TABLE OF CONTENTS Getting hard-copy output from AutoCAD is something of an art. You'll need to be intimately familiar with both your output device and the settings available in AutoCAD. You will probably spend a good deal of time experimenting with AutoCAD's plotter settings and with your printer or plotter to get your equipment set up just the way you want.
With the huge array of output options available, this chapter can provide only a general discussion of plotting. It's up to you to work out the details and fine-tune the way you and AutoCAD together work with your plotter. This chapter describes the features available in AutoCAD and discusses some general rules and guidelines to follow when setting up your plots.
I'll start with an overview of the plotting features in AutoCAD and then delve into the finer details of setting up your drawing and controlling your plotter.
To see firsthand how the Plot command works, you'll plot the Plan file by using the default settings on your system. Start by getting a preview of your plot, before you commit to actually printing your drawing. As an introduction, you'll plot from the Model tab of an AutoCAD drawing, but be aware that typically you will want to plot from a Layout tab. The Layout tabs give you a greater degree of control over how your output will look. You'll be introduced to the Layout tab later in this chapter. Now let's get started!
First, try plotting your...
