topic Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect in AutoCAD Forum

Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

mzjensen — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 23:03:14 GMT

Does anyone know how to accomplish this type of dithered effect when plotting to PDF? The "dot screening" is not part of the linetype definition. It needs to be done at the plotting stage. My understanding was that this is controlled by toggling "dithering" on/off in the plot style, but that doesn't produce the desired result. We are using an STB, not CTB.

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

TomBeauford — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:21:48 GMT

The standard dot linetypes leave a lot to be desired, ones using TrueType fonts require their Text Style to work but solve you issues. Adjust the dot sizes and spacing as you need in an Arial.lin file.

As Arial is a Text Style in all my templates I have Large Dot and Arrow linetypes defined in Arial.lin to avoid having to add a Wingdings Text Style I wouldn't use for anything else.

*STriangle, Solid Triangle__/_\_/_\__/_\_/_\_/_\_ S,.000000001,-.05,["\U+25BA",Arial,S=0.02,R=90,Y=-.0019],-.05 *ARROWH,Arrowhead > > > > > > > A,.000001,-3,["\U+25BA",Arial,S=3,R=0,X=-1.35,Y=-1.35],.000001,-4 *ArialARROW,Arrow1 > > > > > > > S,.000001,-3,["\U+25AC",Arial,S=3,R=0,X=-1.35,Y=-1.05],.000001,["\U+25BA",Arial,S=3,R=0,X=0.5,Y=-1.42],.000001,-4 *ArialDOT,Dot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A,0,-.125,["\U+2022",Arial,S=.05,Y=-.024],-.125 *ArialDOT2,Dot (.5x) ........................................ A,0,-.0625,["\U+2022",Arial,S=.05,Y=-.012],-.0625 *ArialDOTX2,Dot (2x) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A,0,-.25,["\U+2022",Arial,S=.05,Y=-.048],-.25

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

TomBeauford — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:30:11 GMT

We also use an STB, ours has three Plot Style levels of dithering or shading.

All output the same to PDF as they do to our plotter.

Is yours is plotting correctly but outputting to PDF differently?

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

mzjensen — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:06:02 GMT

Are you able to share some screenshots of how the lines look in AutoCAD, your plot style settings, and then how the same lines look in the PDF output?

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

dany_rochefort — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:14:56 GMT

@mzjensen I use that type of setup once in a while. I use color 252, set the ctb or stb file to '' use obeject color ''. Set the linetype to Dot, and the lineweight to 0.05. You can then use the Screening option for that color to fade it more if required... This is a pdf view

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

mzjensen — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:18:42 GMT

Thanks @dany_rochefort. I thought about doing that, but the trouble is that it doesn't preserve the character of the original linetype. You'll notice in the example image posted originally that the actual linetypes are various types of dashes. Then the dot effect is applied in addition to that, effectively "chopping up" the linetype. Overriding the linetype and forcing everything to the basic dot pattern loses that definition.

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

dany_rochefort — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:44:09 GMT

@mzjensen I see.. You trying to achieve these dithered linetypes for normal autocad lines if i understand correctly? Or you already have these original linetypes in a drawing?

Re: Plotting linetypes to PDF with dot effect

mzjensen — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:52:22 GMT

Yes, that is correct. So for a test case, just take a normal AutoCAD DASHED linetype and try to make it have the dotted/dithered effect only when plotting.