SolidworksHow-ToBeginner · 3 min read

How to Plot to PDF in AutoCAD: Step-by-Step Guide

To plot to PDF in AutoCAD, open the Plot dialog by typing PLOT or clicking the Plot icon, then select DWG To PDF.pc3 as the printer/plotter. Set your paper size and plot area, then click OK to save the drawing as a PDF file.

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Syntax

The basic steps to plot to PDF in AutoCAD are:

Open Plot dialog: Use the PLOT command or click the Plot icon.
Select Printer/Plotter: Choose DWG To PDF.pc3 to create a PDF file.
Set Paper Size: Pick the desired paper size for your output.
Choose Plot Area: Define what part of the drawing to plot (e.g., Layout, Window).
Adjust Plot Scale: Set the scale to control drawing size on the paper.
Preview and Plot: Preview your plot and click OK to save the PDF.

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PLOT
Printer/Plotter: DWG To PDF.pc3
Paper Size: Select desired size
Plot Area: Layout or Window
Plot Scale: 1:1 or as needed
Click OK to save PDF

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Example

This example shows how to plot a drawing to PDF using the Plot dialog in AutoCAD.

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1. Type <code>PLOT</code> in the command line and press Enter.
2. In the Plot dialog, under Printer/Plotter, select <code>DWG To PDF.pc3</code>.
3. Choose paper size, for example, <code>ISO A4</code>.
4. Under Plot Area, select <code>Window</code> and specify the area by clicking two corners.
5. Set Plot Scale to <code>1:1</code>.
6. Click <code>Preview</code> to check the output.
7. Click <code>OK</code>, then choose a location and filename to save the PDF.

Output

A PDF file of the selected drawing area is saved to your chosen location, ready for sharing or printing.

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Common Pitfalls

Wrong Printer Selected: Not choosing DWG To PDF.pc3 will not create a PDF.
Incorrect Plot Area: Forgetting to select the correct plot area can result in blank or incomplete PDFs.
Scale Issues: Plotting at the wrong scale can make the drawing too large or too small on the PDF.
Missing Layers: Some layers might be turned off or frozen, causing missing elements in the PDF.
File Overwrite: Not changing the filename can overwrite existing PDFs unintentionally.

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Wrong way:
PLOT
Printer/Plotter: Any other than DWG To PDF.pc3
Result: No PDF created

Right way:
PLOT
Printer/Plotter: DWG To PDF.pc3
Result: PDF file created successfully

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Quick Reference

Remember these quick tips when plotting to PDF in AutoCAD:

Always select DWG To PDF.pc3 as the printer.
Set the correct paper size before plotting.
Use Window plot area to control exactly what prints.
Preview your plot to avoid surprises.
Save PDFs with unique filenames to prevent overwriting.

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Key Takeaways

Select 'DWG To PDF.pc3' as the printer to create PDF files in AutoCAD.

Define the plot area and scale carefully to get the desired output size.

Always preview your plot before saving the PDF to avoid errors.

Use unique filenames to prevent overwriting existing PDF files.

Check layer visibility to ensure all drawing elements appear in the PDF.