When working with AutoCAD, it’s important to understand where pen assignments are saved. Pen assignments refer to the mapping of colors and lineweights to specific plotter pens or other output devices. By properly setting up pen assignments, you can ensure that your drawings are printed or plotted accurately and according to your desired specifications.
Understanding Pen Assignments
Before we dive into where pen assignments are saved in AutoCAD, let’s quickly recap what they are and why they matter. In AutoCAD, each object in a drawing can have specific properties such as color and lineweight. These properties determine how the object appears on the screen and also when it is plotted or printed.
Pens in AutoCAD are virtual representations of physical pens used in plotters or printers. Each pen is assigned a unique color and lineweight combination. By assigning colors and lineweights to pens, you can control how different objects appear when plotted or printed.
The Plot Style Manager
In AutoCAD, pen assignments are managed through the Plot Style Manager. To access this tool, you can use the “PLOT” command or navigate to the “Page Setup Manager” through the “File” menu.
Once you open the Plot Style Manager, you’ll see a list of plot styles available for your drawing. A plot style is a collection of settings that control how objects are plotted or printed. You’ll typically find two types of plot styles: color-dependent plot styles (CTB files) and named plot styles (STB files).
Color-Dependent Plot Styles (CTB Files)
A color-dependent plot style assigns properties such as color and lineweight based on their assigned color index values.
When you open the Plot Style Manager, you’ll notice a list of colors on the left side. Each color corresponds to a specific pen assignment.
By selecting a color, you can modify its properties such as lineweight, screening, and dithering. These modifications will be applied to all objects assigned to that color when plotted or printed.
Named Plot Styles (STB Files)
Unlike color-dependent plot styles, named plot styles assign properties directly to objects rather than relying on color index values.
In the Plot Style Manager, you’ll see a list of named plot styles on the left side. Each named plot style has its own set of properties that can be modified. By selecting a named plot style, you can edit its properties and apply them to specific objects in your drawing.
Saving Pen Assignments
Now that we understand how pen assignments work in AutoCAD let’s discuss where they are saved.
The pen assignments are saved within the drawing file itself. When you create or modify a pen assignment using the Plot Style Manager, AutoCAD stores this information within the drawing file’s layout tab or paper space.
- For CTB files: The pen assignments are saved within the layout tab associated with your drawing file. This means that different layouts can have different pen assignments.
- For STB files: The pen assignments are saved globally within the drawing file. This means that all layouts will have the same pen assignments.
This distinction is important because it allows for greater flexibility when working with multiple layouts in a single drawing file.
In Conclusion
In AutoCAD, pen assignments play a crucial role in controlling how objects appear when plotted or printed. By properly setting up pen assignments, you can ensure that your drawings are accurately represented in the final output.
Remember that pen assignments are managed through the Plot Style Manager, which allows you to modify properties for color-dependent plot styles (CTB files) and named plot styles (STB files).
Lastly, it’s worth noting that pen assignments are saved within the drawing file itself. For CTB files, pen assignments are saved within individual layout tabs, while for STB files, they are saved globally throughout the drawing file.
With a good understanding of where pen assignments are saved and how to manage them, you’ll be able to create precise and consistent plots or prints of your AutoCAD drawings.