Are you looking to plot a PDF file in AutoCAD? This tutorial will guide you through the process, step by step.
Plotting a PDF in AutoCAD can be useful when you want to convert your drawing into a portable document format for easy sharing and printing. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Prepare Your Drawing
Before plotting your PDF in AutoCAD, make sure your drawing is complete and ready for printing. Check for any missing elements or errors that might affect the quality of the final output.
Step 2: Open the Plot Dialog Box
To plot your drawing as a PDF, go to the “File” menu and select “Plot” or use the shortcut Ctrl+P. This will open the Plot dialog box, where you can configure various settings for printing.
Step 2.1: Choose Printer/Plotter
In the Plot dialog box, under the “Printer/Plotter” section, click on the drop-down menu and select a virtual printer capable of creating PDF files. This could be Adobe PDF or any other virtual printer software installed on your computer.2: Set Paper Size and Orientation
Under the “Paper Size” section, choose the appropriate paper size for your PDF output. You can select standard sizes like A4 or Letter, or specify a custom size if needed. Additionally, set the orientation to either portrait or landscape based on your requirements.3: Define Plot Area
In the “Plot Area” section, you have two options:
- Layout: Choose this option if you want to plot everything within a specific layout tab in AutoCAD. Select the desired layout from the drop-down menu.
- Window: This option allows you to define a specific area or window to plot. To use this option, click on the “Window” button, and then select the desired area in your drawing using the cursor.
Step 2.4: Adjust Plot Scale
Under the “Plot Scale” section, you can specify the scale at which your drawing should be plotted. You can choose a standard scale or enter a custom scale value. Make sure to consider the paper size and drawing complexity when setting the scale.5: Additional Plot Settings
In this section, you can further customize your plot settings:
- Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments): Choose a plot style table (CTB or STB) that defines how colors and lineweights are plotted.
- Paper Units: Select the units for paper size and printable area.
- Drawing Orientation: Choose between portrait and landscape orientations for your drawing on paper.
Step 3: Plot Options
In the Plot dialog box, click on the “Plot Options” button to access additional settings that affect how your PDF file will be plotted.
Step 3.1: Plot Transparency
If your drawing contains transparent objects or layers, enable the “Plot transparency” option to maintain transparency in your PDF output. This is particularly useful if you want to overlay multiple drawings or images in other software later on.2: Plot Object Lineweights
If you want to preserve lineweights in your PDF file, make sure to check the “Plot object lineweights” option. This ensures that lines with different lineweights will be plotted with their respective thickness.3: Plot Styles
In the “Plot style” section, you can choose whether to use color-dependent (CTB) or named plot styles (STB). Select the appropriate option based on your preference and requirements.
Step 4: Plotting
Once you have configured all the necessary settings, click on the “OK” button in the Plot dialog box to start plotting your drawing as a PDF file. Choose a location on your computer to save the PDF file and wait for the plotting process to complete.
Congratulations!
You have successfully plotted your drawing as a PDF in AutoCAD. You can now open and view the PDF file using any PDF viewer software or share it with others for review or printing.
Remember, plotting a PDF in AutoCAD allows you to create an easily shareable and printable version of your drawing. It’s a convenient way to distribute your work without worrying about compatibility issues or loss of quality. Have fun exploring this functionality in AutoCAD!