AutoCAD Backstage by Wm W Wells

Appendix D: Plotter Pen Settings

Appendix C.

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Appendix E.

Standardized pen settings are not as important when using AutoCAD 2000, as the lineweight is included with the layer or entity properties. For those using release 14 or earlier the choice establishes a rigid standard that you must live with. There is no recognised standard for pen settings, so you have to make your own. Moreover, the appearance that a lineweight gives depends on the sheet size, the paper and the plottter.

My general approuch is to start with pen #1 (red) as the heaviest line, and work downwards. All pens #10 and above are a medium linewidth. Pen #5 (blue) is an exception for me. Because blue recedes visually, I use it for my finest details. Therefore, I use pen #5 for the finest linewidth.

I have a standards sheet from an architect who uses cyan (pen #4) and blue (pen #5) for the heaviest lines. White (pen #7) is the next heaviest. Grey (pen #8) is the lightest setting. This architect sets pen #9 as a "no-plot" color. Without standards, plotting shared release 14 drawings can be difficult.

Hewlett Packard LaserJet 4V

Hewlett Packard DesignJet 600

chapter index.

Appendix C.

AutoCAD Backstage home.

AutoCAD Backstage Index.

Appendix E.