topic Re: Incorrect Plot Scale in AutoCAD Forum

Incorrect Plot Scale

scross — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 20:15:14 GMT

I use AutoCAD regularly for personal use but work straight from the drawing and have very little experience with plotting. In this case I wish to have signs printed and need to save to pdf with the correct scale, however, nothing I have evaluated allows me to do this.

I went back to the basics, drew a 100mm square which annotates at 100mm the plot scale is 1:1, the units are mm, the units 1, but the plot output appears to be around 5:1 and, as in 20mm rather than 100mm.

I went to create a custom plot scale but cannot select the option, but if I select 1:10 it plots at close to 200mm but when I go back to the Sign drawing it is scaling different again. I presume there is a simple, logical answer but at the moment I feel clueless.

Thanks,

Stephen

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

pendean — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 20:19:05 GMT

@Anonymous Show your work: post your DWG file and the PDFs that you made from it here that show how "wrong" please.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

TomBeauford — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 02:43:32 GMT

I don't know of any standard square paper sizes and you need a paper size to plot.

If you're plotting on roll paper create a custom size with the height the same as the width of the roll.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

Pointdump — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 06:11:55 GMT

Hi Stephen,
"...when I go back to the Sign drawing it is scaling different again."
You lost me there. Probably best to post your drawing.
Dave

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:22:47 GMT

Hello @scross

Are you printing from modelspace or layout tab?
Would it be possible to upload an image of the plot window showing your print settings? (The one you used on your 100mm square that printed at ‘20mm rather than 100mm.’)

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

scross — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:48:48 GMT

Thanks for all the prompt responses, and sorry for any confusion.

In response to Chicagolooper, I am attempting to generate a PDF from a layout tab.

I have no idea why but when I click on the viewport it states custom scale 0.1842, which explains why the scale is off by approx a factor of 5, but at least to me, not what process I am approaching wrong. I tried setting the viewport scale to 1, but then the drawing vanished.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

TomBeauford — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:10:00 GMT

Opened your drawing and all you need to do is set the scale of the viewport to 1:1 for it to plot correctly.

Your Capture.JPG shows you plotting the layout 1 to 1 already. The Model Space scale seems to be the only issue.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

scross — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 19:29:24 GMT

Thanks heaps. I think this is where I have struggled in the past with any attempts at plotting - as in why is the model space scale not already 1:1 and how do you set it to that by default. I have looked in options and cannot identify a setting and in the model space I cannot see a setting.

Thanks.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

TomBeauford — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:24:42 GMT

By Zooming to Extents then setting the viewport scale to 1:1 your drawing was centered at the scale you wanted with two clicks. As Zooming in a viewport changes the viewport scale I wouldn't have been able to fix the drawing with the viewport locked.

Once your drawing is in the position and scale you want it's best to lock the viewport by clicking the lock icon in the status bar at the bottom after either selecting the viewport or switching into the model space of that viewport.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

RobDraw — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 22:41:20 GMT

@scross wrote:
Thanks heaps. I think this is where I have struggled in the past with any attempts at plotting - as in why is the model space scale not already 1:1 and how do you set it to that by default.

I don't think he meant the model space scale. You are correct in that it is and should always be 1:1. I think he meant the viewport scale, which you've already identified as the issue. Set the VIEWPORT scale to 1:1 and try printing again.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

pendean — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:00:02 GMT

@scross None of your layouts are set to a plot scale

You assumed AutoCAD can read your mind 😉

Either select a scale from that bottom icon

Or create a named view in modelspace with CANNOSCALE set to your desired plot scale, then use MVIEW command's NAMED sub-option to create your layout viewports.

Now you know.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

WeTanks — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:14:34 GMT

Please take a look at this recording.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

dany_rochefort — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:21:06 GMT

@scross There is no scale setting in modelspace other than Annotative (which is for the size of text and dimensions).

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

gkreuter4GRKA — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:26:51 GMT

Also, it's not 100mm, it's 100"

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

scross — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 19:47:17 GMT

Thank you everyone for the great insights and clarifications. It is all my fault, because I only use enough functions to create the drawings I require on the run and do not have a complete enough knowledge of the commands, processes and tools available. What I have done is familiarise myself in part with the functions in the bottom toolbar and the workspace scale is not displayed, so it escaped my perception. I just searched to add it but cannot locate how to add it in from customisation options.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

TomBeauford — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:01:53 GMT

If by workspace you mean layout the scale is always 1:1, no need to change anything there.
All you needed to do to that drawing was switch into Model Space (where the viewport scale becomes visible below) then Zoom to Extents and set the viewport scale to 1:1.
Hope that makes it clear.

Re: Incorrect Plot Scale

scross — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 20:21:15 GMT

Thank you, I thought I had tried both the Model and Layout space, but clearly not.

Very informative everyone.