2004

608 | Chapter 22 Plot Drawings
Overview of Plotting
Understanding terms and concepts that relate to plotting makes your first
plotting experience in AutoCAD
®
easier.
Plotter Manager
The Plotter Manager is a window that lists plotter configuration (PC3) files
for every nonsystem printer that you install. Plotter configuration files can
also be created for Windows system printers if you want AutoCAD to use
default properties different from those used by Windows. Plotter configura-
tion settings specify port information, raster and vector graphics quality,
paper sizes, and custom properties that depend on the plotter type.
The Plotter Manager contains the Add-a-Plotter wizard, which is the primary
tool for creating plotter configurations. The Add-a-Plotter wizard prompts
you for information about the plotter you want to set up.
Layouts
A layout represents a plotted page. You can create as many layouts as you
need. Each layout is saved on its own layout tab and can be associated with
a different page size and plotter.
Elements that only appear on a plotted page, such as title blocks and notes,
are drawn in paper space in a layout. The objects in the drawing are created
in model space on the Model tab. To view these objects in the layout, you
create layout viewports.
Page Setups
When you create a layout, you specify a plotter and settings such as page size
and plot orientation. You can control these settings for layouts and for the
Model tab using the Page Setup dialog box. You can name and save page
setups for use with other layouts.
If you don’t specify all the settings in the Page Setup dialog box when you
create a layout, you can set up the page just before you plot. Or you can over-
ride a page setup at plot time. You can use the new page setup temporarily
for the current plot, or you can save the new page setup.