How to Print Drawing in AutoCAD: Step-by-Step Guide

To print a drawing in AutoCAD, use the Plot command by typing PLOT or clicking the print icon. Choose your printer, paper size, and plot area, then click OK to print your drawing.

Syntax

The main command to print in AutoCAD is PLOT. You can access it by typing PLOT in the command line or by clicking the print icon in the toolbar.

Key parts of the print setup include:

• Printer/Plotter: Select the device to send your drawing to.
• Paper Size: Choose the size of the paper you want to print on.
• Plot Area: Define what part of the drawing to print (e.g., Layout, Limits, Window).
• Plot Scale: Set the scale to control the size of the printed drawing.
• Plot Style Table: Controls line weights and colors in the print.

autocad

PLOT

Example

This example shows how to print a specific area of your drawing using the PLOT command.

autocad

1. Type PLOT in the command line and press Enter.
2. In the Plot dialog, select your printer from the 'Printer/Plotter' dropdown.
3. Choose the paper size, for example, 'A4'.
4. Under 'Plot Area', select 'Window'.
5. Click the 'Window' button and select the area of your drawing to print.
6. Set the plot scale to '1:1' or as needed.
7. Click 'Preview' to see how the print will look.
8. If satisfied, click 'OK' to print.

Output

Print dialog opens, preview shows selected area, and printer prints the drawing as specified.

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when printing in AutoCAD include:

• Not selecting the correct Plot Area, which can cause printing of unwanted parts or blank pages.
• Using the wrong Plot Scale, making the drawing too large or too small on paper.
• Forgetting to select the right Plot Style Table, which affects line thickness and colors.
• Not previewing the print before sending it to the printer.

Always preview your print to avoid wasting paper and ink.

autocad

Wrong way:
PLOT
Select 'Extents' but forget to zoom or pan to the correct area.

Right way:
PLOT
Select 'Window' and carefully select the exact area to print.

Quick Reference

Step	Description
1	Type PLOT or click print icon
2	Select printer/plotter device
3	Choose paper size (e.g., A4, Letter)
4	Set plot area (Layout, Limits, Window)
5	Adjust plot scale (e.g., 1:1)
6	Select plot style table for line weights/colors
7	Preview the print output
8	Click OK to print

Key Takeaways

Use the PLOT command to open the print dialog in AutoCAD.

Always select the correct plot area and scale to print the desired part of your drawing.

Preview your print before sending it to avoid mistakes and wasted resources.

Choose the right plot style table to control line appearance in the print.

Set the correct paper size and printer for your output.