Plot style configuration in AutoCAD - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Plot style configuration in AutoCAD lets you control how your drawings look when printed. It helps you set colors, line weights, and other styles for different parts of your drawing to make your printouts clear and professional.

When you want to print a drawing with specific colors or line thicknesses for different layers or objects

When your client requires certain elements to appear in black and white while others remain in color

When you need to create multiple print styles for different projects without changing the original drawing

When you want to save time by applying consistent styles to all your prints automatically

When you want to highlight certain parts of your drawing by changing their print appearance

Steps

Step 1: Open the Plot dialog box

- Application menu > Print > Plot

The Plot dialog box appears with current print settings

Step 2: Click the Plot style table (pen assignments) dropdown

- Plot dialog box

A list of available plot style tables (.ctb or .stb files) is shown

Step 3: Select a plot style table or click 'New' to create a new one

- Plot style table dropdown

The selected plot style table is applied or the Plot Style Table Editor opens for a new table

Step 4: In the Plot Style Table Editor, modify color, lineweight, screening, and other settings

- Plot Style Table Editor dialog

Changes to plot styles are previewed and saved when you click OK

Step 5: Click OK in the Plot dialog box to apply the plot style and print

- Plot dialog box

The drawing prints using the configured plot style settings

Before vs After

Before

Drawing prints with original colors and lineweights, making some details hard to see

After

Drawing prints with adjusted colors and thicker lines for important parts, improving clarity

Settings Reference

Plot style table

📍 Plot dialog box > Plot style table dropdown

Selects the set of rules that control how colors and lineweights print

Default: None

Color

📍 Plot Style Table Editor > Color column

Sets the print color for objects assigned to this plot style

Default: Use object color

Lineweight

📍 Plot Style Table Editor > Lineweight column

Controls the thickness of lines when printed

Default: Use object lineweight

Screening

📍 Plot Style Table Editor > Screening column

Adjusts the darkness of the printed color

Default: 100%

Common Mistakes

Selecting 'None' in the plot style table dropdown when you want to apply styles

No plot style is applied, so the print uses original colors and lineweights

Choose a specific plot style table like 'monochrome.ctb' or create a custom one

Changing plot style settings without saving the plot style table

Changes are lost and not applied to prints

Always click OK to save changes in the Plot Style Table Editor before printing

Summary

Plot style configuration controls how drawings print by setting colors, lineweights, and screening.

Use plot style tables to apply consistent print styles without changing the drawing itself.

Remember to select and save the correct plot style table before printing to see your changes.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a plot style configuration in AutoCAD?

easy

A. To save drawings in different file formats

B. To create 3D models from 2D drawings

C. To control how drawings appear when printed, such as colors and lineweights

D. To automate drawing creation using scripts

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand plot style configuration role

   Plot style configuration sets visual properties like color and lineweight for printing.

2. Step 2: Compare options with purpose

   Only To control how drawings appear when printed, such as colors and lineweights describes controlling print appearance; others relate to different tasks.

3. Final Answer:

   To control how drawings appear when printed, such as colors and lineweights -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Plot style controls print appearance = A [OK]

Hint: Plot styles control print look, not drawing creation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing plot styles with drawing creation tools
• Thinking plot styles save file formats
• Assuming plot styles automate drawing

2. Which of the following is the correct file extension for a color-dependent plot style table in AutoCAD?

easy

A. .stb

B. .dwg

C. .plt

D. .ctb

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall plot style file types

   Color-dependent plot styles use CTB files; named styles use STB files.

2. Step 2: Match file extensions

   .ctb is for color-based styles, .stb is for named styles, .plt and .dwg are unrelated.

3. Final Answer:

   .ctb -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Color-based plot style = .ctb [OK]

Hint: CTB = Color-based, STB = Named styles [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing up .ctb and .stb extensions
• Choosing .dwg which is a drawing file
• Selecting .plt which is a plotter file

3. Given a plot style table where color 1 is set to print as red with lineweight 0.5 mm, what will happen if an object in the drawing is color 1 and you print using this plot style?

medium

A. The object prints in red with lineweight 0.5 mm

B. The object prints in black with lineweight 1.0 mm

C. The object prints in its original color with default lineweight

D. The object does not print

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand color mapping in plot styles

   Color 1 is mapped to print as red with 0.5 mm lineweight in the plot style table.

2. Step 2: Apply plot style to object color

   Objects with color 1 print using the mapped color and lineweight, overriding original color.

3. Final Answer:

   The object prints in red with lineweight 0.5 mm -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Color 1 mapped to red, 0.5 mm lineweight = C [OK]

Hint: Plot style overrides object color and lineweight on print [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming object prints in original color ignoring plot style
• Confusing lineweight values
• Thinking object won't print if color is remapped

4. You created a new STB plot style but when printing, the styles do not apply. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The drawing is set to use CTB plot styles instead of STB

B. The plotter device is offline

C. The drawing file is corrupted

D. The printer driver is outdated

Solution

1. Step 1: Check plot style type used by drawing

   Drawings use either CTB (color-based) or STB (named) plot styles, not both simultaneously.

2. Step 2: Identify mismatch issue

   If drawing is set to CTB but you created STB styles, they won't apply during printing.

3. Final Answer:

   The drawing is set to use CTB plot styles instead of STB -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Plot style type mismatch = D [OK]

Hint: Match plot style type with drawing setting [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Blaming printer or driver instead of plot style mismatch
• Ignoring plot style type setting in drawing
• Assuming file corruption causes style issues

5. You want to create a plot style that prints all objects with color 3 as dashed lines with a lineweight of 0.25 mm, but solid lines for all other colors. Which steps should you follow to configure this correctly?

hard

A. Change the drawing colors to 3 and set lineweight manually on each object

B. Edit the CTB file to set color 3 line style to dashed and lineweight 0.25 mm; leave others as solid

C. Use STB styles to assign dashed line style to color 3 and solid to others

D. Set the printer properties to print color 3 as dashed lines

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose correct plot style type

   Since the requirement is color-based, use a CTB file to map color 3 properties.

2. Step 2: Edit CTB file for color 3

   Set color 3 to print with dashed line style and 0.25 mm lineweight; keep other colors as solid lines.

3. Step 3: Apply plot style and print

   Assign this CTB to the drawing and print to see the effect.

4. Final Answer:

   Edit the CTB file to set color 3 line style to dashed and lineweight 0.25 mm; leave others as solid -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Color-based style edit in CTB = A [OK]

Hint: Use CTB for color-based line style changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to change line style via printer settings
• Changing object colors instead of plot style
• Using STB when color-based style is needed