MODULE 4 - PLOTTING AND INPUTTING IMAGES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Understand the difference between Model and Layout tabs
2. Create Viewports
3. Create a Page Setup
4. Create a Plot Page Setup
5. Attach, Scale and Manage Raster Image
6. Print the output drawing

Layout and Output Drawings

Drawing Layouts
A layout may be a 2D working environment for making drawing sheets. You'll be able get to one
or more layouts from the tabs found at the bottom-left corner of the drawing range to the right of
the Model tab.
Model Space and Paper Space

There are two awesome working environments, referred to as "model space" and "paper space," in
which you can work with objects in a drawing. As you know, you create the geometry of your
model in model space.
The area inside a design layout is called paper space, where you can add a title block, show scaled
views of model space within layout viewports, and create tables, schedules, notes, and dimensions
for your drawing.

There are countless methods in which you can add new layouts or copy existing layouts.

¾ Use the LAYOUT command

¾ Right-click a layout tab
¾ Step through the Create Layout wizard
¾ Use Design Center
Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Layout
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-DF5C5E9A-113E-456E-
AFC4-4CEDAEE60A78
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-93E88E2A-3BA8-40C1-
8BF5-9A50B716EB34

Specifying the Paper Size of a Layout

The first aspect that you have to do when you access a layout tab (1) is right-click the tab (2) and
rename it (3) to something greater specific than Layout 1. For a D-size layout, ARCH D or ANSI
D might be a correct choice.
Some printers and plotters do no longer recognize the drawing orientation setting.

With the paper space feature, you can click a layout tab designed specially for exhibiting multiple
views, automatic scaling, and electronic or printing output.

Layout Viewports

A layout viewport is an object it is created on a layout tab to show a scaled view of model space.
In the illustration, model space is active and accessible from within the current layout viewport.

In a layout, when model space is active, you can pan and zoom, and whatever else that you ought
to do on the Model tab.

For Illustration;
Create a New Viewport
You’ll be able to utilize the New option of the MVIEW (make view) command to make additional
layout viewports in paper space.

1. From a layout tab, enter MVIEW within the Command window and select the New option.

2. A maximized view of model space displays temporarily and you can click on two points
as shown to outline an area.
3. Back in the layout, right-click to display a listing of scales and click on the one that you
desire to use.
4. Click a location to area the new layout viewport containing the scaled view.
Modify Layout Viewports
After you create a layout viewport, you can change its size and properties, and additionally scale
and move it as needed.

¾ For control of all the properties of a layout viewport, use the Properties palette.
¾ For the most common changes, pick out a layout viewport and use its grips.

HOW TO CREATE A VIEWPORT

1. First, create a drawing in Model Space (Model tab) and save it.

2. Select the “Layout1” tab.

 When the “Page Setup Manager” dialog box shows up, select the New button.
Then you may select the Printing device and paper size to plot on.

3. You are presently in Paper Space. Model Space shows up to have disappeared, since a
blank paper is presently before Model Space, anticipating you from seeing your drawing.
You assigned the size of this sheet within the “page setup” specified in #2 above. (The
Border, title block and notes will be drawn on this paper.)
4. Draw a border, title block and notes in Paper Space (Layout)

Now you will want to see the drawing that is in Model Space.

5. Select layer “Viewport” (You want the viewport frame to be on layer viewport)
6. Select the Viewport command utilizing one of the following:
Ribbon = Layout tab / Layout Viewports panel / or Keyboard = MV <enter>

7. Draw a rectangular formed Viewport “frame” by setting the area for the “first corner” and
after that the “opposite corner” utilizing the cursor. (Similar to drawing a Rectangle, but
don’t use the Rectangle command. You must stay within the MV command)
Locked Layout Viewports
As required by drafting traditions, the dashes and spaces in a non-continuous linetype continuously
show up at the same length in any case of the scale of the layout viewport. In the event that you
alter the scale of the layout viewport, you may have to enter REGENALL to upgrade the display
immediately.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-2B5D404A-DCAB-4AF6-
A5C1-51593B38F519

HOW TO LOCK A VIEWPORT

After you’ve got controlled the drawing inside each viewport, to suit your display needs, you’ll
need to LOCK the viewport so the display can’t be changed accidentally. At that point you will
zoom in and out and you’ll not exasperate the display.

1. Make sure you are in Paper Space.

2. Click once on a Viewport Frame.

3. Click on the Open Lock tool located in the lower right corner of drawing area. The icon
will change to a Closed Lock tool

.
Four Diverse Strategies for Scaling Views and Annotating Drawings
There are four diverse strategies in AutoCAD for scaling views, notes, labels, and dimensions.
Each strategy has preferences depending on how the drawing will be utilized. Here's a brief outline
of each of the strategies:

¾ The Original Strategy. You make geometry, annotate, and print from model space.
Dimensions, notes, and labels must all be scaled in invert. You set the dimension scale to
the inverse of the plot scale. With this method, scaling requires a small math. For
illustration, a commonly used royal scale in design is 1/4" = 1'-0" which is 1:48 scale. In
case a note is to be printed 1/4" tall, at that point it must be made 48 times as large, or 12"
tall in model space. The same scale factor moreover applies to dimensions, and an ARCH
D drawing border at that scale is 144 feet long. When the drawing is printed as a D-size
sheet, everything scales down to the right size.

¾ The Layout Strategy. You make geometry and annotations in model space, and after that
print from the layout. Set the dimension scale to 0 and the dimensions will be scale
automatically.

¾ The Annotative Strategy. You make geometry in model space,

make annotative dimensions, notes, and labels, which utilize a special annotative style, in
model space from the layout, and after that you print from the layout. Annotative object
shows as it were in layout viewports that share the same scale. The dimension scale is
consequently set to 0 and all annotative objects scale automatically.

¾ The Trans-Spatial Strategy. You make geometry in model space, make annotations in
paper space on a layout with the dimension scale set to 1, and after that you print from the
layout. Typically apparently the best, most coordinate strategy, which is why it is the
strategy of choice for this guide.

Scaling Views and Trans-Spatial Annotation

Here are the steps to take after you use the trans-spatial strategy of annotating your drawing:

1. Press the layout tab. In case you begun the drawing along with your own custom drawing
template file, a few tasks might as now have been completed: the layout might as of now be set to
D-size, and the title block might as of now have been inserted in the layout.

2. By default, paper space is active, so double-click within the layout viewport to form the model
space active. Take note that the edge of the layout viewport gets to be thicker as a result of
exchanging to model space.

3. Zoom out and center the model space view by panning. Note that the shown view will not
however be set to the proper scale.
4. Double-click outside the layout viewport to form paper space active again.

5. Open the Properties palette and after that click to choose the edge of the layout viewport.

6. Within Properties palette, indicate a standard scale of 1/4” = 1’-0” from the drop-down list. This
activity scales your view of model space accurately to the D-size drawing. You should also set the
Display Locked property from No to Yes, which can anticipate any unintentional display changes
to the view.

7. Move the layout viewport as required, and alter its edges using grips.
Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Layout
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-DF5C5E9A-113E-456E-
AFC4-4CEDAEE60A78
Setting the Plot Scale
Once you indicate a scale to output your drawing, you’ll select from a list of real-world scales,
enter your possess scale, or select Fit to Paper to fit onto the selected paper size.
Usually, you draw objects at their real size. That’s, you choose how to interpret the measure of a
unit (an inch, a millimeter, a meter) and draw on a 1:1 scale. For illustation, in case your unit of
measurement is millimeters, at that point each unit in your drawing represents a millimeter. Once
you plot the drawing, you either indicate an exact scale or fit the image to the paper.

Set a Specific Scale

After you plot, the paper size you select decides the unit type, inches or millimeters. For case, in
the event that the paper size is in mm, entering 1 under mm and 10 under Units produces a plotted
drawing in which each plotted millimeter represents 10 actual millimeters.

The outlines appear a light bulb plotted at three diverse scales.

Scale the Drawing to Fit the Page

When you plot a perspective view from model space, the view is scaled to fit the paper indeed
once you enter a scale.

When you select the Fit to Paper choice, the content boxes alter to reflect the proportion of plotted
units to drawing units. This scale is updated at whatever point you alter the paper size, plotter, plot
origin, orientation, or size of the plotted region within the Plot dialog box.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-89604826-0B55-4994-
8214-1CA93FA66985
Reference External Files and Data
Raster Images in Drawings
Raster images comprise of a rectangular grid of little squares or dots known as pixels. For case, a
photo of a house is made up of an arrangement of pixels colorized to represent the appearance of
a house. A raster image references the pixels in a particular framework.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-E6EDF33B-052A-4A7C-
AF7B-870FC6303598

Attaching Raster Images

Images can be referenced and put in drawing files, but like external references (xrefs), they are not
really portion of the drawing file. The image is connected to the drawing file through a path name.
Linked image paths can be changed or removed at any time.
By attaching images utilizing connected image paths, you can place images in your drawing and
as it were somewhat increment the drawing file size.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-E694F465-08C4-47B7-
9A68-CC6B532F566E

Scaling Raster Images

You’ll be able to control the estimate size of a raster image in a drawing to match the scale of the
drawing. You’ll indicate the raster image scale factor after you join the image so that the scale of
the geometry in the image matches the scale of the geometry within the drawing. The default image
scale factor is 1, and the default unit for all images is “Unitless.” The image file can contain
resolution information defining the dots per inch (DPI), relating to how the image was scanned.
Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-075AED05-46E8-4ABF-
812D-75D0E450FDF1

Learning Video: Attaching and Scaling Raster Image

x https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jjJ-mhebWY

HOW TO ATTACH AND SCALE AN IMAGE

1. Click Insert tab > References panel > Attach. Find

2. In the Select Image File dialog box, choose a file name from the list or enter the name of
the image file in the File Name box. Click Open.
 3. In the Image dialog box, use one of the following strategies to specify insertion point, scale,
or rotation:
¾ Choose Specify On-Screen to use the pointing device to insert the image at the
location, scale, or angle you want.
¾ Clear Specify On-Screen and input values under Insertion Point, Scale, or Rotation.
To view the unit of measurement for the image, click Details.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Reference External Files and Data
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-327B966B-161E-429C-
841F-BAC13E121367

Output a Drawing Layout to a Printer, a Plotter, or a file

What is the Difference between Printing and Plotting?

The terms printing and plotting can be utilized interchangeably for CAD output. Truly, printers
would create as it were, and plotters would create vector illustrations. As printers got to be more
capable and might produce high-quality raster images of vector information, the qualification
generally disappeared.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: Layout and Output Drawings
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-2DB9EB8C-767C-4C91-
B0A3-FFFEC4C5863A
Printing
Output a drawing layout to a printer, a plotter, or a file. Save and restore the printer settings for
each layout. Initially, individuals printed content from printers and plotted drawings from plotters.
Presently, you’ll be able to perform both with either device, so this guide will utilize the terms
‘print’ and ‘plot’ interchangeably.

The command to output a drawing is PLOT and you’ll be able to get it from the Quick Access
toolbar.
For comfort, you’ll be able to save and restore collections of these settings by title. These are
called page setups. With page setups you’ll store the settings that you simply require for diverse
printers, printing in gray scales, creating a PDF file from your drawing, and so on.

Create a Page Setup

Each layout stores its possess page setup which controls the appearance and format for showing
and printing each layout. For illustration, you would utilize the page setup to indicate the sheet
size and orientation. The Page Setup Manager is open from the PAGESETUP command, the
Application menu, and the ribbon.
To make a new page setup, click New and enter the name of the new page setup. The Page Setup
dialog box that displays next looks just like the Plot dialog box. Choose all the options and settings
that you simply need to save.

Named Page Setups

Before you plot a drawing, you must indicate the settings that decide the appearance and format
of the output. To spare time, you can store these settings with the drawing as a named page setup.
In addition, the page setup moreover incorporates numerous other settings and alternatives such as

¾ The orientation of the plot, portrait or landscape

¾ The plot scale
¾ Whether lineweights should be plotted
¾ The shading style

When you are ready to plot, you essentially indicate the name of the page setup in the Plot dialog
box, and all your plot settings will be restored. Within the taking after illustration, the Plot dialog
box is set to utilize the Hitchhiker page setup, which can output a DWF (Design Web Format) file
instead than print to a plotter.

How to Create a Page Setup

Once you select a layout tab for the first time the Page Setup Manager will show up.
The Page Setup Manager permits you to choose the printer/plotter and paper size.
These specifications are called the “Page Setup”. This page setup will be saved to that layout tab
so it will be accessible at whatever point you utilize use that layout tab.

1. Open the drawing you want to plot. (The drawing must be shown on the screen.)
2. Choose a Layout tab.

3. Click the New… button.

4. Choose <Default output device> in the Start with: list.

5. Enter the New page setup name: Setup A

6. Click OK button.
 This is often where you may select the printer / plotter, paper size and the plot offset.

7. Choose the Printer / Plotter

8. Choose Paper Size
9. Choose Plot Offset
10. Click OK button.

11. Choose the Page Setup.

12. Click the Set Current button.

 13. Click the Close button.

14. Right click on the active Layout tab and select Rename from the list.

15. Enter the new Layout name <enter>

.
Output to a PDF File
The following illustration appears how to make a page setup for making PDF files. From the
Printer/plotter drop-down list, select AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3:

Next, Select the size and scale options merely need to use:
 ¾ Paper Size. The orientation (portrait or landscape) is built into the choices within the drop-
down list.
¾ Plot Area. You can clip the region to be plotted with these choices, but more often you
plot everything.
¾ Plot Offset. This setting changes based on your printer, plotter, or other output. Attempt
centering the plot or altering the origin, but keep in mind that printers and plotters have a
built-in margin around the edges.
¾ Plot Scale. Select your plot scale from the drop-down list. A scale such as 1/4” = 1’-0” is
implied for printing to scale from the Model tab. On a layout tab, you regularly print at a
1:1 scale.

The plot style table gives data about processing colors. Colors that look great on your screen might
not be suitable for a PDF file or for printing. For illustration, you might need to form a drawing in
color, but make monochrome output. Here is how you indicate monochrome output:
The resulting Preview window incorporates a toolbar with few controls, including Plot and Close
Preview Window.

After you are satisfied with your plot settings, save them to a page setup with a descriptive name
such as "PDF-monochrome." At that point, whenever you want to output to a PDF file, all that you
simply need to do is tap Print, select the PDF-monochrome page setup, and press OK.

HOW TO PLOT FROM A LAYOUT

The previous page setup instructions were to choose the printer and paper size.
Now you need to indicate how you need to plot the drawing. You may discover the PLOT dialog
box almost identical to the Page Setup dialog box.

1. Open the drawing you want to plot.

2. Select the layout tab you want to plot.

3. Select the Plot command utilizing one of the following:

Quick Access tool bar =

or
Ribbon = Output tab / Plot panel /
or
Application Menu = Print / Plot
or
Keyboard = PLOT <enter>

The Plot dialog box shown below should appear. Select the “More Options” button
in the lower right corner if your dialog box does not appear the same as shown below
4. Page Setup name:
After you have selected the required settings you will save the new page setup and it will
appear here. If you have previously created a page setup you may select it from the drop
down list and all of the settings will change to reflect the previously saved page setup
settings.

5. Printer / Plotter:
Select the Printer that you wish to use. All previously configured devices will be listed
here.

6. Paper Size:
Select the paper size. The paper sizes appeared within the drop down list are the available
sizes for the printer that you just chosen. In the event that the size you require is not listed
the printer you selected may not be able to handle that size. For illustration, a letter size
printer cannot handle a 24 X 18 size sheet. You must select a large format printer.

7. Plot Area:
Select the area to plot. Layout is the default.
Limits plots the area inside the drawing limits.
(This option is only available when plotting from model space)
 Layout plots the paper size
(Select this option when plotting from a Layout)

Extents plots all objects in the drawing file even if out of view.
(This option only available if you have a viewport)
Display plots the drawing exactly as displayed on the screen.
Window plots objects inside a window. To specify the window, choose Window
and specify the first and opposite (diagonal) corner of the area you choose to plot.
(Similar to the Zoom / Window command)

8. Plot offset:
The plot can be moved away from the lower left plot limit corner by changing the
X and / or Y offset. If you have select Plot area “Display” or “Extents”, select “Center
the plot .”

9. Scale: Select a scale from the drop down list or enter a custom scale.
Note: This scale is the Paper Space scale. The Model space scale will be adjusted within
the viewport. If you are plotting from a “LAYOUT” tab, normally you will use plot scale
1:1

10. Plot Style Table: Select the Plot Style Table from the list. The Plot Styles determine if
the plot is in color, Black ink or screened. You may also create your own.
If you want to print in Black Ink only select Monochrome.ctb
If you want to print in Color select Acad.ctb

11. Shaded viewport options

This area is used for printing shaded objects when working in the 3D environment.

12. Plot options

Plot background = specifies that the plot is processed in the background.
Plot Object Lineweights = plots objects with assigned lineweights.
Plot transparency = Plots any transparencies
Plot with Plot Styles = plots using the selected Plot Style Table.
Plot paperspace last = plots model space objects before plotting paperspace
objects. Not available when plotting from model space.
Hide Paperspace Objects = used for 3D only. Plots with hidden lines removed.
Plot Stamp on = Allows you to print information around the perimeter of the
border such as; drawing name, layout name, date/time, login name, device name,
paper size and plot scale.
Save Changes to Layout = Select this box in case you need these settings to the
current Layout tab.

13. Drawing Orientation.

Portrait = the short edge of the paper represents the top of the page.
Landscape = the long edge of the paper represents the top of the page
Plot Upside-down = Plots the drawing upside down.
 14. Select Preview button.
Preview displays the drawing as it will plot on the sheet of paper.
If the drawing appears as you would like it, press the Esc key and continue.
If the drawing does not look correct, press the Esc key and re-check your settings, then
preview again.

15. Apply to Layout button

This applies all of the settings to the layout tab. Whenever you select this layout tab the
settings will already be set.

16. Save the Page Setup

At this point you have the option of saving these settings as another page setup for future
use on other layout tabs. In case you would like to save this setup, select the ADD button,
type a name and select OK.

17. If your computer is connected to the plotter / printer selected, click the OK button to plot,
then proceed to 19.

18. If your computer is not connected to the plotter / printer selected, click the
Cancel button to close the Plot dialog box and proceed to 19.

19. Save the drawing

This will assure that the Page Setup you have made will be saved to this file for future use.

Reference:
x AutoCAD User’s Guide: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD/Print
x http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2020/ENU/?guid=GUID-F5A39DF2-41FE-4341-
BF26-AC620B3905F3
Learning Video: Printing
x https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG6jDNoLOJo