Need guidance on Plot Style Tables

[tennis4you]

A friend of mine sent me his color dependent .ctb file and I have modified it and I am ready to give it a test run.

 

When I go into layout mode and tell it to print a PDF I see int he preview that all the lines are colored. Are they not supposed to be black and white?

 

I am new to all of this so I apologize if this is an easy one. Been using another CAD program for 12 years, I am liking AutoCAD but learning all this standard stuff is brutal.

[Dana W]

The preview always shows what the plot is going to look like.

 

A color dependent plot style will plot in color IF the output device can print in color, thus the preview is in color. Pdf files are color capable so your output pdf will also be in color.

 

If you want to print black, or your plotter can only print in black, you are wasting your efforts with that plot style table. Select the AutoDesk supplied monochrome.ctb instead. If you want your layout to show only black on white, no matter what color the drawing objects are, then make sure you have clicked the check box for "Display Plot Styles" in your page set up manager 'Modify' dialog. Of course, that assumes you have selected a plot style that is only going to plot in black on white, like the monochrome.ctb. Your layout will display whatever color the plot style is going to plot, if that box is checked. Otherwise, it will show in the same color as your drawing objects.

[tennis4you]

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

This is odd though, this is the same table his firm uses and they are all black and white. The table specifies that the main 8 colors are to print black too. So I am still curious why they want to print color.

[DANIEL]

the problem with older ctb's and new printers is that the colors plot out at gray scales, to over come this you have to set all the colors to plot out black, the fact that you have 8 colors set up this way that are still plotting in color leads me to believe you have a more complicated issue on your hands of some sort.

[Dana W]

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

This is odd though, this is the same table his firm uses and they are all black and white. The table specifies that the main 8 colors are to print black too. So I am still curious why they want to print color.

 

Hmmmmm. Is the 'Plot with Plotstyles' box checked off? Sorry, somebody has to ask if you've checked the gas guage.

 

I am still wondering why you don't use a plotstyle that you know will plot all black instead of that custom one.

[rkent]

Post the ctb you were sent, otherwise it is a continual guessing game.

[qball]

on my ctb files in Plot Style Table Editor all the Properties are set to Color: Black. It's the Lineweights and Screening that vary between colors.

Using the standard monochrome.ctb may not give you the lineweights you desire based on the colors in your drawing.

[Dana W]

on my ctb files in Plot Style Table Editor all the Properties are set to Color: Black. It's the Lineweights and Screening that vary between colors.

Using the standard monochrome.ctb may not give you the lineweights you desire based on the colors in your drawing.

 

That is right. That should have occurred to me. The monochrome.ctb is not color dependent, so it will plot lineweights as specified by the object lineweights. Hmmm. Don't remember lineweights being mentioned before. I guess I should have assumed all your lines were the same thickness, just different colors.

 

Having spent 20 or so years drawing with pencil and vellum prior to AutoCAD, Making different linetypes different thicknesses is second nature to me, sorta like breathing.

[DANIEL]

the monochrome might also grayscale certain colors depending on the printer being used, i know my old hp does not handle the monchromed colors well .

[tennis4you]

Hmmmmm. Is the 'Plot with Plotstyles' box checked off? Sorry, somebody has to ask if you've checked the gas guage.

 

I am still wondering why you don't use a plotstyle that you know will plot all black instead of that custom one.

 

I wish I knew where the gas gauge was. I do not see that option in the .ctb file or under "Options - "Plot and publish".

 

The main reason I am using this color table is because a friend of mine uses it and I assumed it would be a good start. I am so lost in all of this it is crazy.

[qball]

See if either of these help. If not, then post a similar screen shot of your setup and maybe we can figure it out.

[tennis4you]

OK, I am set to black as shown on the first image. I do have "Plot with Plot Styles" checked though. Does that need unchecked? Doesn't seem to make much different except the orange lines preview as orange, for some reason when it is checked they print black.

 

And by the way, I really appreciate everyone's help! I have used MicroStation for 12 years and knows the ins and outs of it well. I am starting my own firm in 3 weeks and I have decided to finally start using AutoCAD. The help here is a million times better (and nicer) than the one place you can go to get MicroStation help... You guys rule!

[tennis4you]

Below is my screen shot.

 

[tennis4you]

I have this resolved. I was assigning the line colors by the big palette which was using #'s to define the colors. I was then setting the plot table per the colors that used their actual names (red, blue, instead of "color 51"). Looks like I needed to check the gas gauge after all. New to all of this but learning a lot quickly.

 

Thanks all!

[Dana W]

OK, I am set to black as shown on the first image. I do have "Plot with Plot Styles" checked though. Does that need unchecked?

If you don't check that box, it will not use the plot style table at all, and plot everything straight from the object colors.