HI!!
After having a great feedback on font sizes in previous posts, I decided to use 9pt on floor plans as size for dimensions & text/annotations.
I wanted to share my confusion about different sizing in PT and INCHES - and if someone would have solution for this?
I am trying to set up THE SAME size of fonts for dimensions and text. However, dimensions show in PT, while text in INCHES.
I converted 9pt to inch which seems to be 0,011" and that is not even seen by a human eye.
Is there a way to set up PT for both (fonts & dimensions numbers?). Do I really need calculator to convert this? Please could someone helpppp
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@cocoloco wrote:
Hi Karl,
I think I understand, and it works well for the text/annotation so that is now clear to me and really helps. However I am also struggling with dimension sizes because I don't see option to turn on scale independent or model/paper size therefore only option I see is PT. this below is my option in terms of setting up dimensions sizes.
If the text is specified in points, that is the size it will print at. Someone else mentioned this to you in this or the other thread. So, typically, use 9 to 11 point text (depends on font) for your dimensions. Done. It will print at that size.
Now, let's say you're viewing a plan at 1/4" scale in the 2D window. If you change the view to 1/8" scale, all of the text on your screen specified in points will appear larger... in fact twice as large. Why? Because if you print at that scale, the model will take up half the space... but the text will always be the same printed size. Ditto ½" scale... the text will look really small in the 2D window... but that's because the model will occupy twice the space (and likely not fit on your sheet), but the dimension text will still be the same printed and readable size. All of this is exactly what you want (in 99% of cases).
When will this not be the case - that your xx point dimension text won't print as xx point? When you change the scale or magnification level [they are linked] of a placed drawing on a layout from the scale at which the saved View for the drawing is set. Here are the drawing settings for a plan view that was placed on a layout at its default settings... a 1/8" scale view creating a 1/8" scale drawing:
When the "Drawing Scale" and the "Original Scale" (View Settings saved scale) are identical, then 9 point dimension text will appear as 9 point text. It doesn't matter what the scale is ... as long as they are the same. Typically, they should be the same.
If you change the Magnification to 200% (which in the screenshot would automatically change the Drawing Scale to 1/4" ... although the Original Scale is still 1/8") ... what should have been 9 point text will now print as if it was 18 point text. Similarly, any fills (hatch patterns) will be enlarged... vs scaled, which is most often not what is desired.
As an aside, in one of your screenshots you show a font [Arial cyrillic]. The square braces mean that the font is not on your machine. Any time you see a font like that, you should replace it with a loaded font to get predictable results.
Please just drag screenshots directly into the message window as I've done here so we can see them immediately rather than having to click on an attachment. Thanks!
@cocoloco As in the other discussion, you only see inches if you have chosen to display text in "Model Size" rather than "Paper Size". Here's the setting:
If you flip back and forth between the two in the settings dialog, you'll see the height box units change from Pt to inches (when you're in North American Imperial units).
For Paper Size, the text will appear in the point size given on the output even if the model is at different scales on the layout sheet. (For annotation where you really want the same text size, it is essential to understand the 9 positions for the Anchor Point so that at different drawing scales, the text will appear in a reasonable position.) For Model Size, the text will be fixed size in model units and will be larger or smaller depending upon the scale with with the model is printed.
I strongly encourage you to drag your Info Box to the side of the screen so that it is vertical and you can see more content readily without scrolling (although you can still scroll). For example, the out of the box Text Tool Info Box, when vertical, looks like this:
The flyout labeled here as "Scale independent >" lets you choose the same setting as the Settings dialog for paper vs model. The Work Environment lets you choose to display more or less info in the Info Box... and to change the order of what appears so that what you use most often is most readily visible. For example, you can add the Width and Spacing scales to the Info Box to make it quicker to try different things for titles, etc.
Hi Karl,
I think I understand, and it works well for the text/annotation so that is now clear to me and really helps. However I am also struggling with dimension sizes because I don't see option to turn on scale independent or model/paper size therefore only option I see is PT. this below is my option in terms of setting up dimensions sizes.
Therefore I don't even know what will show on print blurred or not, if it's same with text or not .. Please please could you check if you have the same setting options like I do when it comes to dimensions? Thank you @Karl Ottenstein
Would you also know if Archicad has an option that I can see if it will be blurred or not when I print it? (real life view or something)
I will try to place the info box on the right side of the screen
@cocoloco wrote:
Hi Karl,
I think I understand, and it works well for the text/annotation so that is now clear to me and really helps. However I am also struggling with dimension sizes because I don't see option to turn on scale independent or model/paper size therefore only option I see is PT. this below is my option in terms of setting up dimensions sizes.
If the text is specified in points, that is the size it will print at. Someone else mentioned this to you in this or the other thread. So, typically, use 9 to 11 point text (depends on font) for your dimensions. Done. It will print at that size.
Now, let's say you're viewing a plan at 1/4" scale in the 2D window. If you change the view to 1/8" scale, all of the text on your screen specified in points will appear larger... in fact twice as large. Why? Because if you print at that scale, the model will take up half the space... but the text will always be the same printed size. Ditto ½" scale... the text will look really small in the 2D window... but that's because the model will occupy twice the space (and likely not fit on your sheet), but the dimension text will still be the same printed and readable size. All of this is exactly what you want (in 99% of cases).
When will this not be the case - that your xx point dimension text won't print as xx point? When you change the scale or magnification level [they are linked] of a placed drawing on a layout from the scale at which the saved View for the drawing is set. Here are the drawing settings for a plan view that was placed on a layout at its default settings... a 1/8" scale view creating a 1/8" scale drawing:
When the "Drawing Scale" and the "Original Scale" (View Settings saved scale) are identical, then 9 point dimension text will appear as 9 point text. It doesn't matter what the scale is ... as long as they are the same. Typically, they should be the same.
If you change the Magnification to 200% (which in the screenshot would automatically change the Drawing Scale to 1/4" ... although the Original Scale is still 1/8") ... what should have been 9 point text will now print as if it was 18 point text. Similarly, any fills (hatch patterns) will be enlarged... vs scaled, which is most often not what is desired.
Still looking?
