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AutoCAD PostScript Plotting to Scale

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

One of the most common questions asked by architecture students during their early years in composing their boards using Photoshop or illustrator is "How to plot AutoCAD drawings to scale into Adobe Photoshop?” This tutorial would be great for beginners.

The best way to plot to scale would be to create a PostScript files from AutoCAD via the Plot dialogue box. This requires few setup configurations to the PostScript plotter on your computer. To create EPS files, all you need to do is to add a plotter that uses the EPS format and then configure it to plot to a file rather than to a physical plotter.

AutoCAD does not automatically create the PostScript plotter for you when the software is install by default, it require minor configuration, a simple wizard that will guide you thru steps by steps.

Add EPS Plotter

To add a EPS plotter to AutoCAD you have to use the Add Plotter wizard.

(1) Select Tools > Wizards > Add Plotter… from the pull-down menu. You will see the "Add Plotter" tab, click on it.

(2) After clicking on it, a dialog box will appear, which tells you a little about the wizard. Click the "next" button to continue.

(3) The Begin dialog box will appear. This window will asks you to determine the type of plotter you want to add. Select the "My Computer" option and click the "next" button.

(4) The following window is the Plotter Model dialog box. Select "Adobe" from the Manufacturers list, there should only be 3 options to select at the under the "model" list. If you are not sure how the files will be used, select Level 1. The main difference would be the file size produce using Level 2 which is smaller and the support for Adobe Photoshop version 6 and above, where else Level 1 is for version 6 and below.

Select the appropriate model and then click the "next" button.

(5) The next dialog box to appear would be the "Import Pcp or Pc2". Ignore this dialog due to the fact that it is the configuration for a physical printer.Proceed by clicking the "next" button.

(6) Select the "Plot to File" option, this is to enable AutoCAD to plot to your computer instead sending your EPS plot to your printer plot.

(7) Next would be the naming of the file, you can leave it default or key in the preference name. It is adviceable to leave it as is.

(8) The Finish page gives you the option of editing the plotter configuration or calibrating the plotter.

Checking The Plotter

Finally, your EPS plotter should be ready for use, double check that the file is created by selecting the tab "File" then go to "Plot", from the pull down list of printer selecet the EPS plot file. With all the setting properly config, you are now able to plot to scale.

Importing EPS Common Mistake

One of the most common mistake when it comes to importing the EPS file into photoshop is setting the resolution, for example if you are using resolution 100 for your presentation board, then the importing of the EPS should also be at resolution 100. Different resolution would create a different scale for the drawings in the boards. make sure the resolution settings are the same.