How Do I Change the Plot Style in AutoCAD?

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How Do I Change the Plot Style in AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is a powerful software that allows you to create and design various drawings and models. When it comes to printing or plotting your drawings, you may want to customize the plot style to achieve the desired output. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of changing the plot style in AutoCAD.

Understanding Plot Styles

Before we dive into the steps, let’s briefly understand what plot styles are. A plot style is a collection of settings that define how objects in your drawing will appear when printed or plotted. It determines characteristics such as line weights, colors, and linetypes.

Accessing the Plot Style Manager

To change the plot style in AutoCAD, you need to access the Plot Style Manager. Follow these steps:

  1. Step 1:

    2. In the AutoCAD menu bar, click on the “Application” button (the big red A icon) located at the top-left corner of your screen.

  2. Step 2:

    3. In the Application menu, hover over “Print” and then select “Plot Style Manager” from the dropdown list.

Alternatively,

You can also access the Plot Style Manager by typing “PLOTSTYLEMANAGER” in the command line and pressing Enter.

Selecting a Plot Style

Once you have opened the Plot Style Manager, you will see a list of available plot styles. To change your current plot style:

  1. Step 1:

    2. Select the plot style you want to use from the list by clicking on it. You can preview the plot style in the preview area on the right side of the window.

  2. Step 2:

    3. Click on the “Set Current” button to apply the selected plot style as the current plot style.

Creating or Modifying Plot Styles

If you cannot find a suitable plot style from the available list, you can create your own or modify an existing one. Here’s how:

  1. Step 1:

    2. In the Plot Style Manager, click on the “Add” button to create a new plot style or select an existing one and click on “Edit” to modify it.

  2. Step 2:

    3. In the Plot Style Editor dialog box, you can customize various settings such as color, line weight, and linetype for different objects in your drawing. Make the desired changes and click “Save & Close” when you are done.

  3. Step 3:

    4. To apply your newly created or modified plot style, select it from the list in Plot Style Manager and click on “Set Current”.

Saving and Using Custom Plot Styles

If you have created custom plot styles that you want to use in other drawings as well, you can save them for future use:

  1. Step 1:

    2. In Plot Style Manager, select your custom plot style from the list.

  2. Step 2:

    3. Click on the “Save As” button.

  3. Step 3:

    4. Choose a location to save your plot style file and give it a name. Click “Save”.

To use your custom plot style in another drawing, you can import it by clicking on the “Import” button in the Plot Style Manager and selecting the saved plot style file.

Conclusion

Changing the plot style in AutoCAD is essential for achieving the desired appearance when printing or plotting your drawings. By accessing the Plot Style Manager and selecting or creating custom plot styles, you can fine-tune various settings to suit your needs.

Remember to save your custom plot styles for future use. Now you have all the knowledge required to change the plot style in AutoCAD!