Grey out xrefs in plotting

[Anonymous]

I am trying to grey out the x-refs in my drawing. I believe that there is a fade control tool under options>display. This tool works for me, but only when I am viewing the drawing on the screen. When I print this drawing, the drawings prints in its usual thickness and is not grayed out. How can I print this drawing with xrefs grayed out? Can you please help me? Thank you.

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

XREFFADECONTROL XDWGFADECTL does fade the referenced drawings and for me keeps it that way in my plotted PDF. Can you attach a sample file and XREF and also show me your plot settings?

[Anonymous]

I will get back to you shortly. Thanks

RC

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> XREFFADECONTROL does fade the referenced drawings and for me keeps it that way in my plotted PDF.

I guess you mean XDWGFADECTL ... if so then sorry no, this is only for display and definitly not for plotting, this plots the XRef content in the same contrast as other geometry.

>> How can I print this drawing with xrefs grayed out?

You can use the layer manager, set the filter to XREF-layer and assign all layers a light grey color, so all geometry objects within the XRef will be displayed in the light grey ... as long as they were drawn with color = bylayer.

If the XRef holds objects with color <> bylayer then you can use sysvar XREFOVERRIDE (>>>details<<<) to override the none-bylayer settings (info: this sysvar exists since AutoCAD release 2016, sol older releases don't have the feature).

- alfred -

[RobDraw · Accepted solution]

There are a number of ways to accomplish this.

For example, if you are using a .ctb plot style, you could assign colors to the XREF layers that are set to plot with shading. This could give you control over individual layers within the XREF.

You could assign a transparency to the XREF and make sure you are plotting with transparencies. Layers/colors within the XREF will plot with their assigned widths but with a shading applied.

Personally, I would go with adjusting the XREF layers/colors to suit your pen settings for the best control.

[john.vellek]

Alfred - You are absolutely right! Thanks for the correction.

[ahmed.abdelmotey]

you could also change VISRETAIN variable value to 1 and then in layer manager give all layers of the xref the new grey color.. this won't affect the original file..
to get layers back to normal change VISRETAIN back to 0 and then reload xref.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

Despite my incorrect first post -my brain must have been on hold- there have been some good suggestions here in the thread.  In my experience, I like to attach the xref, override the color and set to a screened value.  This has proven quick and easy.

If you have had your question answered, please mark the solution or solutions as accepted that have resolved your issue.

Thanks to everyone for the answers.

[Anonymous]

So this is what I will do:
Set all layers in all xrefs to a light grey color.
Thank you very much for your help.
Raj C

[RobDraw]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
So this is what I will do:
Set all layers in all xrefs to a light grey color.
Thank you very much for your help.
Raj C

---

Have you verified that your pen settings have the color set to plot with shading?

[Anonymous]

No, but I will check. Thanks, Raj.

[Anonymous]

How can I set color in pen settings to plot with shading? A BIG THANKS to Everyone,for your help.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

This is quite easy to do!

Let's say you have set all your XREF layers to color 8. You can edit your CTB file ( I like to access it right from the plot dialog.

Scroll down the color list to see color 8 and then on the right side set a screen value.

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

[RobDraw]

I find myself guilty of one of my pet peeves. Sorry for using the incorrect terminology. I should have said screening.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, John.

Raj

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

@serkancavuslar

I know you are proud for your application, but that does not have anything to do with the question "Grey out xrefs in plotting".

Please do not spam all threads having anything to do with plot or pdf with your app.

Thx, - alfred -

[pascal]

I assume the XREFFADECONTROL does not work in AutoCAD Lt?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I assume the XREFFADECONTROL does not work in AutoCAD Lt?

This command does not exist, not in AutoCAD, not in AutoCAD LT ... are you looking for XDWGFADECTL?

- alfred -

[pancarolinapa]

Can you give me a little more detail about how to assign a transparency to the xref?  

[RobDraw]

I'd love to show you but I'm away from AutoCAD. I thought about doing a web search for it but figured that you already did that and didn't find anything that worked.