Annotative Scale in AutoCAD is a powerful feature that allows you to create and display annotations at different scales within the same drawing. This feature is particularly useful when working on projects that require multiple scales, such as architectural or engineering plans.
What is Annotative Scale?
Annotative Scale is a property that can be applied to text, dimensions, hatches, and other annotation objects in AutoCAD. When an object is set to annotative scale, it automatically adjusts its size and appearance based on the scale of the viewport in which it is displayed.
By using annotative scale, you can create annotations that are legible and proportionate across different viewports with varying scales. This eliminates the need to manually resize and adjust annotations for each viewport, saving you time and effort.
How Does Annotative Scale Work?
When you apply annotative scale to an object in AutoCAD, the object becomes “annotatively aware.” This means that it can recognize and respond to changes in scale within different viewports.
To use annotative scale effectively, you need to define a set of annotation scales that match the scales commonly used in your drawings. These scales can be added or modified using the “Scale List” dialog box.
Defining Annotation Scales
- In AutoCAD: To define annotation scales in AutoCAD, go to the “Annotation” tab on the ribbon and click on the “Scale List” button. In the Scale List dialog box, you can add new scales or modify existing ones.
- In AutoCAD LT: In AutoCAD LT, annotation scaling is available only in paper space.
To define annotation scales, open a layout tab and select “Drawing Utilities” > “Drawing Setup.” In the Drawing Setup dialog box, you can add or modify annotation scales.
Applying Annotative Scale
Once you have defined the annotation scales, you can apply annotative scale to objects in your drawing.
- In AutoCAD: To apply annotative scale to an object in AutoCAD, select the object and open its properties palette. In the “Misc” section of the properties palette, find the “Annotative” property and set it to “Yes.”
You can also control which annotation scales are assigned to the object by clicking on the “…” button next to the “Annotation Scale” property.
- In AutoCAD LT: In AutoCAD LT, applying annotative scale is similar. Select the object and open its properties palette. Set the “Annotative” property to “Yes,” and choose the desired annotation scales from the list.
Viewing Annotated Objects in Different Scales
To see how your annotated objects adjust based on different scales, you need to create viewports in your layout. Viewports are windows that display different portions of your drawing at different scales.
To create a viewport in AutoCAD, go to a layout tab and use the “Viewport” tool from the ribbon. Once you have created a viewport, set its scale using one of your defined annotation scales. The annotated objects within that viewport will automatically adjust their size and appearance accordingly.
The Benefits of Annotative Scale
Annotative Scale offers several benefits that make it a valuable tool for drafting and design:
- Consistency: Annotated objects remain consistent across different viewports and scales, ensuring that your drawings are clear and professional-looking.
- Efficiency: By using annotative scale, you can save time by avoiding the manual resizing and adjustment of annotations for each viewport.
- Flexibility: Annotative scale allows you to easily switch between different scales without having to individually modify each annotation object.
With annotative scale, you can streamline your drafting process and create drawings that are accurate, visually appealing, and adaptable to different viewing conditions. It’s a valuable feature that every AutoCAD user should be familiar with!