Scaling AutoCAD drawings

[jessdorion]

Hello

I am fairly new to AutoCAD and I was wondering whether you could help me with scaling. Whenever I plot my drawing I normally just fit to window and then print. When it's printed out the scale is never right. I am drawing everything in a 1:1 scale in the model tab. I need to know how to scale my drawings so that they are correct when I give them to the Architect. I am printing on 11" x 17" paper most of the time.

Please Help
Jessica

 

[kpetursson]

In the plot dialog, simply select a scale for plotting.
Do not select "fit to window"
If these drawings are ment to be printed on 11x17 only, you could set a layout tab paper size to 11x17, and create a viewport. You can set the scale in a viewport. This would allow you to print the file at 1:1, and there would be no scaling, except for the viewport scale.

If you need more information please feel free to ask.

Kevin Petursson

 

[jessdorion]

Hello Kevin

I am not entirely sure how to exactly do that. I'm using AutoCAD 2006. In the plot set-up I selected a scale of 1:1 and I selected "What to plot - Window" but it just doesn't seem to be working. Could you please expand your explanation. Thanks for your response.

Have a great day

Jessica

 

[Volk359]

The scale of the plot will depend on how big your drawing is. You're a couple versions ahead of me but in the olden days ZOOM and 1/XXxp (typed in the command line) would set the plotscale in the viewport where XX=24 for 1/2"=1'-0" or =48 for 1/4"=1'-0" or =96 for 1/8", etc. So 1/48xp will zoom the view in the viewport to come out at 1/4" scale when you plot it 1:1.

Hope that didn't confuse you too much!

 

[kpetursson]

I'm not sure. I'm still using 2002

are you plotting paper space, or model space?

Kevin Petursson

 

[jessdorion]

I am plotting paper space - I think. What should I be plotting in? I used to use AutoCAD 2004 and it was extremely easy to convert to exact scale but in 2006 they seem to have changed things around a bit and made things a little harder.

Jessica

 

[Volk359]

We're not allowed to use paperspace at our place as our drawing database is highly NOT compatable with it. As a get around we'll raw everything full scale then scale the titleblock up to fit everthing in. Our 22x34 titleblock fits nice and neat centered on a 24x36 paper.

Although somepeople find it confusing paperspace is the way to go but you could do it in modelspace if need be. Make your titleblock 10.5x16.5 and scale that around your drawing. Be sure to scale it proportionaly 24, 48, 96 or 120, 240, 360, 1200, 2400 depending on the size of your drawing and prefered scale. Plot extents to the same scale and it'll come out right for you.