Creating a CTB plot style in AutoCAD can be a bit confusing at first, but it’s an essential skill to have if you want to customize your plotting preferences. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a CTB plot style in AutoCAD.
What is a CTB Plot Style?
Before we dive into the creation process, let’s briefly understand what a CTB plot style is. CTB stands for Color-Dependent Plot Style, and it is used to control how objects with different colors are plotted or printed. Unlike STB (Style-Based) plot styles that are based on object properties, CTB plot styles are based on color assignments.
Step 1: Open the Plot Style Manager
To create a new CTB plot style, you first need to open the Plot Style Manager. You can do this by navigating to the ‘Output’ tab in the ribbon and clicking on ‘Plot’ or by typing ‘PLOT’ in the command line and pressing Enter. Once the Plot dialog box appears, click on ‘Plot Style Manager’.
Step 2: Create a New Plot Style
In the Plot Style Manager dialog box, click on ‘Add-A-Plotter Wizard’ from the top-right corner. This will open a new wizard that will guide you through the process of creating a new plotter configuration.
Step 2.1: Choose Your Printer Model
In this step, you need to select your printer model from the list provided. If your printer model is not listed, you can choose any other similar model or select ‘None’ if you’re not planning to use a physical printer for now.2: Choose a Port
Next, you need to choose the port for your printer. If you’re not using a physical printer, select ‘Plot to File’ and specify the path where the plot file will be saved.3: Install the Printer Driver
If you selected a physical printer in step 2.1, you’ll be asked to install the printer driver. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the necessary driver for your printer.4: Name Your Plotter Configuration
In this step, you need to provide a name for your plotter configuration. Choose a descriptive name that will help you easily identify it later.5: Select Plotter Model Size
Select the appropriate paper size for your plotter model from the list provided.6: Specify Device Settings
If you’re using a physical printer, specify any additional device settings required by your printer, such as paper type, orientation, and scale. If you’re plotting to a file, skip this step.
Step 3: Customize Your CTB Plot Style
Once you’ve created your new plotter configuration, it’s time to customize your CTB plot style based on your preferences.
Step 3.1: Access Plot Style Table Editor
In the Plot Style Manager dialog box, select your newly created plot style from the list and click on ‘Form View’. This will open the Plot Style Table Editor.2: Modify Color Assignments
In the Plot Style Table Editor, you’ll see a list of colors on the left side and their corresponding plot properties on the right side. To modify a color assignment, simply click on the color you want to change and select a new color from the color palette or enter its RGB value manually.3: Customize Plot Properties
On the right side of the Plot Style Table Editor, you’ll find various plot properties that you can customize for each color assignment. These properties include lineweight, linetype, and screening. Adjust these properties according to your requirements.4: Save Your CTB Plot Style
Once you’ve customized your CTB plot style to your satisfaction, click on ‘Save & Close’ in the Plot Style Table Editor to save your changes.
Step 4: Apply Your CTB Plot Style
Now that you’ve created and customized your CTB plot style, it’s time to apply it to your drawings.
Step 4.1: Open Page Setup Manager
In AutoCAD, navigate to the ‘Output’ tab in the ribbon and click on ‘Page Setup Manager’. This will open the Page Setup Manager dialog box.2: Modify Page Setup Settings
Select the page setup that corresponds to the layout you want to plot. In the Page Setup Manager dialog box, click on ‘Modify’ and select your newly created CTB plot style from the ‘Plot style table (pen assignments)’ dropdown menu.3: Apply Changes
Click on ‘OK’ in both dialog boxes (Page Setup Manager and Plot dialog) to apply your changes. You’re now ready to plot using your custom CTB plot style!
Creating a CTB plot style in AutoCAD may seem daunting at first, but with practice, it will become second nature. Experiment with different color assignments and plot properties to achieve the desired result. Remember to save your custom CTB plot style for future use, as it can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.
Now that you’re familiar with the process of creating a CTB plot style in AutoCAD, go ahead and give it a try! Happy plotting!