Cadtales

CHOOSING PLOT CONTROLS
COLOR VS STYLE DEPENDENT
PLOT STYLES

by Jim Rogers, CADreps

Plotting - or the process of getting your drawing on paper - has always been as much “guess” as science. The introduction of Plot Styles, in contrast to Color Dependent configurations (simple color assignments) added an additional level of confusion. In this text we will use “Style” (with CAPS) to indicate the Plot Style feature in AutoCAD, and “style” to refer to a collection of settings in a file to control plotting. To fully understand the differences and the benefits of each lets first look at their respective operational features.

Color dependent plot styles originated with the first version of AutoCAD and rely on a simple table to cross-reference screen colors to a list of printed colors, line types (LT) and line weights (LW). This table is called a “Plot style table (pen assignments)” and is stored in a *.CTB file. An assigned color can represent another color, a line type or a line weight.

If the “Display plot styles” box is checked you will see what the plot will look like while working in a paperspace layout. Pull down the list arrow to select other plot styles. Select the Styles Editor button to open the Plot Style Table Editor to edit an existing or create a new style. The “monochrome.ctb” file, shown above, assigns a plot color of “black” to each screen color.

Color Dependent plot styles are “post processes” in that they redirect a particular setting inside the drawing to an entirely different color, line weight or line type during the plotting operation.

Style dependent plot styles also utilize a Plot style table but only to define or configure a “Style” rather than to cross-reference object properties. Default styles are Normal & Style1 and are stored in *.STB files. In Style Dependent (STB) drawings plotted colors, LW and LT are controlled by object properties (set discreetly, or by layer in the Layer Properties Manager) and then modified by the style setting in the Plot style column of the same dialog box. A “Plot style” layer setting assigns a Style and the Style controls the assignment of object properties (color, LW, LT, etc.)! The monochrome.stb file, shown above, assigns the style Normal or Style1 to each pen color. A Style setting of Normal (see the graphic below) will gray-out the property choices and plot the object color even though the Style name is monochrome.

A Style setting of Style 1 (see the graphic below) will enable the property choices and you may chose between “use object color” or an alternate color assignment.

To create a new style open any existing Style, make selected changes and save-as a new Named plot style.

Now we have enough information to choose between the CTB or STB plot configurations and we make that choice at the very beginning – when we start a new file using a Template. Starting a new file from “scratch” (without a template) will default to a CTB drawing file.

To start a new drawing and choose between CTB and STB styles, start the drawing from a template with the plot configuration you want to use. Start a new drawing from a CTB template and note the “Color_1, Color_7” assignments in the Plot style column of the Layer Properties Manager. The settings reflect the colors assigned to each layer and are grayed-out and cannot be changed in this dialog box.

Start a new drawing from an STB template and note the “Normal, Style 1” assignments in the Plot style column of the Layer properties Manager. These style settings can be adjusted at anytime to suit your plotted output needs.

To make Style assignments to layers open the Layer Properties Manager and make changes in the Plot style column. Clicking on a setting will open the Select Plot style dialog box where you can choose a Named Plot Style (a collection of styles), and then chose the Style setting you need.

Q How can I tell if my drawing file is color or Style based?
A Open the Layer Properties Manager and look at the Plot style column. Color dependent files will have a list of colors and/or color numbers. A Style based drawing will list Style names, Normal, Style1, etc.

Q Can I change a color dependent file to a Style dependent file?
A Yes. It’s a two-step process – too lengthy to discuss here. (See CONVERTCTB and CONVERTPSTYLES commands in AutoCAD Help). A work-around is to unlock, thaw & turn on all layers. Copy all the file contents to the clipboard with a (0,0,0) base point. Open a new file from the desired template. Paste the content into the new drawing. Do this operation once for model space entities and again for each layout.

Plot Styles add a new dimension of flexibility and control to your plotting options. When combined with Gradient Hatches, Shaded Viewports, Layouts, printer features and the Publish command your business has an unprecedented opportunity to print and publish functional, as well as, truly beautiful documents.