How to Put Plot Style in AutoCAD?

Understanding Plot Styles in AutoCAD

What is a Plot Style?

Plot styles in AutoCAD are essential for defining how your drawings will be printed or published. They dictate the appearance of objects based on color, line weight, and other attributes. There are primarily two types of plot styles: CTB (Color-dependent) and STB (Shape-dependent). CTB files utilize colors to determine how different elements appear, while STB files assign styles based on the types of objects rather than their colors.

How to Add a CTB File to AutoCAD

If you want to use a CTB file to manage plot styles in your drawing, follow these systematic steps:

1. Open the Drawing: Launch AutoCAD and open the drawing file in which you wish to apply the CTB file.

2. Select Layout: Navigate to the layout tab that you would like to set up. This is commonly found at the bottom of the AutoCAD interface.

3. Access Page Setup:

   • Go to the top menu, click on File, then select Page Setup Manager.
   • Find the option to Modify the setup.

4. Choose the CTB File:

   • In the plot style table list, select monochrome.ctb or any other CTB file you want to use.

5. Enabling Plot Styles: Ensure the Plot with plot styles checkbox is ticked to activate the plot styles.

6. Finalize Settings: Click OK to confirm your choices.

7. Create PDF: If you wish to create a PDF, select Create File and follow the prompts to save your file.

Locating Plot Styles in AutoCAD

To manage or redirect the location of your plot style files, you can check the settings in AutoCAD:

1. Access the Options dialog by typing the command OPTIONS in the command line.

2. Navigate to the Files tab, locate the Printer Support File Path, and then find the Plot Style Table Search Path.

3. Typically, the path should look like this: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2025\enu\Plotters\Plot Styles. Make sure that your CTB files are stored in this directory for easy access.

Adding a New Plot Style

To add a new plot style in AutoCAD, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Application Menu, then select Print followed by Manage Plot Styles.

2. Look for the STB file that might require editing and double-click it to open.

3. Within the Plot Style Table Editor in Form View, you can right-click the plot style you wish to modify or duplicate.

4. Use the Add Plot Style dialog to assign a name to your new plot style.

5. Finalize by saving your changes and closing the editor.

Applying STB Plot Styles

Using STB plot styles requires a slightly different method:

1. Ensure that you are in the Model Space of your drawing.

2. Enter the command PLOT in the command line to access the Plot Manager.

3. Choose the desired STB plot style from the plot style table (under pen assignments) and apply it to any layout as necessary.

Loading Plot Styles in AutoCAD 2025

To load plot styles, follow these steps:

1. Open the Home tab, and navigate to the Properties panel.

2. Click on Plot Style.

3. In the Current Plot Style dialog, select your desired plot style from the list.

4. To include styles from a different style table, choose the respective plot style table from the Active Plot Style Table dropdown.

5. If edits are needed, click on the Editor button to modify it before confirming with OK.

Resolving Missing CTB Files

If you find your CTB file is not available, the issue likely arises from the drawing being set to use an STB file instead. Make sure to verify which plot style table is currently selected for your drawing layout and switch if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I convert a CTB file to an STB file?
To convert a CTB file to an STB file, open the drawing in AutoCAD, go to the Manage tab, and choose "Convert" under the Plot Styles section. Follow the prompts to complete the conversion.

2. What should I do if my plot style is not applying correctly?
If your plot style isn’t applying as expected, check to ensure it is assigned to the correct layout and that the corresponding color settings in your drawing match those defined in the CTB file.

3. Can I create a custom plot style from scratch?
Yes, you can create a custom plot style by accessing the Plot Style Table Editor, then adding a new style and configuring its properties like line weight, color, and more.