Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF

[Anonymous]

Hello and thank you in advance for your help. 

I have had this issue multiple times in multiple versions of AutoCAD LT and normally just shrink what I put in the layout tabs via trial and error until I get something that works but it is frustrating so I have decided to look for some help. 

When I set up my layout pages I set up my default plotter options (Generally one of the print to PDF options or NONE so I Can print to PDF) set up my paper size, in this case Tabloid / 11"x17. 

I get the dotted lines on the paperspace and fit my title block just inside them as I know that is the printable space. Picture attached below. 

But when I export to PDF the drawing is not located centrally on the page. It is justified to the bottom & left. as shown in the PDF screen capture. This means that when I print the left hand side & bottom is cut off from my drawing. 

sometimes when I have been trial and error adjusting i have moved the top above the dotted print line and it has still been included in the print. But the bottom will be cut off even though it is included in the print space.

SO to sum up: Why is it not plotting to the space inside the dotted print space as it should.  

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

 Which version of AutoCAD are you using? In 2019, you will see some Full-bleed options but you can also configure other PDF drivers to allow full bleed as well.

I like to suggest too, named page setups can provide the most stable and consistent results.

Would you like to share some files so I can take a look to see if I can help get this working more consistent for you?

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

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply

I am on 2019 currently. 

I don't necessary need full bleed. I just need the printable area (dashed Box) to be consistent with the actual output. Most commonly I am exporting to 11x17 (tabloid) and don't want to stretch to full bleed as that will throw the scaling off i think.

If that makes any sense. 

What I am setting up is a Template drawing which I copy for new projects. So once I have it set I can just not worry about it anymore. 

I have attached my template drawing, with my standard layouts. Title Page, Plans, Elevations & Details.

I do also sometimes work from home so if it is settings on the local drive that I need to change I will need to change them at my home station as well. 

Thank you for your help

Ian

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I made a new file, copied the contents of each viewport into it and applied a Named Pagesetup.  It assigned the plot device to the built-in AutoCAD PDF (GD), scale of 1:1, plot style to monochrome, and most importantly the paper size to ANSI 17x11 where I edited the properties of the paper size to 0".  This is save into the PC3 and PMP files in your profile. I then applied the page setup to each layout.

Lastly, I used DesignCenter to import all the other items (except the blocks) from your original file into the new one. Now you have a Named Page Setup that can be imported into other files, and more importantly should give you consistent plotting and publishing (Plotter named in Page setup).

Please give this a try and let me know if it behaves properly for you.

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

[Anonymous]

So I tried pulling the Named Page set up in to my drawing. Which worked fine. 

although now I have no grey dotted printable area square on my white page.

Is that because with a full bleed all available white space is printable area? 

I tried exporting to PDF which worked. The border however was very close to the edge of the page and when I printed the page the border did not print. 

I am guessing with a full bleed it exports right to the edge, although our printer cannot print that close to the edge.  

At least it didn't cut off any of the actual information though 😜

How do I get my borders & grey box back? 

Thank you for your help so far.

Ian

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Yes, Full Bleed means you won't see those borders.  Your titleblock is very close to the edges and will likely not print on all devices. I suggest reducing the titleblock down just a bit.

If you want to add the margins back into the page setup you can do that by modifying the paper size in the plotter configuration. This has always perplexed me though as if you know the hardclip margins for your print device then you can just make the titleblock the correct size and you don't really need to see the dashed lines.

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