Printing and Plotting Drawings in AutoCAD - Tutorial
Printing and plotting are essential processes in AutoCAD that allow you to turn your digital drawings into physical copies on paper or other media. This tutorial will guide you through the steps of printing and plotting your AutoCAD drawings accurately and efficiently.
1. Setting Up Page Setups
Before printing or plotting your drawing, it's essential to set up a page setup that defines the paper size, plot area, plot scale, and other print settings. Follow these steps to set up a page setup:
1. Type "PAGESETUP" in the command line or click on the "Output" tab and select "Page Setup Manager" from the "Page Setup" panel.
2. In the "Page Setup Manager," click "New" to create a new page setup or modify an existing one.
3. Set the paper size, plot area, plot scale, and other plot settings according to your requirements.
4. Save the page setup for future use.
2. Printing and Plotting
Once you have set up the page setup, follow these steps to print or plot your drawing:
1. Type "PLOT" in the command line or click on the "Output" tab and select "Plot" from the "Plot" panel.
2. In the "Plot" dialog box, choose the desired page setup from the "Name" drop-down list.
3. Select the printer or plotter from the "Plotter Name" list.
4. Adjust other plot settings as needed, such as plot area, plot scale, and plot offset.
5. Click "OK" to start the printing or plotting process.
3. Mistakes to Avoid
- Not setting up the correct page setup before printing or plotting, leading to incorrect printouts.
- Using the wrong paper size or plot scale, resulting in printouts that do not fit the intended paper.
- Not checking the plot preview before printing, causing unexpected output on paper.
4. Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: How do I change the plot style for printing?
A: You can modify the plot style in the "Page Setup Manager" or use the "PLOTSTYLE" command to select a plot style for the current plot.
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Q: Can I print or plot a specific area of the drawing?
A: Yes, you can use the "Limits" option in the "Page Setup Manager" to define a specific plot area, or use the "Limits" option in the "Plot" dialog box to set the plot area before printing or plotting.
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Q: How do I print multiple layouts in one go?
A: You can use the "PUBLISH" command to create a sheet set that includes multiple layouts for batch printing.
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Q: Can I save the plot settings for future use?
A: Yes, you can save the plot settings in the page setup and reuse them for other drawings.
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Q: How can I change the plot orientation to landscape?
A: In the "Page Setup Manager," you can set the plot orientation to landscape by selecting the desired option from the "Plot Rotation" drop-down list.
5. Summary
In this tutorial, you learned how to print and plot your AutoCAD drawings effectively by setting up page setups with the appropriate print settings. By avoiding common mistakes and using the correct plot settings, you can ensure that your printed or plotted drawings accurately represent your digital designs. Remember to preview your plots before printing to avoid any surprises. Happy printing and plotting!