Printing a drawing from a layout in AutoCAD is a straightforward process primarily focused on the layout tab itself.
Easy Steps to Print from a Layout
The most direct method to print your CAD drawing when you are working within a layout is to use the layout tab's context menu.
According to the reference:
To print a CAD drawing from a layout, simply right-click on the Layout tab you wish to print and select Plot.
This action immediately brings up the Plot dialog box configured for the specific layout you right-clicked.
If you are currently viewing your drawing in the Model space instead of a Layout:
(If you are in Model view, go to Views and switch to the desired Layout.)
You must first switch to the specific Layout tab you intend to print before using the right-click method. You can typically do this by clicking on the desired Layout tab at the bottom of the drawing window.
Quick Summary of the Process:
- Ensure you are viewing the correct Layout tab that you want to print. If not, switch to it.
- Right-click on the desired Layout tab name.
- Select Plot... from the context menu.
Understanding the Plot Dialog Box
Once you select "Plot," the Plot dialog box appears. This is where you configure all necessary settings for your print. Because you initiated the plot from a layout, many settings are already pre-configured based on the layout's properties (like paper size and plot area).
Here are some key areas within the Plot dialog box you'll typically review:
- Printer/Plotter: Select the output device (physical printer or PDF plotter).
- Paper Size: Confirm this matches the layout's intended paper size.
- Plot Area: This should be set to "Layout" or "Layout Limits," ensuring the entire layout is captured.
- Plot Scale: For layouts, this is usually set to 1:1, as the scaling of the drawing objects is handled within the layout viewport itself.
- Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments): Choose the CTB or STB file that controls how colors and line weights are plotted.
- Drawing Orientation: Set to Portrait or Landscape as needed.
Practical Insights:
- Preview: Always use the Preview button in the Plot dialog before actually plotting. This shows you exactly how the drawing will look on the paper, allowing you to catch errors like incorrect margins, missing elements, or wrong orientations.
- Apply to Layout: After configuring settings in the Plot dialog, you can click "Apply to Layout" before clicking "OK." This saves your current plot settings to the layout, so they are remembered the next time you plot from that tab.
- Page Setup Manager: For more permanent configuration and to save different print settings for the same layout, you can access the Page Setup Manager by right-clicking the layout tab and selecting "Page Setup Manager...". This allows you to create, modify, and apply saved page setups.
By right-clicking the layout tab and selecting Plot, you initiate the primary workflow for printing your carefully composed drawings from a dedicated layout space.
