Gaps in my understanding....please help fill the gap

[ASH_CAD]

Q1 - I've set up my A3 template and it looks fine in Layout. However, when I plot using DWG to PDF plotter with a custom A3 paper with 1mm border. The PDF created always offsets the title block by say 15mm on the bottom despite x and y offsets set to 0.

 

Q2 - I've re-used a title block with nice layout. The smaller text is unreadable when plotted. I've tried changing the line weight of the Arial text in PS to 0.15 and lower but does not seem to change text in PDF.

 

John

[Grant]

Q1 - under 'plot offset' in the plot dialog box click 'center the plot' - may give a difference

Q2 - Look at combining colours to your plot thicknesses by using the 'Plot Style Table(pen assignments)' also in the plot dialog box. When you do this you will be able to change the colour of your text and the ctb file you make will change the thickness to what you want.

 

Hope this helps

[eldon]

  ASH_CAD said:

Q2 - I've re-used a title block with nice layout. The smaller text is unreadable when plotted. I've tried changing the line weight of the Arial text in PS to 0.15 and lower but does not seem to change text in PDF

 

This is the trouble with TrueType fonts. When you make a PDF with small sized text, the pixels seem to coalesce to form an unreadable blob. You might get more legibility if you change to an AutoCAD shx type font.

[ASH_CAD]

Thanks

 

When I plot using Layout the "Centre the plot" option is greyed out.

 

I've tried adjusting the pen set by using Colour 6, Pen 6, for example, which has a line weight set to 0.18mm

 

I seem to be limited on the number of fonts available to 4 (probably set by the source of the title block), I can not see AutoCAD six type font.

[ReMark]

Change the option (Plot area > What to plot) from Layout to Display then you should be able to check off the "Center the plot" option although most times leaving it at Layout will center the plot automatically.

 

AutoCAD fonts have a SHX file type extension not a SIX file type extension.

 

Drawings do not open up with every font already loaded. If you want a particular font and it is not loaded then YOU have to load it. Do you know how to do this?

[ASH_CAD]

ReMark

 

No luck, I'm afraid... very weird. When I use Display and Centre, the drawing offsets to the left almost off the PS. Could it be something to do with me creating a custom paper size (A3 dimensions but with only 1mm border all round names "A3 no border"?

 

No, idea how to load new fonts but i've created my own Title Block and used the txt.shf. Not as nice but seems to plot better.

[ReMark]

This is where it all starts re: new text style. Command: STYLE

[ReMark]

Your next step.

[ReMark]

Followed by this.

[ReMark]

The final step. Testing.

 

BTW...they are SHX fonts if you are talking about the ones that come with AutoCAD. The other available fonts are TTF (TrueType) and they ship with Windows. Let's try to keep our terminology in sync OK?

 

Re: plotting.

 

I think you are doing something wrong. Attach a copy of the DWG file you are using to your next post. Tell us exactly what you want to print and what size paper you want to print it to. If need be draw a rectangle around the area of the drawing you are interested in printing. Also tell us if it has to be to a particular scale or not.

[ASH_CAD]

ReMArk

 

 

DWG attached.

 

I am simply trying to create a DWT so that my Title Block appears every time I open a new file. Which it does, fine.

 

The Issue I have is that when I Plot in PS using DWG to PDF.pc3 and selecting my custom paper size (A3 with 1mm border)

 

The PDF created places the Title Block off centre, for example, if I plot using Extents it places it about 20mm offset upwards.

 

I am guessing this shouldn't be this hard

ASH_CAD.dwgFetching info...

[ReMark]

First. Prior to saving your drawing you should have done a Zoom > Extents.

 

Second. The dashed line you see represents the printable area. In your "full bleed" A3 this dashed boundary roughly measures 418x294. Your outer border measures 400x281 and your inner border measures 380x261. I see no reason for the outer border. You are just wasting valuable drawing space.

 

Third. Since you are plotting from a paper space layout it would stand to reason that you would specify "Layout" and not "Extents" where it says Plot area > What to plot. Doesn't that make sense?

[ReMark]

This is how I think you should set up your title block and border. You gain a little more drawing room.

 

BTW...I used the PEDIT command on the border and made it all one contiguous polyline.

 

Drawing has been saved back to 2007 file format. I'm using 2013.

 

ASH_CAD-2.dwgFetching info...

[ASH_CAD]

Thanks for your effort ReMark

 

If I open your version and simply Type > PLOT and change the What to plot to LAYOUT, I get the attached PDF. The title block is still not centre, which is my issue.

 

Agree with the outer border BTW, more space the better.

ASH_CAD-2-Layout2.pdfFetching info...

[ReMark]

Please clarify. There is the whole drawing that consists of the title block AND border. Then there is just the title block itself. Which do you want to see printed? I know people who first do a zoom > window of the title block itself before they save their drawings. I guess they figure it's a sure way to tell if they opened the right drawing. I always do a zoom > extents before I save.

[ASH_CAD]

ReMark

 

I want the printed Title Block to be dead centre in the middle of the page.

[ReMark]

These settings worked for me. Yes, I did test it by plotting to a PDF file.

It's up to you however to define the window.

[ReMark]

Here you go.

[ASH_CAD]

Ah, OK my fault, wrong terminology.

 

I actually want the full page border to be centred on the page and it was that I was referring to as the Title Block, sorry.

[ReMark]

I thought as much but I let myself be convinced you knew what you wanted.

 

Reminds me of a surgeon I scrubbed in with on a herniated disc operation. He asked for a specific clamp. I gave it to him. He looked at the clamp, then slowly turned, looked at me and said, "Give me what I need, not what I asked for!"