The dashed line in AutoCAD paper space is a crucial element that helps to differentiate between the model space and the paper space. Understanding its purpose and how to work with it is essential for creating accurate and visually appealing drawings.
What is AutoCAD Paper Space?
AutoCAD provides two distinct spaces for creating drawings – model space and paper space. Model space is where you create your actual drawing, while paper space represents the final output on a physical sheet of paper or a digital file.
When you work in model space, you design your objects at their true size, without any consideration for how they will fit onto a specific sheet of paper. Paper space, on the other hand, allows you to arrange and scale your drawing to fit neatly within a defined layout.
The Purpose of the Dashed Line
The dashed line in AutoCAD paper space serves as a boundary between the model space and the layout viewport. It signifies where the drawing ends and where the layout elements begin. This visual separation helps you understand how your drawing will appear on the final printed or plotted sheet.
By default, AutoCAD displays a dashed line around each viewport in paper space. This boundary indicates the extent of the viewable area within that viewport. Any objects placed outside of this dashed line will not be visible when you plot or print your drawing.
Working with Dashed Lines
To modify or customize the appearance of the dashed line in AutoCAD, you can use various commands:
- VPCLIP: This command allows you to clip objects outside of the viewport boundary.
- VPLAYER: Use this command to control whether layers are displayed inside or outside of viewports.
- VPDISPLAY: With this command, you can control the visibility of layers within a viewport.
- VPMAX: This command maximizes the viewport to fit within the paper space layout.
- VPMIN: Use this command to minimize the viewport to its original size.
- REGEN: This command updates the display of viewports and regenerates the drawing.
By utilizing these commands, you can ensure that your drawing is accurately displayed within the paper space layout and that no important elements are cut off during plotting or printing.
In Conclusion
The dashed line in AutoCAD paper space is a visual indicator that helps separate the model space from the layout viewport. Understanding its purpose and how to work with it is crucial for creating drawings that accurately represent your design intent when printed or plotted. By utilizing commands like VPCLIP, VPLAYER, VPDISPLAY, VPMAX, VPMIN, and REGEN, you can modify and control the appearance of dashed lines to ensure your drawing fits neatly onto the final output.