topic Re: Printing to scale in Modeling

Printing to scale

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:25:48 GMT

I've searched through the reference book, the ArchiCAD help site and the history in ArchiCAD-talk. I need to print my documents to scale. When I print my floorplan at 1/8" scale on 11 1/2 by 17 paper and take a ruler to it it's not even close. It doesn't match any of the scales on my Architects ruler.

Any suggestions on how to print a floorplan with a true scale?

Re: Printing to scale

Dwight — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:44:18 GMT

Your printer is probably set to "fit to page" and the area you've selected is bigger.

The way to control scale absolutely is to place a scaled view on a layout that has a physical size equal to the printed page.

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:49:45 GMT

Archicad version? O/S?

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:52:16 GMT

AC version 11 for PC's. I'm currently looking at my Drawing Selection Settings Window and editing the sizes listed in the properties. Does that sound like I'm on the right track?

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:55:21 GMT

No. I think you should look for an "Archicad" pane in the Print dialog. On the Mac it lets you set the scale of the output with regard to the paper size, there should be something similar in Windows.

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:04:11 GMT

It figures.....according to the help menu the print dialog menu seems to be specific to MacOS. Anybody know what it would be called for windows?

(The help even mentions the ArchiCAD pane. Wish I could find it in windows.)

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:29:51 GMT

Just wanted to mention I was finally able to print a floorplan to scale. I never did find an ArchiCAD pane but under the print option was a print 2d drawings that allowed me to set the scale.

Now is there a way to publish my whole pdf set to scale and still maintain my titleblock?

I guess I'm back to the question how do I placed a scaled view on a layout that has a physical size equal to the printed page?

And if I use this technique what happens if I change the scale from say 1/8" to 1/4"?

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:39:15 GMT

You select (or create/edit) a master layout that prints 1:1 on your chosen paper size. Then set that as default for new layouts and place your views on them. They will print at the scale you've set in the view settings. That can be changed after it's been placed.

There are several ways to place views on layouts. I often use dragging in the Organizer - that gives me good control.

Go read the Help files! They're quite helpful

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:44:27 GMT

Seraphim wrote:
Just wanted to mention I was finally able to print a floorplan to scale. I never did find an ArchiCAD pane but under the print option was a print 2d drawings that allowed me to set the scale.

Now is there a way to publish my whole pdf set to scale and still maintain my titleblock?

I guess I'm back to the question how do I placed a scaled view on a layout that has a physical size equal to the printed page?

And if I use this technique what happens if I change the scale from say 1/8" to 1/4"?

1. create a layout of the page size you want the final print to be
2. add whatever drawings you want and make sure the source view is set to the scale you want (right click on the drawings, choose 'modify source view settings'.)
3. output:
Plot or Print - make sure it's set to 100%, not fit to page or other %
Publish - should create plot, pdf, dwg to correct scale if the above is set up right.

Hope this helps

edit - as far as changing scales, you would have to go back and change the source view settings to the new scale you want, then make sure that the drawing outline on the layout accomodates the new scale and print as above.

Re: Printing to scale

Link — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:00:21 GMT

You need to do both, make sure the Drawing is the correct scale, then if you're publishing it, you need to make sure your publishing Settings are set correctly. Or if you're printing it from the File> Print menu, you need to set that dialog up correctly. There is no Print tab on a PC, it's all right there in the Print dialog. Just make sure the Size is set at 100% - and that will be at 100% relative to the scale you set in the Drawing settings. If your layout is tiling across many pages, you need to adjust your Master to fit to the sized paper offered by the Printer you're printing to.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:01:16 GMT

Chris wrote:
edit - as far as changing scales, you would have to go back and change the source view settings to the new scale you want

No. You can simply select the view in question on the layout, right (ctrl) click on it and go to "Drawing Selection settings" and change the scale there. The whole view will re-scale, if you go from 1/8" to 1/4" it will double (linear) in size.

As Rick put it: Time to pull out the manual. You've got all the docs with the default instalation. It's readily available in the Help menu!

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:32:46 GMT

Seraphim wrote:
It figures.....according to the help menu the print dialog menu seems to be specific to MacOS. Anybody know what it would be called for windows? (The help even mentions the ArchiCAD pane. Wish I could find it in windows.)

It's here: http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=107508#107508

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:39:54 GMT

Thomas wrote:
Chris wrote:
edit - as far as changing scales, you would have to go back and change the source view settings to the new scale you want
No. You can simply select the view in question on the layout, right (ctrl) click on it and go to "Drawing Selection settings" and change the scale there. The whole view will re-scale, if you go from 1/8" to 1/4" it will double (linear) in size.

You can, but I would recommend changing the original view scale. Only change the drawing scale on the layout as a last resort.

Re: Printing to scale

James Murray — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:30:17 GMT

s2art wrote:
You can, but I would recommend changing the original view scale. Only change the drawing scale on the layout as a last resort.

I agree and raise.

If you change the scale of the drawing rather than the view, all the "fixed size" items will be the wrong size, including text elements. If you change 1/8" to 1/4", your 6pt text will be 12pt.

In our office it's essentially forbidden to change the scale this way. Always fix the view; it's no harder and gives consistent results. IMHO.

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:34:16 GMT

The various ideas and contradictions are providing WAY more real life application than the help menu ever does! I really appreciate all the clarification and examples being given!

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:57:42 GMT

James wrote:
I agree and raise.

OK. Punch it in, guys. I thought at this level of experience, I could give him the simple way. There are so many options and ways to do things in this program, and of course consistency and manageability are primary in a project where several people are involved. But ease of use - and of learning - are also worth considering, especially when you take your first steps.

Re: Printing to scale

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:33:41 GMT

Thomas wrote:
James wrote:
I agree and raise.
OK. Punch it in, guys. I thought at this level of experience, I could give him the simple way. There are so many options and ways to do things in this program, and of course consistency and manageability are primary in a project where several people are involved. But ease of use - and of learning - are also worth considering, especially when you take your first steps.

It's good to direct those first steps in the right direction though, don't you think?

Re: Printing to scale

Thomas Holm — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:36:18 GMT

Yes of course, James. I think multiple voices gives the best information.

Seraphim wrote:
The various ideas and contradictions are providing WAY more real life application than the help menu ever does!

Re: Printing to scale

Djordje — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:34:16 GMT

Thomas wrote:
Chris wrote:
edit - as far as changing scales, you would have to go back and change the source view settings to the new scale you want
No. You can simply select the view in question on the layout, right (ctrl) click on it and go to "Drawing Selection settings" and change the scale there. The whole view will re-scale, if you go from 1/8" to 1/4" it will double (linear) in size.

As Rick put it: Time to pull out the manual. You've got all the docs with the default instalation. It's readily available in the Help menu!

This should be done only if you have 2,5 seconds to print.

Always, and I mean ALWAYS define a new view with a new scale. That should come as naturally as breathing.

Re: Printing to scale

Djordje — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:36:34 GMT

Thomas wrote:
James wrote:
I agree and raise.
OK. Punch it in, guys. I thought at this level of experience, I could give him the simple way. There are so many options and ways to do things in this program, and of course consistency and manageability are primary in a project where several people are involved. But ease of use - and of learning - are also worth considering, especially when you take your first steps.

Sorry, have to disagree. You should NEVER point out a way that is fundamentally wrong. The fact that the option exists is not the reason to use it. New users have to be taught correct ways from the start. The quick and dirty methods are for crunch moments, and more often than not, they will come back to haunt you ...

Been there, done that ... 😉