Lineweights

[Guest JoeRoscia]

I have a lineweight issue in a drawing and I was hoping someone in this forum might have an resolution.

 

I created a new layer and set the lineweight of the entities that will be drawn on that layer to 0.010", pretty thin. After creating a plot the lines were just too thin so I increased the width of the lines, in the layer manager to 0.020" figuring twice the width should be just right...no change at all to the width of the plotted lines.

 

What is going on here? I just can't figure it out....

 

Thanks!

[Ryder76]

A jump from .010 to .020 isn't significant enough to show a difference. Draw several lines on your sheet and set different weights to them - print it out and see which you like best.

[Guest JoeRoscia]

Thanks for such a quick response. That's what I thought so after not noticing any difference I did change the lineweight to 0.083" and achieved the same results-no difference....

[Murph_map]

Are you plotting with plot styles or have lineweight turn on in the plot?

 

[Guest JoeRoscia]

Plot with plot styles...

[bennyboy86]

I find it easier to use my colours to determine my lineweights. Every company has Pen settings i.e. a CTB file. Within this file are all colours and the lineweight they will print out. for example at our company a CYAN line is quite thick where a MAGENTA line is quite thin. Also if all else fails change it into a Polyline and change the 'width' of the polyline. If you are doing lots of lines would suggest having a look at the CTB file. if its a one of use a polyline. We leave all our layers lineweights set to default. hope this helps.

[rkent]

I have a lineweight issue in a drawing and I was hoping someone in this forum might have an resolution.

 

I created a new layer and set the lineweight of the entities that will be drawn on that layer to 0.010", pretty thin. After creating a plot the lines were just too thin so I increased the width of the lines, in the layer manager to 0.020" figuring twice the width should be just right...no change at all to the width of the plotted lines.

 

What is going on here? I just can't figure it out....

 

Thanks!

 

Are you printing from PS or MS? If you are plotting model space objects in a layout (paperspace) is scale lineweights checked.

 

Use the file provided or one like it to get an idea of lineweights on your printer and plotter.

PLOT LW CTB.dwg

[Guest JoeRoscia]

Bennyboy86: I am accustomed to plotting exactly how you do meaning I can tell the width of my lines just by looking at what color they are on--very, very easy. Unfortunately, the owner of the company I know work for insists on using lineweights through the layer manager, much more complicated than what it needs to be (in my opinion). Also, he is very against adding a width to a polyline-again, he wants it through the layer manager.

 

rkent: I plotted the file you attached in model space and you can see the different widths of the lines. However, when plotted through a viewport in paperspace all the lines are the same width. Where do I find the "scale lineweights" check box?

 

Murph_map: I plot with plot styles checked.

[rkent]

Plot dialog, lower middle

[Guest JoeRoscia]

I actually figureed it out--my .ctb file was modifed and that pen was set to 0.00 instead of "Use object lineweight."

 

Thanks for everyone's help!

[bennyboy86]

thats good.

 

you should try and insist back at the owner that using the CTB file much much easier and save lots of time. in the end you are the drafters and know what your doing.

[Guest JoeRoscia]

If only it was that easy to just tell him...ever hear of "micro-managing"--he may very well have developed the concept!

[irneb]

I'm just wondering if he actually wanted STB instead. The CTB works with the colours of lines, while the STB allows you to set the actual "pen" used per entity/layer independent of what colour it is. If you go with the LineWeights per entity/layer, then in both CTB & STB you need to have at least one colour/pen set to use object lineweights - otherwise the object lineweights are always ignored. So you actually have 3 options, 2 of them are mutually exclusive, but the lineweights thing can be combined.

 

Our CTB uses all ACI colours from 1 to 7 set to black, with varying penwidths (ranging from 0.08mm up to 1.0mm). 8 & 9 is set to black with object linewidth. Then all others (i.e. 10-255) is set to object colour & object linewidth. This allows for 7 different "pens" by selecting the colour only, but also allows for black and any other colour with a modify-able width. You can of course also use RGB/Pantone colours - which would always use object linewidths and object colours (no matter what's in the CTB), though RGB colours isn't as easy to work with as simply picking one (there's 16mil of them).