:

Typing LO or LAYOUT at the Command:

prompt:

Command: LO or LAYOUT

Enter layout option

[Copy/Delete/New/Template/Rename/SAveas

/Set/?] <set>:


Managing Layouts

Options are also available

In the Layouts toolbars

OR

The Layout cascading menu of the Insert

pulldown menu.

OR

Right-click a layout tab to display the layout

shortcut menu.


Setting the Current Layout



The current layout is identified by the highlighted tab at the bottom of the drawing area.

To set the current layout, pick the layout tab using the cursor.



Make the appropriate layout set as current before selecting the command.

If you work at the Command: prompt, the current layout is the default but you can specify a different layout.


Listing Layouts


Listing Layouts

All layout tabs may not be visible

If a drawing has several layouts

or

Layouts have long names.

Use the four buttons to the left of the tab list to view the tabs.


Listing Layouts

The two outer arrows display the left and right ends of the tab list.

The inner arrows move the list one tab in the indicated direction.

The “current tab” remains the current tab.


Listing Layouts

Use the ? option of the LAYOUT command to list all layouts within the drawing.

Switch to the AutoCAD Text Window to view the list.

Hit the [F2] function key.


Creating a New Layout



Use several methods to create new layouts.



1. A new layout can be created from “scratch”.

This is similar to the default layouts created

with the Start from Scratch and Use a Wizard

setup options.



2. Copy Layouts from existing drawing and template files.



3. Copy a layout within the drawing to create a new layout.


New Layout From Scratch

Create a new layout by:

Use the New option of the LAYOUT command

to create a new layout.

OR

Select New Layout from the Layout cascading

menu in the Insert pull-down menu

OR

Pick New Layout button in the Layouts toolbar

OR



Right-click on a layout tab

Select “New layout” from the layout shortcut

menu.

The following prompt appears:

Enter new Layout name <Layout3>: (type a

name or accept default name)



The layout name appears on the layout tab.


New Layout From Template

This option creates a new layout based on a layout stored in an existing drawing or template file.



Select this option by

Using the Template option of the LAYOUT

command

OR

Selecting Layout from Template... from the

Layout cascading menu in the Insert pull-

down menu

OR

Picking the Layout from Template button in

the Layouts toolbar.



Select this option by OR

Right-click on a layout tab and select From

template... in the layout shortcut menu.



The Select File dialog box is displayed

The Acad2OOO\Template directory is selected by default.

Select the drawing file or template file containing the layout to be copied

Pick the Open button.



Selecting the command option from the shortcut or pull-down menu, the Insert Layout(s) dialog box appears.



Highlight the layout(s) you want to copy

Pick the OK button.



If you select this option from the command line or use the Layout from Template button, the Insert Layout(s) dialog box does not appear.

Instead, you are prompted to enter the name of the layout to copy.


Copy Layout in Drawing

You can create a new layout by copying an existing layout.

Enter the name of the layout to copy

Then, enter the name for the new copy.



The current layout is the default layout to copy.

If a name for the COPY is not entered, AutoCAD uses

The current layout name plus

A number in parentheses.



You can also copy an existing layout by selecting Move or Copy... from the layout shortcut menu.

This option provides no opportunity to change the layout to be copied.



The Move or Copy dialog box appears.

Activate the Create a copy check box.

Select which layout the new layout tab should be to the left of.

The default name is automatically assigned to

the new layout.

Use the Rename option to change it.


Renaming a Layout


Renaming a Layout

The name of the layout appears on its tab.

Layouts created by default are named Layoutn, where n is a number.


Renaming a Layout

A layout created by copying another layout has the same name as the initial layout, followed by a number in parentheses.

For example, the first copy of Layout2 is named Layout2 (1).


Renaming a Layout

Name Layouts with a descriptive name.

36x24

11x8.5

Rename layouts using the Rename option of the LAYOUT command

OR

By selecting Rename from the layout shortcut menu.


Deleting a Layout


Deleting a Layout

Delete a layout using the Delete option of the LAYOUT command.

You can also delete the active layout by right-clicking and selecting Delete from the layout shortcut menu.


Saving a Layout


Saving a Layout

Use the Saveas option of the LAYOUT command to save a single layout as a drawing template or drawing file.


Saving a Layout

The following is the command sequence:

Command: LO or LAYOUT

Enter layout option

[Copy/Delete/NewfTemplate/Rename/SAveas

/Set/?] <set>: SA

Enter layout to save to template <current

layout>:

(enter name of layout or accept default)


Saving a Layout

The Create Drawing File dialog box appears.


Saving a Layout

Save the layout in a DWT, DWG, or DXF file.

Enter the file name and pick the SAVE button.

The layout is now saved in the new file.


Plot Device Selection and

Management


Determining

Drawing Scale Factors


Scale Factors

The proper scale factor is important.

Scale factor determines

Text height

Dimension values

Dimension entity sizes (arrowheads/tic marks)


Scale Factors

Scale factor is always a reciprocal of the drawing scale.

If you wish to plot a drawing at a drawing scale of 1/2” = 1” (1/2 scale), the scale factor would be:

1/2” = 1”

0.5” = 1”

1/0.5 = 2

The scale factor is 2.


Scale Factors

An architectural drawing that is to be plotted at a drawing scale of 1/4” = 1’-0” (1/48th scale), has a scale factor calculated as follows:

1/4” = 1’-0”

0.25” = 12”

12/0.25 = 48



Scale Factors

The scale factor for a civil engineering drawing that has a drawing scale of 1” = 60’ (1/720th scale) is calculated as follows:

1” = 60’-0”

1” = (60 x 12) = 720

720 / 1 = 720



Converting to Inches from MM

Converting a drawing from millimeters to inches:

1” = 25.4 mm


Scaling The Plot


Scaling The Plot

AutoCAD geometry is always created FULL SCALE.

The drawing is scaled down to fit on the sheet size.


Calculating The Drawing Area and

Limits


Drawing Area / Limits

To calculate the available area on a sheet of paper at a specific scale, use this formula.

Scale factor x media size = Limits



The limits of a B-size sheet (17”x 11”) of paper at 1/2”=1”

2 x 17 = 34 (x distance)

2 x 11 = 22 (y distance)

The limits are 34,22



The limits of a C-size sheet (24”x 18”) of paper at 1/4”=1’-0”.

48 x 24 = 1152” (x distance)

1152” = 96’-0”

48 x 18 = 864” (x distance)

864” = 72’-0”

The limits are 96 feet, 72 feet.

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