What Is STB and CTB in AutoCAD?
When working with AutoCAD, you may come across the terms STB and CTB. These abbreviations refer to two different types of plot style files that determine how objects are displayed and printed in your drawings. Understanding the differences between STB and CTB is essential for achieving the desired output in your AutoCAD projects.
STB – Named Plot Styles
STB, which stands for Named Plot Styles, is a plot style table that allows you to assign specific plot styles to individual objects or layers within your drawing. With an STB file, each color in your drawing can be assigned a unique plot style, making it easier to control the appearance of different elements.
Here’s how it works:
- Create a new layer or select an existing one.
- In the Layer Properties Manager, assign a specific color to that layer.
- In the Plot Style column of the Layer Properties Manager, select the desired plot style from the drop-down menu.
- The assigned plot style determines how objects on that layer will be displayed and printed.
The advantage of using STB files is their flexibility. You can easily modify or create new plot styles, allowing you to customize your drawings according to your preferences or specific project requirements. However, it’s important to note that if you share your drawing with someone who doesn’t have access to your custom STB file, they may experience discrepancies in how the drawing appears on their end.
CTB – Color-dependent Plot Styles
CTB, which stands for Color-dependent Plot Styles, is an alternative plot style table format in AutoCAD. Unlike STB files, CTB files define plot styles based on colors rather than individual objects or layers.
- Create a new layer or select an existing one.
- Modify the color properties in the CTB file, which determines how objects of that color will be displayed and printed.
CTB files are more commonly used in older versions of AutoCAD, as they provide a simpler approach to managing plot styles. When sharing your drawings with others, CTB files ensure consistency in appearance regardless of whether the recipient has access to the same plot styles or not. However, modifying CTB files can be more challenging compared to STB files.
Conclusion
In summary, STB and CTB are two different plot style file formats used in AutoCAD. STB files allow you to assign unique plot styles to individual objects or layers, providing greater flexibility for customization. On the other hand, CTB files define plot styles based on colors and are simpler to manage but may lack the same level of customization as STB files.
Understanding these differences will help you choose the most suitable approach for managing plot styles in your AutoCAD projects and ensure consistent and accurate printing of your drawings.