How Do I Change the Annotation Scale in AutoCAD Paper Space?

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How Do I Change the Annotation Scale in AutoCAD Paper Space?

AutoCAD is a powerful software used for creating technical drawings, and one of its key features is the ability to work in both model space and paper space. While model space is used for drafting the actual design, paper space is where you prepare your drawing for printing or plotting.

In paper space, it’s important to adjust the annotation scale to ensure that your text, dimensions, and other annotations appear correctly on the printed sheet. In this tutorial, you will learn how to change the annotation scale in AutoCAD paper space.

Understanding Annotation Scale

Before we dive into the steps, let’s briefly understand what annotation scale means in AutoCAD. Annotation scale determines how objects such as text and dimensions are displayed or plotted in relation to their size in model space.

By adjusting the annotation scale, you can control the size of annotations like text and dimensions independently from the scale of your drawing.

Changing Annotation Scale in AutoCAD Paper Space

To change the annotation scale in AutoCAD paper space, follow these steps:

  1. Open your drawing file in AutoCAD.
  2. Switch to paper space by clicking on the layout tab at the bottom of the application window.
  3. Select the viewport that contains your annotations by double-clicking inside it.
  4. Once inside the viewport, type “pscale” into the command line and press Enter.
  5. The “Set Paper Space Units/Scale” dialog box will appear.

    Here you can set a custom annotation scale or choose from a list of predefined scales. To set a custom scale, click on the “Custom Scale” radio button and enter a value in the “Custom Scale” input box. To choose from predefined scales, select the desired scale from the list.

  6. Click OK to apply the annotation scale to your viewport.

That’s it! You have successfully changed the annotation scale in AutoCAD paper space.

Now your annotations will appear correctly when you print or plot your drawing.

Tips for Using Annotation Scale

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when working with annotation scales in AutoCAD:

  • It’s good practice to set the same annotation scale for all viewports on a layout to maintain consistency throughout your drawing.
  • Remember that changing the annotation scale affects only the display and plot appearance of your annotations, not their actual size or properties.

    If you want to change the size of an object permanently, you need to edit its properties directly.

  • If you have already placed annotations in paper space and then change the annotation scale, you may need to adjust their positions or sizes manually to ensure they fit properly within the viewport.

Conclusion

Adjusting the annotation scale in AutoCAD paper space is an essential step to ensure that your drawings are accurately represented when printed or plotted. By following the simple steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily change the annotation scale and achieve professional-looking results.

Remember to consider these tips while working with annotation scales, and feel free to experiment with different scales until you find what works best for your specific drawing requirements.