Using different line weights for different paper sizes?

Joe Dunfee

 In the recent past, I always designed my prints for 11x17 paper, and chose line-weights accordingly. However, recently my company purchased a plotter capable of 24x36 plots because we were doing several large projects and really couldn't get by with the 11x17 prints any more.  

Now, I find that the thin line-weights I chose for the 11x17 are much too fine to be seen well from the distances you typically view a 34x36 paper. I also find that we still occasionally want to print the large drawings on the 11x17 because they are so much easier to handle.  I suppose I can just commit a particular project to being on the larger format, and set the line-weights for that drawing accordingly. But, I am wondering if there might be another solution that would allow me to toggle between the two sets of line-weights.

I know there is a global linetype scale, and wonder if there is anything like that for line-weights?  I guess another might be to write a program and examines each layer's line-weight (including the viewport overrides) and boosts them up or down a level, but my BricsCAD programming is quite rusty.

Thanks for any ideas about how to approach this.

-Joe

Richard Sands

Not sure if my approach helps, but I have two Print Styles for different sheet sizes and use accordingly.
I set the first up for A1 then save as appropriate named for A4.

It works well for me.

regards
Richard

Joe Dunfee

Thank you for your reply. As for the sheet size, that has never really been a problem, since I normally print to a PDF first, and if I want a hard copy, I often print from the PDF.  But, I can see the value of your approach.  What I am not clear about, is how you handle line weight.  I am guessing that your method would allow a pen style to somehow dictate what the line-weights would be.  But, I don't see how right now. 

I just went through the help file and found the following, 

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Create from scratch - select a table type:

CTB (Color-dependent Plot Style Table) - bases plots on entity colors. Plotting parameters, such as pen thickness and linetype, are matched to the color of entities. This system is older and less flexible than named plot styles, but is the default in all new drawings. Creates a CTB file.

STB (Named Plot Style Table) - bases plots on plot styles. Plotting parameters can be given to every entity and every layer. This system is new and more flexible, but may be incompatible with other software that reads DWG files. Creates an STB file.
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I had not realized there were two different types of pen definitions  From my preliminary investigation, it seems that only the CTB (color based) pen definition is possible from the page setup screen. To do the STP (Named plot style) method, apparently must be done using a separate command.  So, I can see why it is probably only rarely used.  

Are you familiar with the STP method?

-Joe 

Roy Klein Gebbinck

An article (in English) that may be of interest:
ProStb.pdf

Tim Neumann

Can't help with your issue but was curious what you're using to make your 11x 17 and 24x 36 prints. For eons I've been on my boss to get way from working with letter size sheets - no kidding!!! The Epson models seem pretty nice & don't take up much space.

Richard Sands

sorry Joe, bit rushed before heading for the sack. (sleep)

I set up lineweights in the individual print styles to print same width at A1 and A4.
When printed to that sheet size ie.
I always print to PDF (BlueBeam) first.
I use ctb styles.

So in Sheet size A4 Red is printed as Black at 0.5mm
In A3 Red is printed to Black at 0.8mm.

I found printing to a PDF A4 sheet  using the wider line was unacceptable so made up a Plot Style to suit.

Dan Allen

 we base our CTB lineweights on normal scales and plotting, and have a _Half version with half lineweights for the times when a dense plan is plotted at a small scale say 1"=40'-0". The plotter does not matter, just the scale and density of drawings. 

Joe Dunfee

 Now that I think about it, I have been thinking the wrong way. If the project is a larger one, I should just make the line weights wide enough for the larger paper. 
Then, when I need to print to a small sheet, the PDF viewing program will automatically make the line weight smaller to scale.  So, by bypassing the CAD program for the prints, I can successfully make the line weights vary to the need.

-Joe

Joe Dunfee

We had been using an Epson WF-7510 for the 11x17 prints.  We chose it because it was also possible to scan the 11x17.  I don't recall the cost.

Just last week we purchased a HP T-120, which cost $1,000 without the base.  It has a sheet feed to do 11x17 if you want, but we only use it for rolls.  It will handle a 24" wide roll.

-Joe

John Gaunt

I also have an alternate plot style which prints every pen colour a size thinner for plotting to smaller sheets.

Like most others here, my main jobs are on large sheets.

Going from small to large, you might find the text sizes/thicknesses you are used to using now don't reduce so well - they might need some adjustment to your standard practice.