Expert: George Reid - 4/16/2009

Question
When trying to print a drawing with scale 1:1000 border, on paper the scale is not accurate.Please help with settings in plotting window. Using old HP designjet 450c with A1 paper roll.
Thank you

Answer
Johan,

Sorry I didn't answer sooner, you may have already solved your problem by now. I'm using ACAD 2008 and here is how I would plot a drawing in A1 format. I'm in the U.S. so we use inch sizes here but I know that our D-size drawing format is very close to the A1 you use.

With the drawing up on the screen, select the small printer icon at the top (or you can pull down the File menu and click on Plot). This brings up the Plot window. If you haven't created a plot style page then just leave the Page Setup name to "none".

Next, where it says Printer/plotter select the printer or plotter from the list on the pull-down button. If yours is not there then it needs to be created in the Windows Start-Printer & Faxes window.  After selecting the plotter name then choose the paper size. Mine shows the A1 horizontal first and the vertical second. This will give you the orientation needed. The little picture will show you which it will use.

Below this on the right click on the "Fit to paper" box and then change the plot area on the left. "Display" means it will plot everything on the screen at this moment including any space around it. If you change it to Extents it will plot only the extent of the drawn image. If you choose Window then the Plot window will disappear and you will be able to use your cursor to create the area to plot. Then it will display the Plot window again.

On the right check the box to "Fit to Paper" which will cause the selected image to be expanded to fit the paper size you chose. Below this on the left check the "Center the Plot" box.

DON'T plot it without first selecting the "Preview" button in the left corner. This will show you exactly what it will look like when it plots. Click on the small red button to return. IF it is going the wrong way on the paper just change the Paper Size to the other A1 format.

We all use different settings in our programs so I don't know exactly how this will work for you. If it doesn't come out right try changing some of the settings until it shows it correct in the Preview.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Frank Reid
Reid Engineering Services