How Do You Create a Pen Table in AutoCAD?

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Creating a Pen Table in AutoCAD

Are you an AutoCAD user looking to customize your plot styles? Do you want to have more control over the way your drawings are printed?

If so, then creating a pen table in AutoCAD is what you need. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps of creating a pen table and show you how to make your drawings stand out.

What is a Pen Table?

Before we dive into the process of creating a pen table, let’s understand what it is. A pen table is essentially a file that defines the line thicknesses, colors, and plot styles for objects in your drawing when it is printed or plotted. It allows you to have complete control over how your drawings look on paper.

Step 1: Creating the Pen Table File

To create a pen table file, follow these steps:

  1. Open AutoCAD and access the ‘Plot Style Manager’ by typing ‘STYLESMANAGER’ in the command line.
  2. In the ‘Plot Style Manager’ dialog box, click on ‘Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard’.
  3. Click ‘Next’ to start creating a new plot style table.
  4. Select ‘Start from scratch’ and click ‘Next’ again.
  5. Choose a name for your pen table file and specify its location on your computer. Click ‘Next’ to proceed.

Note: Make sure to choose an appropriate name that reflects the purpose of your pen table.

Step 2: Customizing Plot Styles

Now that you have created the pen table file, it’s time to customize the plot styles according to your requirements:

  1. In the ‘Plot Style Table Editor’, select an existing plot style or create a new one by clicking on the ‘New’ button.
  2. Choose a color for your plot style by clicking on the color box next to ‘Color’.
  3. To adjust the line thickness, enter a value in the ‘Lineweight’ field.
  4. If you want to assign a specific pen number to your plot style, select it from the ‘Pen Number’ dropdown list.
  5. Once you have customized your plot style, click ‘Apply’ to save the changes.

Note: Repeat these steps for each plot style you want to customize in your pen table.

Step 3: Assigning Plot Styles to Objects

After customizing the plot styles, it’s time to assign them to objects in your drawing:

  1. In AutoCAD, select an object or multiple objects that you want to assign a specific plot style.
  2. Right-click and go to ‘Properties’ (or press Ctrl+1).
  3. In the ‘Properties’ palette, scroll down to find the ‘Plot Style’ property. Click on it and select the desired plot style from the dropdown list.

Note: You can also assign plot styles to layers by accessing the ‘Layer Properties Manager’.

Step 4: Saving and Using Your Pen Table

Now that you have customized your pen table, it’s time to save it and use it for printing or plotting:

  1. In the ‘Plot Style Manager’, click on ‘Save & Close’ to save your pen table file.
  2. To use your pen table for printing or plotting, access the ‘Plot’ dialog box by typing ‘PLOT’ in the command line. Alternatively, you can use the ‘Plot’ button on the ‘Quick Access Toolbar’.
  3. In the ‘Plot’ dialog box, under ‘Plot Style Table (Pen STB)’, select your custom pen table from the dropdown list.
  4. Configure other plot settings as per your requirements and click on ‘OK’ to start plotting.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a pen table in AutoCAD and customized your plot styles. Now, every time you print or plot your drawings, they will reflect the changes you made in the pen table.

In Conclusion

Creating a pen table in AutoCAD allows you to have complete control over how your drawings appear on paper. By customizing plot styles and assigning them to objects, you can create visually appealing prints and plots.

Remember to save your pen table file and use it whenever you need to print or plot your drawings. So go ahead and experiment with different plot styles to make your drawings stand out!