📄 Main idea: What is Plot Style?
Plot Style , also known as "pen number", is a set of settings that determine how objects drawn on the screen (Model Space) will be transformed and printed on paper, specifically controlling line weight (Lineweight) and plot color (Plot Color).
Plot Style control is essential for high-quality prints, as follows:
Main lines (e.g. walls, structures) must be heavy.
Secondary lines (e.g. dimensions, guides, hatches) must be weighted somewhat.
Most print jobs are in monochrome, although on screen they are drawn in color.
1. Difference between CTB and STB
AutoCAD has two main types of Plot Styles, and users need to understand the differences between them:
1.1 CTB (Color-Dependent Plot Style)
| feature | Description |
| Full name | Color-Dependent Plot Style Table |
| Working principle | The printed colors are automatically based on the object color (Color Index) used in the DWG file. |
| Settings | A single CTB file contains 255 Plot Styles , each tied to an AutoCAD (ACI) color, ranging from 1 (red), 2 (yellow) ... up to 255. |
| strength | Simple and standard AutoCAD interface, easy for beginners to manage, just change the layer color and get the desired line weight. |
| weakness | Less flexible: All objects of the same color must have the same print properties. |
| Popularly used | Small companies or individual users using traditional writing standards. |
1.2 STB (Named Plot Style)
| feature | Description |
| Full name | Named Plot Style Table |
| Working principle | Set print properties by name, regardless of the object color. |
| Settings | Users can create their own Plot Styles and name them (e.g. Thin, Medium, Wide, Screened) and can directly apply these Plot Styles to Layers or Objects (similar to using Lineweight). |
| strength | Highly flexible, you can freely set line weights for objects, even if they are the same color. |
| weakness | It's more complicated, you have to set the Plot Style in the Layer Properties. |
| Popularly used | Large organizations or projects that must comply with CAD standards that specify a clearly defined Plot Style. |
2. Professional CTB/STB setup steps
This content will focus on settings in the Plot Style Table Editor (which works for both CTB and STB).
2.1 Accessing and Creating Plot Style Files
Use the command
STYLESMANAGERto open the folder containing the CTB/STB files.In the Plot window (Ctrl+P), select the desired Plot Style file or click "Edit" to edit it.
2.2 Elements that must be set in the Plot Style Editor
The settings in the Plot Style Editor (especially for CTB) are key:
| feature | Recommended settings (for black and white work) | objective |
| Plot Color | Black (to make the print job black and white) | Control the printed color (the color that is visible on the paper) |
| Lineweight | Set in mm (e.g. 0.13, 0.25, 0.50). | Set the thickness of the printed lines. |
| Screening | Set to 70% - 90% | Set the lightness/darkness of the line (e.g. use 70% for Grid or Hatch lines to make them appear lighter). |
| Linetype | Use object linetype | Usually use the line style as defined in the Layer. |
2.3 Creation of Drafting Standards
Professionalism is about creating standards that everyone understands:
CTB Standard: Colors 1-3 are designated as heavy (0.35-0.50), colors 4-6 as medium (0.25), and colors 8-9 as thin (0.13-0.18) or gray (Screening 70%).
Layer Settings: Make sure the Layer color settings match the Lineweight values defined in the Plot Style file.
| software | AutoCAD , drafting program | AutoCAD, CAD Software |
| Main topic | Plot Style , CTB , STB , Printing, Printing Settings | Plot Style, CTB, STB, Printing, Plotting |
| Techniques & Settings | Line weight , pen number , Screening, Plot Color, Monochrome | Lineweight, Plot Color, Screening, Print Settings |
| standard | Drafting Standards , Printing Quality, Drafting Standards | Drafting Standards, Professional Printing, Output Quality |
| User level | Beginner , Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate |
Focus on standards and printing:
#AutoCAD #PlotStyle #Printing #LineWeight #DraftingStandards
Focus on learning CTB/STB:
#CTB #STB #pen number #CAD settings #Learn AutoCAD
All inclusive package:
#AutoCAD #PlotStyle #CTB #STB #LineWeight #ProfessionalPrinting #DraftingStandards
Figure 2: Difference between CTB and STB. Infographic comparing CTB and STB.
CTB: Displays a color wheel or palette with the text "Color-Dependent" and arrows pointing to different line weights.
STB: Displays multiple "Name Tags" or "Labels" icons with the text "Named Styles" and arrows pointing to different line weights to emphasize different working principles. `
