Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Page setups specify the plotter, paper size, and other plot settings that you use to plot a
particular layout or the model space of a drawing. AutoCAD maintains separate page
setups for model space and for each paper space layout. When you click the Apply to
Layout button in the Plot dialog box (or select the Save Changes to Layout check box
and then click OK to plot), AutoCAD stores the current plot settings as the page setup
for the current layout.
When in doubt, send it out
Whether you plot to scale or not, with different lineweights or not, in color or not, consider using a ser-
vice bureau for some of your plotting. In-house plotting on your office's output devices is great for small
check plots on faster laser or inkjet printers. Large-format plotting, on the other hand, can be slow and
time-consuming. If you need to plot lots of drawings, you may find yourself spending an afternoon load-
ing paper, replenishing ink cartridges, and trimming sheets.
Good plotting service bureaus have big, fast, expensive plotters that you can only dream about owning.
Also,
they're
responsible for babysitting those fancy devices, feeding them, and fixing them. As a bo-
nus, service bureaus can make blueline prints from your plots if you need to distribute hard-copy sets
to other people.
The only downside is that you need to coordinate with a service bureau to make sure it gets what it
needs from you and can deliver the kinds of plots you need. Some service bureaus plot directly from
your DWG files while others ask you to make PLT (plot) files. Some service bureaus specialize in color
plotting while others are more comfortable with monochrome plotting and making blueline copies.
When you're choosing a service bureau, look for one that traditionally has served drafters, architects,
and engineers. These service bureaus tend to be more knowledgeable about AutoCAD, and they should
have more plotting expertise than the desktop-publishing, printing, and copying shops.
Whomever you choose, do some test plots well before the day that important set of drawings is due.
Talk to the plotting people and get a copy of their plotting instructions. Have the service bureau create
some plots of a couple of your typical drawings and make sure they look the way you want them to.
If you do lots of plotting with a service bureau, look into whether you can charge it to your clients as an
expense (just like bluelines or copying).
You can also give page setups names and save them. The advantage of doing so is that
you can switch quickly between different plot settings and copy plot settings from one
drawing layout to another. Named page setups are stored with each drawing, but you
can copy them from another drawing into the current one with the Page Setup Manager
dialog box (described later in this section).
