In AutoCAD, you can easily print a specific area of your drawing instead of printing the entire drawing. This can be very useful when you only need to print a particular section or detail of your design. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to print an area in AutoCAD.
Step 1: Select the Area to Print
To print a specific area in AutoCAD, you first need to define the boundaries of the area you want to print. There are several ways to do this:
- Window Selection: Type “W” on your keyboard or click on the “Window” button from the toolbar. Then, click and drag your cursor to create a rectangular window around the desired area.
- Polygonal Selection: Type “P” on your keyboard or click on the “Polygonal” button from the toolbar.
Then, click at each corner point of your desired area to create a polygon.
- Crossing Selection: Type “C” on your keyboard or click on the “Crossing” button from the toolbar. Then, click and drag your cursor to create a crossing window that includes both inside and outside objects.
Choose the selection method that works best for you and make sure that all necessary objects are included within the selection window.
Step 2: Set up Page Layout
After selecting the desired area, it’s important to set up the page layout correctly before printing. This includes specifying paper size, plot scale, and other settings relevant to printing.
To access these settings, go to the “Layout” tab at the bottom of AutoCAD’s interface. Then, right-click on one of the layout tabs and select “Page Setup Manager” from the context menu.
In the Page Setup Manager, click on “Modify” to edit the current page setup or click on “New” to create a new one. Here, you can choose the desired paper size and orientation, set the plot scale, adjust the plot area, and make other necessary changes.
Once you have configured all the required settings, click on “OK” to save your changes.
Step 3: Print the Selected Area
Now that you have selected your desired area and set up the page layout, it’s time to print. To do this:
- Option 1: Using the Plot Command: Type “Plot” on your keyboard or click on the “Plot” button from AutoCAD’s toolbar. In the Plot dialog box, select your desired printer/plotter and specify any additional settings if required. Finally, click on “OK” to start printing.
- Option 2: Using Ctrl + P: Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard to open the Plot dialog box directly.
From there, follow the same steps as in Option 1.
- Option 3: Using a Custom Print Button: If you frequently print specific areas in AutoCAD, you can create a custom print button for easy access. To do this, right-click anywhere in AutoCAD’s interface and select “Customize Quick Access Toolbar.” Then, choose an available icon and assign it to a print command of your choice (such as Plot or Ctrl + P).
Selecting any of these printing options will initiate the printing process based on your selected area and page layout settings.
Additional Tips:
- Print Preview: Before finalizing your print, it’s always a good idea to check the print preview to ensure that everything looks as expected. You can do this by clicking on “Preview” in the Plot dialog box.
- Plot Styles: If you are using plot styles (CTB or STB files) in your drawing, make sure to specify the correct plot style table in the Page Setup Manager before printing.
- Multiple Layouts: If your drawing contains multiple layouts and you want to print different areas from each layout, repeat Steps 1-3 for each individual layout.
By following these steps, you will be able to easily print specific areas in AutoCAD, saving time and resources while getting the exact output you need. Remember to double-check your settings and preview before printing to ensure accuracy.
Happy printing!