Importing a plot style into AutoCAD can be a useful feature when you want to apply consistent line weights, colors, and plots to your drawings. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps of importing a plot style into AutoCAD, ensuring that your drawings are not only visually appealing but also meet industry standards.
Step 1: Locate the Plot Style File
Before we begin, make sure you have the plot style file (with a .ctb extension) that you want to import. If you don’t have one already, you can download plot style files from various online sources or create your own using AutoCAD’s Plot Style Manager.
Step 2: Open the Plot Style Manager
To import a plot style, open AutoCAD and navigate to the “Plot” tab in the ribbon. From there, click on the “Plot Style Manager” button in the “Page Setup” panel.
Note:
If you can’t find the “Plot” tab or the “Page Setup” panel, right-click on any empty space in the ribbon and enable these options from the context menu.
Step 3: Importing the Plot Style
In the Plot Style Manager dialog box that appears, click on the “Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard” button.
- Note: The wizard will guide you through importing multiple plot styles if needed. For simplicity, we will focus on importing a single plot style in this tutorial.
In the Add Plot Style Table Wizard dialog box, choose whether to import a CTB (color-dependent) or STB (named plot styles) file. Select “CTB” if your plot style is color-dependent and click “Next”.
Note:
If you are unsure which type of plot style file you have, check the file extension. CTB files are color-dependent and have a .ctb extension, while STB files have a .stb extension.
Next, click on the “Browse” button to locate the plot style file on your computer. Once you have found the file, select it and click “Open”.
In the next dialog box, you can choose to rename the imported plot style if desired. Click “Next” to continue.
Finally, review the summary of your plot style settings and click “Finish” to complete the import process.
Step 4: Applying the Imported Plot Style
Now that you have imported the plot style into AutoCAD, you can apply it to your drawings.
- To apply the plot style globally:
- Select the “Plot” tab in the ribbon.
- In the “Page Setup” panel, click on “Page Setup Manager”.
- In the Page Setup Manager dialog box, select a page setup or create a new one.
- In the Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments) section, choose your imported plot style from the drop-down menu.
- Click “OK” to save your changes.
- To apply the plot style per object:
- Select an object or objects in your drawing that you want to change.
- Right-click and select “Properties” from the context menu.
- In the Properties palette, scroll down to the “Plot Style” section.
- Choose your imported plot style from the drop-down menu.
By following these steps, you can easily import a plot style into AutoCAD and ensure consistent line weights, colors, and plots in your drawings. Remember to save your changes and update your page setups if necessary. Happy plotting!