How to Resize Paper Space in AutoCAD?

Understanding Paper Space in AutoCAD

Paper Space is an essential area in AutoCAD where you prepare your drawings for printing or plotting. It allows you to create layouts, manage viewports, and adjust the drawing scale for the final printed output.

Adjusting Paper Size and Layout in AutoCAD

To effectively resize Paper Space in AutoCAD, follow these detailed steps:

1. Access the Layout Tab:

   • Click on the desired layout tab located at the bottom of the AutoCAD interface. If you haven’t created a layout yet, you can do so by right-clicking on an existing tab and selecting “New Layout.”

2. Open Page Setup:

   • Navigate to the Layout tab in the Ribbon menu at the top, and select “Page Setup” from the Layout panel. This will open the Page Setup Manager dialogue box.

3. Create a New Page Setup:

   • Click on the “New” button within the Page Setup Manager. You will be prompted to enter a name for your new setup; choose a meaningful name and confirm by clicking OK.

4. Select Printer and Paper Size:

   • Choose the appropriate printer from the list provided. It’s crucial to match the printer to the paper size you intend to use. Once selected, choose the paper size that fits your design requirements.

5. Set the Plot Area:

   • In the Plot Area section, ensure you set the dropdown menu to “Layout.” This option allows AutoCAD to plot the entire layout rather than just a part of it.

6. Define the Orientation:

   • Select between “Portrait” or “Landscape” based on how you want your design to appear when printed.

7. Adjust Plot Scales:

   • In the Plot Scale section, set your desired scale. For instance, a common scale is 1:100 or 1:50, depending on the level of detail required in the printout.

8. Finalize Settings:

   • Click OK to save the page setup and return to the layout. You can close the Page Setup Manager as well.

Resizing Viewports in Paper Space

When working in Paper Space, you may want to adjust viewports to control how model space elements are displayed.

1. Select Viewport:

   • Click on the viewport you want to resize. A dashed line will appear around the selected viewport.

2. Use the Grips:

   • Drag the corner grips of the viewport to resize it. You can easily adjust it to fit your layout by dragging it to the desired dimensions.

3. Maintain the Aspect Ratio:

   • Hold down the Shift key while dragging a corner grip to maintain the aspect ratio.

Setting Up the Scale for Model Space

To ensure that your elements appear correctly when printed, you should set the scale for your model space correctly.

1. Access Dimension Style Manager:

   • Type DIMSTY into the command line and press Enter. This will open the Dimension Style Manager.

2. Modify Dimension Style:

   • Select the dimension style you wish to adjust and click “Modify.” In the dialog that appears, navigate to the “Fit” tab.

3. Adjust the Scaling:

   • Under the “Scale for Dimension Features,” choose “Scale Dimension to Layout” to ensure dimensions will be scaled appropriately when plotted.

FAQs

1. Can I change the units for my drawing in AutoCAD?
Yes, you can change the units by typing UNITS in the command bar. From there, you can select your desired type, such as Metric or Imperial.

2. How do I view the scale of my model?
To view the scale of your model, check the Scale option in the Properties palette when selecting a viewport in Paper Space.

3. What should I do if my drawing appears too small when printed?
Ensure that you’re using the correct plot scale and that the paper size matches the settings in the Page Setup. Adjusting these settings should rectify any size discrepancies.