Lineweight by layer- Appearance on Layout

[payingtoomuch]

Considering switching over to Lineweights by layer rather than by ctb file.

Some questions.

- When I do this, I don't want to assign the plot style to "none" correct?

- What happens if I have a plot style assigned and I have a lineweight assigned to the layer (or an object). What overrides what?

- Any way to get the layout sheets (on the computer) to show up as black and grey based on the layer settings when I assign lineweight, color and transparency for my layers? Right now I'm accustomed to either changing the grey "colors" by either changing the vp color of the hatch or assigning it one of the "grey" colors in the ctb file.

- Anyone else make the transition and never look back? I can come up with all kinds of benefits for making the switch. Any that I might be overlooking? Any downsides?

[imadHabash]

Hi,

From PLOT dialog >> plot options >> plot object lineweights ... This option will specifies whether lineweights assingned to objects and layers are plotted . 

[payingtoomuch]

Hey Imad-

Yes, I'm familiar with that tick box. So you're saying that if I select it if I have lineweights assigned by layers (or objects) then even if I have a plot style selected for the layout then the layer settings (and the object settings) will override the plot style?

[user181]

To get your layouts to look like how they will print use the PAGESETUP command. Either create a new one or if you already created one select it and hit Modify. Then use None as the pen style and check the Display plot style box.  This will make the background black and the lines that will print black will be white and the grey line will be grey. Also set LWDISPLAY to ON and you will also see the line thickness.  After you create this assign it to your layouts. I usually have to save the dwg and open again to see the new appearance. 

[imadHabash]

Lineweight can be set as an object property or controlled when plotted by using a plot style. Lineweight settings in the plot style override the object's lineweight at plot time. When you select the Lineweight field in the Plot Style Table Editor, a sample of the lineweight as well as its numeric value are displayed. The default setting for plot style lineweight is Use Object Lineweight. You can modify an existing lineweight if the one you need is not available

[payingtoomuch]

After going through these steps, saving and closing still get the same result. Note in case it is not clear I have not assigned "black" as color to the "viewport color" or the "layout" where TB is contained.

Am I missing something? Was hopeful with your post.

[payingtoomuch]

Imad-

Yes, I understand that but I'm trying to get this to work when I assign lineweights at the layer level and Plot style "none".

[user181]

When you use PAGESETUP make sure to check plot lineweights, transparency and plot with plot styles

[payingtoomuch]

"When you use PAGESETUP make sure to check plot lineweights, transparency and plot with plot styles"

But, if I check plot with plot styles then I'm defeating the purpose of trying to not use the ctb file (plot style file).... correct? Meaning, if I select "plot with plot styles" then I'm overriding the plot settings I have set up by layers right?

[user181]

Not if the plot style is set to none. It will show your layout tab as black, white and grey and show lineweights if LWDISPLAY is on. It will use the lineweights and transparency from layer manager or from the object

[payingtoomuch]

Really? That would be great and may very well sway me back to assigning by layer.

Counterintuitive at best though. I mean the terms "Plot styles" as long as I can remember refers to ctb files (layers not technically a "style" imo. Hope you're right! Will look into it again.

Thanks!

[payingtoomuch]

Back to working on this.....

Cannot get this to work.

What I have done....

Set plot style to none & plot with plot styles & show/ hide lineweights to on (as User181 suggested).

Have adjusted all layers to have a specific lineweight, and transparency where required.

Have not set any colors to black (vp colors in paperspace or within the viewport in paperspace).

When I look at sheets in paperspace everything is still showing up as the color that I have for the layer.... but I want to show black/ gray (per my layer transparency setting).

So, decided to create a new ctb file and change all the lineweights to by object. When I do this nothing shows up at all (assuming this is because I haven't actually assigned lineweights to the objects (line etc) but only to the layer and the layer is not technically an "object".

Being as that didn't work now I'm back to trying to figure out the best way to approach.

So, Back to what I'm trying to accomplish....

Assign all lineweights, linetypes and transparencys at the layer level.

Not have a plot style that I need to assign to the sheets.

When I plot, have all the assigned lineweights for all the layers plot as either black or grayscale as assigned to the layers and at least be able to see what I'm going to get during the plot preview.

Ideally, be able to set up so all the above occurs but I also am able to see only black and greyscale on the layout tabs as I'm looking at the sheets in paperspace (before plotting)

I can get there (probably) by going into the individual viewports and changing the layers to black/ greyscale but hoping I don't have to keep doing this every time I create a new viewport.

Suggestions?