Plotting (Printing): Free AutoCAD Tutorial

Topics Covered in This AutoCAD Tutorial:

Plotting (Printing), Check Plotting

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

In this exercise, you'll master the art of plotting layouts in AutoCAD. Understanding the distinction between "plotting" and "printing" is crucial for CAD professionals: while the terms are often used interchangeably, plotting encompasses a broader range of output methods, from traditional paper prints to sophisticated CNC machine fabrication files. This fundamental skill separates novice users from proficient CAD technicians who can deliver professional-quality output consistently.

Plotting (Printing)

Now that you understand the importance of proper plotting procedures, let's walk through the process step by step.

1. You should still have Layouts-Banquet Hall.dwg open from the previous exercise.

2. You'll now plot your first layout using industry-standard practices. Switch to the A-Sized Layout tab. Before committing to any plot, experienced CAD professionals always preview their output—this simple step prevents costly mistakes and paper waste. Select Preview from the File menu or type PREVIEW ENTER. The Plot Preview dialog box will display exactly how your finished plot will appear, allowing you to identify and correct errors before output.

   The Plot Preview reveals two common plotting issues that frequently plague new AutoCAD users. First, you'll notice the viewport edge is visible—a telltale sign of amateur work. Professional drawings maintain clean presentations by placing viewports on non-plotting layers. When viewport edges appear in Plot Preview, it typically indicates the viewport was created on an inappropriate layer.

   The second issue is equally problematic: the plot colors match the screen display colors exactly. In professional technical drawings, all linework should render in black regardless of on-screen layer colors, ensuring maximum clarity and adherence to industry standards. This color problem usually stems from missing Plot Style assignments in the Page Setup—a critical step many users overlook. You'll address both issues after closing the Plot Preview. Click the X in the circle at the top of the Plot Preview panel to close it.

   NOTE: Professional drawings require monochrome output. Color plots are reserved for specific applications like presentations or specialty drawings where color coding provides essential information.

3. Ensure you're working in Paper Space and select the problematic Viewport. The Layer Control will confirm that the viewport currently resides on the A-Walls layer—incorrect placement that violates standard CAD practices. Move the viewport to the Viewports layer immediately. The Viewports layer is preconfigured in the Layer Properties Manager with non-plotting properties, ensuring viewport edges remain invisible in final output—exactly as professional drawings demand.

4. Access the plot command by selecting Plot from the File menu or pressing CTRL–P. If the Batch Plot dialog box appears, click Continue to plot a single sheet. (Batch Plotting capabilities will be explored in Level 2 training.) The Plot dialog displays current settings assigned during layout creation, but notice the critical omission: no Plot Style has been assigned. Click the dropdown arrow on the Plot Style Table menu and change from "None" to monochrome.ctb. The .ctb file extension identifies Color Table-Based plot styles—AutoCAD's method for controlling output appearance.

   Plot Styles function as sophisticated output filters, controlling line types, weights, and colors during plotting. The monochrome style preserves your carefully planned line weights and types while converting all colors to professional black output. This plot style ships standard with acad.dwt, making it universally available across AutoCAD installations. Advanced custom Plot Style creation will be covered in Level 3 training, where you'll learn to develop company-specific output standards.

5. Click the Preview button in the lower left corner of the Plot dialog box to launch another Plot Preview check. This redundant verification step exemplifies professional CAD workflow—always preview before plotting, whether you've accessed the command independently or through the Plot dialog.

   The Plot Preview dialog now displays corrected output: all objects render in professional black, and viewport edges have vanished thanks to your layer corrections. This is what clients and contractors expect to receive. Click the Plot Preview Close button to return to the Plot dialog box and complete the process.

   

6. Now that you've configured the monochrome.ctb plot style correctly, make this improvement permanent by clicking the Apply to Layout button. This updates the layout's default settings, ensuring all future plots from this layout maintain professional standards without requiring manual intervention—a time-saving practice that demonstrates advanced AutoCAD proficiency.

7. Examine the Name field in the Printer/Plotter section, where you'll see DWG To PDF.pc3 is selected. This configuration creates PDF files rather than physical prints—a process called Plot to file that has become the industry standard for document distribution. PDF output offers several advantages: universal compatibility, file compression, and the ability to embed fonts and maintain precise scaling across different viewing platforms.

   Click OK to execute the plot command. The save file dialog that appears allows you to specify the PDF location—save it to your desktop for easy access. Double-click the resulting file to view your drawing in Adobe Acrobat or any PDF viewer, from which physical printing can be accomplished if needed. As a PDF, your drawing becomes universally accessible—anyone with Adobe Acrobat Reader (available free from Adobe) can view, measure, and print your work. This versatility makes PDF plotting the preferred method for project delivery in 2026, unless you're outputting directly to specialized plotters or large-format printers.

Plotting from the Model Tab (Check Plotting)

While layout-based plotting represents best practice for final deliverables, Model tab plotting serves an important role in the design process. This alternative method, known as Check Plotting, provides a quick way for team members to review work-in-progress without the overhead of fully formatted layouts.

1. Switch to the Model tab to explore this streamlined plotting approach. Press CTRL–P to access the Plot-Model dialog. Unlike Layout tabs with their saved configurations, Model tab plotting requires manual setup for each session—though you can save these settings as reusable page setups for future efficiency.

   Configure the following essential settings:

   • Select DWG To PDF.pc3 for the Plotter Name to maintain PDF output consistency.
   • For the Plot Style Table, choose monochrome.ctb to ensure professional black-and-white output.
   • Set paper size to ANSI A (11.5 X 8.50 Inches) for standard letter-size output. Expand the What to plot: dropdown to explore your options: Display plots only what's currently visible on screen, Extents automatically fits all drawing objects to the sheet boundaries, Limits plots objects within predefined drawing limits, and Window allows custom selection of specific areas when you click OK.
   • Choose Extents for comprehensive output and check Center the plot under Plot Offset for balanced sheet positioning.
   • Click the Add button in the Page Setup area to preserve these settings for future use.
   • Name your setup A-Size Landscape Extents—descriptive naming helps team members quickly identify appropriate settings without trial and error.
   • Note the Import option in the Page Setup Name menu, which allows you to leverage setups from other .dwg files, promoting consistency across projects.

2. Execute the Preview button to open the Plot Preview dialog box and verify proper sheet fit. The Plot button in the upper right corner provides direct plotting capability—clicking here bypasses the Plot dialog entirely, streamlining the process for verified outputs. Since you've selected DWG to PDF as the plotter, the familiar save file dialog will appear. Save the file to your desktop for comparison with your layout-based plot.

   NOTE: Model tab plotting offers manual scaling capabilities by unchecking Fit to Paper and selecting specific scales in the Plot Scale section. However, this approach often results in drawings that exceed sheet boundaries or require tedious positioning adjustments. Layout tabs with properly configured viewports provide superior scaling control and positioning accuracy—another reason why professional workflows emphasize layout-based plotting.

   For advanced users, Layout tab settings can be managed through the Page Setup Manager (accessed by right-clicking the tab). Complete layout configurations are typically established in drawing template files (.dwt), ensuring project consistency from the start. Comprehensive template configuration techniques will be covered in Level 2 training, where you'll learn to create standardized office templates that enforce company plotting standards automatically.

3. Save and close the file to complete this plotting exercise. You've now experienced both primary AutoCAD plotting methods and understand their appropriate applications in professional workflows.