CTB Plot Style Problem --> 250 plot 255

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am trying to edit my ctb plot style.  I'd like to use color 250 as my hatch color.  I need it to be almost black in model space and then have the hatch appear white in paper space and printing.

In my plot style editor I am trying to change 250 print color to 255. I am confused as why my CAD wont let me choose white (255) as a color.  

The attached screen shots show the issue I am having. 

Thanks 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am a bit confused by your attached image. It doesn't (in my head) sound like you are doing the same thing you describe in your post.

I suggest that in the Plot Style Editor, that you select the color 250 and the left and then on the right don't select Use Object Color. Simply set it to 255.

Does that help? Or am I misunderstanding the issue?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

My apologies if I am not clear.  

Yes, in plot style I want to set color 250 to print as 255. The problem I am having is my plot style is not letting me choose color 255. Whenever I select it in the options and the click 'ok' the color reverts back to its normal present.  This is only an issue with trying to set colors to prints as 255.  

I hope that makes more sense.   

[pendean · Accepted solution]

250-255 are faded shades that will almost disappear from prints the higher the number is: but in your image you are assigning an RGB true-color to these pen numbers. CTB files settings ignore RGB Truecolor settings, that's by design.

Why are you assigning an RGB color to pens 250-255 which by their nature already do what you want if you leave then as USE OBJECT COLOR?
I keep pens 250 through 255 in my CTB set to
COLOR: Use OBJECT COLOR
DITHER and GRAYSCALE: off
Pen #: Automatic
SCreening: 0

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Is it possible to attach a sample drawing and your plot style? I would like to see what I can do with it on my Mac.

Also, does it work if you select RGB 255,255,255 as the color?

[Anonymous]

@pendean

I did not know CTB ignore RGB true colors, that is helpful. 

I followed your suggestion. 

I went into my CTB file.  I turned off Dither and Grey Scale. 

I set 250 to use Object color.

In the added screen shot I show how it is still appearing as black once in paper space. Can I set any of the colors to print as white or be "background color." I am looking to use color 250 in the same way as WIPEOUT works.  But I need it to be a hatch.   

Is this not possible? 

[Anonymous]

@john.vellek

No, choosing RG nor HSL lets me select 255, 255, 255.   

What is the best way to I attach a sample drawing and plot style?  Would a zip folder work? 

Thank you.  

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Yes a ZIP folder should work fine.  If you are sending from a web browser, scroll down below your message typing area and you will the Attachments fields.

[Anonymous]

@john.vellek and @pendean   Thanks for answering my question.   Your answers were helpful.   

For color 250 I needed to change my screening from 100 to O.    With screening set at 0 and layer set as use object line weight,  it is now printing white in paper space.  

THANK YOU FOR THE HELP. 

[pendean]

Ah! Forget about colors 250-254 IMHO. No need to cluster-mess up your file with duplicates that all do the same thing.

If you want the wipeout effect, use color 255 exclusively, nothing else, and set as I noted earlier.
OR (the best solution)... use a truecolor RGB 255/255/255 for the same effect with the realization that CTB is going to totally ignore it forever.

That's how we used to do it in the old days before wipeouts showed up, and it still works well.

PS: why shy away from wipeouts?

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous.

I am glad you have found a solution that works for you. Please take a moment to mark the post or posts that gave you teh answer. This helps other Community members find the answers more quickly.

[Anonymous]

@pendean   to answer your last question [PS: why shy away from wipeouts?]    the simple answer is circles.

The job where I work does all their notations in model space. I needed a background fill that was legible in model space and unobtrusive in paper space.     I use wipeout constantly with notations in polygons.  It does not work so well for the circles.  I had tried to do a 200 sided polygons, Xclip to a frame over a background fill etc.   But my boss wanted something cleaner and faster.   And thus my solution, a solid hatch fill that could work like wipeout for the circle notations.