Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Tip: Import AC Pens into PM Layout Book

Link
Graphisoft Partner
Graphisoft Partner
I have never seen why we would want different pens & colors in our PlotMaker layout books than in our ArchiCAD projects. Here is a simple tip to get your ArchiCAD Pens into PlotMaker.

As always, if you'd like a copy of this in PDF format, please contact me privately with your email address. It is only 765Kb so shouldn't be a problem for most users.

Cheers,
Link.

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ArchiLINK-Pen-Transfer-Tip6.jpg
Anonymous
Not applicable
When Ploting on a Black-ink only plotter, are you choosing "all colors to black? If so are White fills a problem?

Jay
Link
Graphisoft Partner
Graphisoft Partner
When Ploting on a Black-ink only plotter, are you choosing "all colors to black? If so are White fills a problem?
Never I always plot to color - because even then you should get grayscale. And I have never personally had trouble with white fills. That is not to say it is not feasible.

Cheers,
Link.
Pete
Newcomer
Isn't the generally accepted practice to use colored pens (1-10) in AC so you can easily recognize element types, line weights, etc... Then mapping those pens to black in PM?

Is there a better way to organize pens?
Pete Read
ArchiCAD 12; Artlantis Studio 2
MacBook Pro 2.4 Core2Duo, 2GB, OSX(10.5) and XPpro(SP3)
Link
Graphisoft Partner
Graphisoft Partner
IMHO, that is the best solution. Not only is it simple, but it is flexible and allows us to make maximum use of PlotMaker. We can map the first ten pens to black and the rest can be used to plot all the colors of the spectrum, including greyscale. Plot in color and only those unmapped pens will plot in color, if they are used at all. On a B&W plotter they will greyscale. Some people believe that it is best to assign one row of colors to certain element(s), all with different pen weights. This way they can use the colors to identify what is what on screen. That's what I use layers for, even if I do have to click on the element to see that, it's rarely a problem for me.

I know this is a sensitive topic that has been discussed here many times before and I am not out to preach that my method is the best, but it has worked for me for years and I find it very flexible!

Cheers,
Link.