2004

628 | Chapter 22 Plot Drawings
Use Plot Styles to Control Plotted Objects
You can control many aspects of how an object is plotted by using plot styles.
Overview of Plot Styles
A plot style is an object property, similar to linetype and color. A plot style
can be assigned to an object or assigned to a layer. A plot style controls an
object’s plotted properties, including
■ Color
■ Dither
■ Grayscale
■ Pen number
■ Virtual pen
■ Screening
■ Linetype
■ Lineweight
■ Line end style
■ Line join style
■ Fill style
Using plot styles gives you great flexibility because you can set them to over-
ride other object properties or turn off the override as needed.
Groups of plot styles are saved in either of two types of plot style tables: color-
dependent (CTB) or named (STB). Color-dependent plot style tables set style
based on the color of the object. Named plot styles can be assigned to an
object independent of color.
Choose a Type of Plot Style Table
A plot style table is a collection of plot styles assigned to a layout or the
Model tab. There are two types of plot style tables: color-dependent plot style
tables and named plot style tables.
Color-dependent plot style tables (CTB) use an object’s color to determine
characteristics such as lineweight. Every red object in a drawing is plotted the
same way. While you can edit plot styles in a color-dependent plot style
table, you cannot add or delete plot styles. There are 256 plot styles in a color-
dependent plot style table, one for each AutoCAD color. In versions prior to
AutoCAD 2000, color was often used to control an object’s plotted
appearance (most often, lineweight) using plotter configuration files. This
technique was similar to using color-dependent plot style tables. When you
create a color-dependent plot style table, you can import previous plotter
configuration information contained in a PCP, PC2 or AutoCAD
configuration file (CFG).