Creating a Plot Style Table in AutoCAD
Introduction
Plot style tables are an essential component of AutoCAD, as they define how objects and layers are displayed when printed or plotted. By creating a plot style table, you can customize the appearance of your drawings to meet specific requirements or personal preferences.
In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of creating a plot style table in AutoCAD.
Step 1: Accessing the Plot Style Manager
To begin, open your AutoCAD drawing and navigate to the “Plot” or “Print” menu. From there, select the “Plot Style Manager” option.
Alternatively, you can simply type “STYLESMANAGER” in the command line.
Step 2: Creating a New Plot Style Table
Once the Plot Style Manager dialog box appears, click on the “New” button to create a new plot style table. Give it an appropriate name that reflects its purpose or use.
Step 3: Customizing Plot Style Settings
Now that you have created a new plot style table, it’s time to customize its settings based on your requirements. Here are some important options you can modify:
- Color: You can choose between color-dependent and named plot styles.
Color-dependent plot styles allow you to assign colors directly to objects or layers. Named plot styles use predefined settings for displaying objects.
- Linetypes: Define how different types of lines (continuous, dashed, dotted) appear in plotted drawings.
- Screening: Adjust the density of objects when they are plotted.
- Lineweights: Determine the thickness of lines when plotted.
Step 4: Assigning Plot Styles to Objects and Layers
Once you have customized the plot style table settings, it’s time to assign them to objects or layers in your drawing. To do this, go back to the main AutoCAD window and open the “Properties” palette by pressing Ctrl+1 or using the “PROPERTIES” command.
In the Properties palette, select an object or layer that you want to assign a plot style to. Scroll down until you find the “Plot Style” property.
Click on the arrow next to it and choose your newly created plot style table from the list.
Step 5: Applying the Plot Style Table
With objects or layers assigned to your custom plot style table, you are now ready to apply it when plotting or printing your drawing. To do this:
- Single Plot: If you want to use your custom plot style table for a single plot, go to the “Plot” menu and select “Plot.”
In the Plot dialog box, verify that your custom plot style table is selected in the “Plot style table” drop-down menu.
- Publish Multiple Drawings: If you want to use your custom plot style table for batch plotting multiple drawings, go to the “Publish” tab in AutoCAD and select “Publish Options.” In the Publish Options dialog box, click on “Add Sheets,” select your drawings, and ensure that your custom plot style table is selected for all sheets.
Tips and Tricks
- Backup Your Plot Style Tables: It’s always a good idea to make backups of your custom plot style tables, especially if you have spent time customizing them. This way, you can easily restore them if needed.
- Experiment and Refine: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different plot style settings until you achieve the desired results. Adjusting lineweights, color assignments, and screening can significantly impact the visual appearance of your plotted drawings.
Conclusion
Creating a plot style table in AutoCAD allows you to customize how objects and layers are displayed when plotted or printed. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can create your own plot style tables and apply them to your drawings with ease.
Remember to experiment and refine your settings to achieve the desired visual output.
Now that you have learned how to create a plot style table in AutoCAD, take advantage of this powerful feature to enhance the presentation of your drawings and streamline your plotting process.