Scaling linetypes

Scaling linetypes

Anonymous
Not applicable
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15 Replies
Message 1 of 16

Scaling linetypes

Anonymous
Not applicable

I pull a sketch from a 1" - 1' drawing into a 1/8" - 1' drawing. I scale it up by a factor of 8 to match the new drawing sizing. When I scale it up the line types need to be manually scaled afterward. Is there a way to get the linetypes to scale with with the rest of the sketch at the same time?

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Accepted solutions (1)
6,888 Views
15 Replies
Replies (15)
Message 2 of 16

Alfred.NESWADBA
Consultant
Consultant

Hi,

 

>> When I scale it up the line types need to be manually scaled afterward

By default and when PSLTSCALE is set to 1 then you should not need to specify a different linetype scaling factor, because the distances (for the linetype) is than calculated for the viewport to the paper by itself.

 

In case you need to set the global scalefactor for linetype scale you can use LTSCALE and set it to a different value.

 

Keep in mind: linetypes are important on layout/viewport ... so prepared for the plot output, the distances on modelspace are not that relevant.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
ISH-Solutions GmbH / Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS
www.ish-solutions.at ... blog.ish-solutions.at ... LinkedIn ... CDay 2026
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(not an Autodesk consultant)
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Message 3 of 16

Anonymous
Not applicable

I guess I really need to set up paper space with title blocks instead of plotting right form model space. I'm thinking this will solve my line-type scale dilemma?

 

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Message 4 of 16

user181
Mentor
Mentor

Hi @Anonymous ,  Leave your autocad lines and objects at a 1 linetype scale and set the variables MSLTSCALE=1   LTSCALE=1   PSLTSCALE=1.  

EESignature


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Message 5 of 16

Alfred.NESWADBA
Consultant
Consultant
Accepted solution

Hi,

 

>> I guess I really need to set up paper space with title

>> blocks instead of plotting right form model space.

Absolutely! 😉

Plotting from model-space has too much disadvantages.

 

>> I'm thinking this will solve my line-type scale dilemma?

Exactly, because AutoCAD calculates itself the spacing of the linetype for the plot-size, independent of plot scale and all the other things.

 

- alfred -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alfred NESWADBA
ISH-Solutions GmbH / Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS
www.ish-solutions.at ... blog.ish-solutions.at ... LinkedIn ... CDay 2026
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(not an Autodesk consultant)
Message 6 of 16

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend
You scaled the sketch? to 1/8" scale?
Do you not draft at 1:1 scale in AutoCAD?
Message 7 of 16

natasha.l
Alumni
Alumni

Hello @Anonymous, 

 

I would like to provide you with some information that will help you accomplish the workflow you are looking for. 

 

Typically you create a drawing in Model Space, then move on to prepare your drawing for presentation purposes in Paper Space.

 

This video will demo some basic Paper Space features, I believe scaling your drawing in your Viewport is what you need: 

 

Additional Information: Commands for Working with Layout Viewports

 

Please "Accept Solution" if a reply or replies have helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

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Message 8 of 16

Anonymous
Not applicable

Historically I have never been a fan of paper space and have always used model space.  I have 100' buildings with 12" corner details. I used to have one drawing for building and one for details. I am now trying to include details on the same sheet as the building plan. This is why I scaled the detail up as it would be the same size as the building otherwise.

 

Capture1.JPG

 

I was hoping to find a way around using paperspace but is looking like there is no way for me to this.

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Message 9 of 16

scot-65
Advisor
Advisor
>> I am now trying to include details on the same sheet as the building plan.

I understand your dilemma.
The only solution, which is not available at this time, is to have
independent line type scaling of the individual view ports that
are composed in Paper Space.

Look for and vote for this in the Ideas Station area.

For now one leaves the details at 1:1, adjust the text/dimensions accordingly
(or use annotative text) and LTSCALE of the individual objects in the detail.
The line type scale in Model Space might look terrible, but will show
correctly in Paper Space.

???

Scot-65
A gift of extraordinary Common Sense does not require an Acronym Suffix to be added to my given name.

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Message 10 of 16

user181
Mentor
Mentor

You can already do this, no new features or independent vp ltscales needed.  Draw everything 1:1 in model and create different scaled viewports. Set PSTLSCALE to 1 and LTSCALE to 1.  DO NOT adjust the linetype scale of the individual lines in model, leave them all at 1.

EESignature


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Message 11 of 16

Anonymous
Not applicable

The only problem is I am NOT a fan of paper space. I can never get it to work the way I want it too. I cannot even get the sheet size to look right in papers pace.  I spend 10x more time trying to get things to work and look uniform than I do just scaling the items in model space. It is a waste of time for me.

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Message 12 of 16

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend

@Anonymous wrote:

The only problem is I am NOT a fan of paper space. I can never get it to work the way I want it too. I cannot even get the sheet size to look right in papers pace.  


 

There is nothing magical about paperspace: you've just never been taught correctly how to use it. What you want already exists in the program, Autodesk will never make what you want appear in modelspace only.

 

You my friend need a personal tutor to get you over your paperspace hump and into the light: what region of the planet do you live in? If in a major city reach out to local AutoCAD Reseller and ask for guidance for a personal tutor.

 

 

Message 13 of 16

Bob_Zurunkle
Advisor
Advisor

OP, it's time to BECOME a fan of paperspace. Back in the 90s I never understood it, and that was when one would have to type in a value for TILEMODE. It was also when one had to go back and forth between several sections of the guide book that used to come in hard copy with the program, just to piece together any idea of how to do it. Nowadays there is so much helpful content through the online Help and other sources - lots of it free!

Back then I found, just by playing around, what paperspace was all about, just by making multiple viewports in modelspace and telling myself there has to be some way to group these views to plot exactly how I see them.

With paperspace, it's the viewport you assign a zoom scale to, with easy to use dropdowns as well as the status bar at the bottom of the screen. You can have multiple viewports on one sheet, each at a different zoomscale than its brethren. You can set your output (plotting) variables there too.

Linetypes were the earliest annotative object, so that's where the advice on setting various variables to 1 comes from. You should hit F1 and read up on working with paperspace. You will find the use of CANNOSCALE there, as well as multiple layout (paperspace) tabs - yes, you can have an entire drawing set in one file, each sheet on its own tab. And by starting with one tab set up (including output), you can copy to make new tabs, already set with the same variables. Or you can have some tabs for one kind of output, and others for another kind. There are lots of us here ready and willing to give advice and help.

 

One last thing is, if you do take up this method, remember to lock your viewports once you have them set to the scales you are using!

 

If by some odd chance my nattering was useful -- that's great, glad to help. But if it actually solved your issue, then please mark my solution as accepted 🙂
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Message 14 of 16

Anonymous
Not applicable

I am spending a day here with some online courses on paper space. I am beginning to see the uses for it and am working on setting up a template to work from. I think you all just might have made convert!

 

It never hurts to further your education.

Message 15 of 16

s.borello
Advisor
Advisor

Draw in model space at 1:1.  Set your LTS to 1. Use paper space and viewports as well. CAD life will be less stressful. 

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Message 16 of 16

BeKirra
Advisor
Advisor

I think you have missed the functionality of using paperspace (or now it is named as "layout").

We have a colleague who is working on MS all time. He spends more time on the drawings comparing to those are using paperspace.

My suggestion is that you start to learn using layout and:

  • first, looking into "HELP" for "layout" and its relative topics
  • drawing everything 1:1 scale in MS
  • ensure using imperial line types all time (in your case). Especially when pasting objects from one drawing to another.
  • setting individual scales on your view ports when it is needed - now you can see the difference comparing to using MS all time.

On layout you can also apply individual layer filter on view ports. Like it? Smiley Wink

Please mark "Accept as Solution" and "Like" if my reply resolves the issue and it will help when others need helps.
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A circle is the locus of a cursor, starting and ending at the same point on a plane in model space or in layout such that its distance from a given coordinates (X,Y) is always constant.
X² + Y² = C²
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