topic Re: XREF plotting in block despite everything set to gray in AutoCAD Forum

XREF plotting in block despite everything set to gray

tyson_sutherland — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:32:51 GMT

I have an XREF with every object in gray #8 in properties, .ctb settings, by layer, and even showing in paper space as gray, but it will plot as black. I have tried a lot of system variables, but to no success. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Re: XREF plotting in block despite everything set to gray

pendean — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:28:53 GMT

@tyson_sutherland wrote:
...but it will plot as black...

That's either a driver limitation (output is hardcoded to monochrome), or you are employing a plot style table that has no gray setting for color #8, or you have a SHADEMODE set to anything other than 2D.

Share your actual DWG file here please if you are not able to decipher the cause from the tips I offered.

Re: XREF plotting in block despite everything set to gray

tyson_sutherland — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:14:07 GMT

It looks like the problem lies within the printer driver. I was using the plotter "DWG to PDF.pc3" when AutoCAD plotted to black. When I switched to "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3" it plotted to grey. I am using a new computer. In the past, I've always used "DWG to PDF".pc3, so I'm not sure what changed.

Thank you for your help.