AutoCAD is a powerful drafting and
design software that is widely used in many industries, including architecture,
engineering, and construction. One of the basic skills an AutoCAD user should
have is the ability to create multiple layouts for different purposes within a
single drawing. In this guide, we will explore how to draw multiple layouts in
AutoCAD.
Understanding layout in AutoCAD
In AutoCAD, a layout is a 2D
representation of a design that is ready to be drawn or printed. Each layout
can have different dimensions, scales, and viewports that show different parts
of the design. When you create a new drawing in AutoCAD, it automatically gets
one layout called "Layout1". To create multiple layouts, you can use
the "Layouts" tab on the ribbon or the "Layouts" drop-down
list in the status bar.
Creating new layouts in AutoCAD
To create a new layout in AutoCAD,
follow these steps:
Click the
"Layout" tab on the ribbon or the "Layout" drop-down list
in the status bar.
Click the "New Layout" button in the "Layout" panel. The "New Layout" dialog will appear.
In the "New Layout" dialog box, enter a name for the new layout and select a template if you want to use it.
Click the "OK" button. The new layout will be added to the "Layout" tab on the ribbon or to the "Layout" drop-down list in the status bar.
To switch between layouts, click the layout name on the "Layouts" tab in the ribbon or in the "Layouts" drop-down list in the status bar.
Layout settings in AutoCAD
Once you create a new layout in
AutoCAD, you need to set it up before you can start drawing or plotting. Here
are the steps to set up a layout in AutoCAD:
Click the layout
name on the "Layouts" tab in the ribbon or the "Layouts"
drop-down list in the status bar to activate the layout.
Click the "Page Setup" button in the "Page Setup" panel. The "Page Setup" dialog box will appear.
In the "Page Setup" dialog box, select the printer or plotter you want to use.
Select the paper size and orientation you want to use.
Set the area and scale of the chart.
Click the "OK" button to save the page settings.
Adding viewports in AutoCAD
A viewport is a rectangular area in a
layout that displays a portion of a drawing. You can add multiple viewports to
a layout and set each viewport to display a different part of the drawing at a
different scale. Here are the steps to add viewports in AutoCAD:
Click the layout name on the "Layouts" tab in
the ribbon or the "Layouts" drop-down list in the status bar to
activate the layout.
Click the "Layout" tab on the ribbon.
Click the "Viewport" button in the "Layout Viewports" panel. A drop-down list will appear.
Select the type of viewport you want to add (model space viewport or drawing space viewport).
Click on the layout where you want to add the viewport. A rectangular viewport border appears.
To resize the viewport, click on the border and drag it to the desired size.
To move the viewport, click on the border and drag it to the desired location.
To edit the properties of the viewport, right-click on the border and select "Properties". In the "Viewport Properties" dialog box, you can set the scale, display style, and other properties.
Plot Multiple Layouts in AutoCAD.
Plotting multiple layouts in AutoCAD can be a
time-saving feature when you need to print or export different parts of your
drawing at different scales or orientations. Here are the steps to plot
multiple layouts in AutoCAD:
Step 1: Set up the Page Setup
Before you can plot multiple layouts in AutoCAD,
you need to set up the page setup for each layout. To do this, activate each
layout and go to the "Page Setup" dialog box. In the "Page
Setup" dialog box, you can select the printer or plotter that you want to
use, set the paper size and orientation, and set the plot area and scale.
Repeat this step for each layout that you want to plot.
Step 2: Select the Layouts to Plot
Once you have set up the page setup for each
layout, you need to select the layouts that you want to plot. To do this, go to
the "Plot" dialog box by typing "PLOT" in the command line
or selecting "Plot" from the "Output" tab in the ribbon. In
the "Plot" dialog box, select the "Layout" tab and click on
the "Add Sheets" button. In the "Add Sheets" dialog box,
select the layouts that you want to plot and click on the "OK"
button.
Step 3: Set the Plot Options
After selecting the layouts that you want to
plot, you need to set the plot options. In the "Plot" dialog box,
select the printer or plotter that you want to use and set the paper size and
orientation. You can also set other options, such as the plot style table, the
color depth, and the quality. If you want to create a PDF or a DWF file, select
the appropriate option in the "Destination" section.
Step 4: Plot the Layouts
Once you have set the plot options, you can plot
the layouts by clicking on the "OK" button in the "Plot"
dialog box. AutoCAD will generate the plot for each layout and send it to the
printer or plotter that you have selected. If you have selected the option to
create a PDF or a DWF file, AutoCAD will create the file and save it to the
location that you have specified.
Conclusion
Plotting multiple layouts in AutoCAD is a
powerful feature that can save you a lot of time and effort. By setting up the
page setup for each layout, selecting the layouts to plot, setting the plot
options, and plotting the layouts, you can quickly generate multiple plots for
different parts of your drawing. This feature is especially useful when you
need to present your design to different stakeholders or when you need to
create multiple versions of your drawing for different purposes.
