Plot Styles and Layer assigned lineweights

[payingtoomuch]

I've set my drawings up so that I don't have a plot style assigned. So all my pen weights are assigned at the layer level

I'm working with others drawings as project templates that do use plot styles so lineweights assigned by color within the plot style.

I would still like to use my layer conventions when working with their drawings and have my lineweights overide their plot styles even when they use their plot styles to print the drawings.

So, it's conceivable that x drawing could have a mixture of their layers which would be assigned to the plot style (yeah right) and my layers that would have lineweights assigned at the layer level.

What I'm wondering is if they plot my drawings with their plot style will my layer assigned lineweights plot as well while at the same time the colors they have assigned for their layers will plot accurately too?

Can really think of a great way to test this out so if anyone has any insight that would be appreciated. Makes my head spin.....

[ВeekeeCZ · Accepted solution]

Well, I presume they use CTB. In that case, you cannot anyhow protect your layer color (0-255 index color) from being overridden by their CTB plotstyle if it is assigned to that color.

The only way that would work is to assign a True Color to your layers.

[Valentin_CAD]

@payingtoomuch ,

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@payingtoomuch wrote:

What I'm wondering is if they plot my drawings with their plot style will my layer assigned lineweights plot as well while at the same time the colors they have assigned for their layers will plot accurately too?

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The preferred option would be for both users to use one standard.

However, since each layout stores its own page setup which controls the appearance and format for displaying and printing each layout, I suppose you can copy the Layout and assign your layer setting from the VP Layer option.

This way there would be two layouts, one with their assigned plot style, and the other layout with your plot style.   

[payingtoomuch]

Beekz-

Interesting on the true color as option. That's easy enough to assign to all layers in my template.

Am I hearing your right? If I do this then the following will occur?

If I plot a sheet with a ctb plot style assigned, the layer assigned lineweights AND the CTB color/ lineweights will print as intended?

Any downsides you (or others) can think of to assigning true colors to my layers? Increased file sizes etc etc?

Related question is on linetypes. Assuming all my linetypes assigned at layer level will plot correctly whether or not a ctb file is used..... correct?

[payingtoomuch]

Yes, understood on ideally everyone working with the same "system"....

Trying not to override any layers at the viewport level but thanks for the interest and suggestion.

[payingtoomuch]

So bottom line as I think Beekz is suggesting....

There is no way to have layer assigned colors & lineweights (other than assigning true type colors) override plot style assigned colors/ lineweights...... correct?

[pendean]

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@payingtoomuch wrote:

So bottom line as I think Beekz is suggesting....

There is no way to have layer assigned colors & lineweights (other than assigning true type colors) override plot style assigned colors/ lineweights...... correct?

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Correct. Every single AutoCAD user on the planet can totally override everything anytime they want in your DWG files, as file creator you have no control on any file you share with anyone else.

[payingtoomuch]

Hey Pendean-

Yes, intuitively I get that anyone can override my intent if I hand off drawings to them.

But, what I'm trying to get at may be somewhat not related....

Yes, on one level I want to make sure I have control (through my template) as to what gets plotted no matter what. But what I'm really trying to ensure is that if I get dumped on midstream with someone elses layer hodge podge that I can drop in my layer standards and go to work with my "setup" and "standards".  While still allowing them to use the plot style that was orignally setup in the drawing to do their thing.

Basically just want to make sure my layer assigned lineweights get plotted correctly when whoever plots the drawings. Don't want to worry that my layers are messing with the end result in a way that I didn't intend.

[pendean]

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@payingtoomuch wrote:

Hey Pendean-

Yes, intuitively I get that anyone can override my intent if I hand off drawings to them.

But, what I'm trying to get at may be somewhat not related....

Yes, on one level I want to make sure I have control (through my template) as to what gets plotted no matter what. But what I'm really trying to ensure is that if I get dumped on midstream with someone elses layer hodge podge that I can drop in my layer standards and go to work with my "setup" and "standards".  While still allowing them to use the plot style that was orignally setup in the drawing to do their thing.

Basically just want to make sure my layer assigned lineweights get plotted correctly when whoever plots the drawings. Don't want to worry that my layers are messing with the end result in a way that I didn't intend.

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There is no AutoCAD software-only solution to your Template/DWG controls and project intent/needs after someone else starts editing it all, sorry.

Perhaps those users need to be restricted to only using a generic DWG file viewers that allows nothing to change like this https://viewer.autodesk.com/ 

[payingtoomuch]

Been a long time since I looked at a autocad viewer. Will experiment with that some but don't think that will work for my needs.

Thanks.

[payingtoomuch]

Anyone have any additional thoughts regarding using true type colors as a work around to accomplish what I'm looking to do?

[paullimapa]

Just have a question on how you plan on true color implementation.

Since ctbs have no control over true colors, when a dwg with layers assigned with true colors is sent to a color plotter you'll end up with lines (though with the proper weight) in color instead of black.

In order for you to get a true black color output instead of a tone of gray even from a monochrome plotter, you may have to assign all your layers to the true color # of 0,0,0.

This way it'll always print out as true black color but with the lineweights you've assigned.

The drawback there is that all your layers will be in that black true color and you'll have to change your graphics background to another color (other than black) like gray so you can visually see the objects on the screen.

[payingtoomuch]

Hey Paul-

The idea would be to handle the black color change at the viewport level. That's the way I have to take care of it when I don't use plot style "none" anyway.

So, I get a drawing from someone that has a ctb plot style assigned to the sheets> I import all my layers with true type colors and lineweights assigned and use these how I see fit without needing to worry about the other layers already in the drawing>Open the sheet and from within the viewport select all layers (except gray) and assign black as color> Now if I or anyone else plots the drawing with any assigned plot style everything should look right.

At least that's the idea.

Anyone see any issues?

.....But wait a minute.... If I change to black at the viewport will that impact the ctb color for plotting purposes? Or will the ctb still be reading the color in model space and plot the model space color lineweight......

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

Assume when you say assign to black (not color 7) you mean true color black 0,0,0 otherwise when you plot using ctb it's going to see color #7 and the weight will be read from the ctb.

Your method of plotting only from within a pspace vport (which typically is a nonblack background) requires  the specific layers you want within the vport to be assigned using vpcolor to a true color black like 0,0,0 & assign those layers weight using vplineweight.

Then you can assign whatever layer colors you want in Model tab as long as you never plot from there will work.  Also the same will have to be done whenever you xref the dwg into another dwg for plotting again in layout and the same process will have to be repeated.

It's tedious but nevertheless it is a process.

[payingtoomuch]

yeah I was afraid of that regarding changing to black (yes #7 vs true color)....

But what I'm hearing is that if I "just" assign all of "my layers" to "0,0,0" at the vp layer level then even if plot with a plot style the printer will read the lineweights I have assigned to those layers in model space (as long as they are not overridden in the viewport).

There is no reason why I couldn't just choose to assign true color "0,0,0" to all of my layers as I'm already assigning black to them for my purposes of plotting with the plot style set to "none"..... so no big deal here.

Originally in the thread was thinking about assigning true colors to all of my layers in model space and that that would somehow get picked up in the process. But sounds like now that it really would serve no purpose to change my layers to true type in model space because will need to manipulate within the viewport to true type black anyway.

Correct, I "never" plot from model space anyway.

Is that an accurate assessment?

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

Yes, if you assign the lineweight in model then you're good to go once you're in paperspace to just change the vplayer color to 0,0,0.

[payingtoomuch]

Thanks Paul for helping me get to the bottom of this. As always!

[paullimapa]

Glad to have assisted…cheers!!!

[payingtoomuch]

Cheers back at you (and everyone else that assisted)..... It is Friday after all!