Modify a model you want to convert and/print on

AutoCAD
By Unathi Mzaca
Maybe one once tried the command export to PDF under ribbon output and it gave him/her
something like this:

Then you decided to use Print screen, that gives you good borders but bad quality, remember we
work with quality and most people hate compromising the quality after spending a long day working
on something and unlike other softwares AutoCAD is indeed a huge work. This paper also teaches us
how to create borders of the current view on AutoCAD . Anyway back to business of the moment,
why dont you try my technique it is in fact a command on your software that you were not aware
of.
Lets say for instance we want to print the box in the following picture

Hit the output Ribbon Tab Output

Under Ribbon Plot select Page Setup Manager:

Here you can control the page layout, plotting device, paper size, and other setting for each
new layout.

The small dialog box will appear then select modify, by so doing you act editing the setting
for the selected page setup which is *Model* in this case. After selection Page Setup
Manager will appear on your screen, see the next pictures:

Under Page setup name is none (if you havent saved your model/drawing)
Under Printer/ plotter you might as well leave the name as none if you dont want to print
your drawings straight from the software, I always change my drawing to PDF and print
them afterwards and I advice people so.
Then change the paper size I always go for ISO A4 (279.00 x 210.00MM), thats landscape.
Even if you choose any paper its still fine and with printer you can print any ISO size when
printing PDF though you didnt choose it here.

Then choose window under Plot area which allows you to choose the area you want to plot
or print or to appear in your paper.

Select centre the plot under Plot offset and by so doing you are centreing the plot area to
your paper and you dont need to specify the origin of the printable are since it is the centre
i.e. its 0,0,0 when drawing.

Under Shaded viewport options select any for shaded, I normally finish up the drawing
and then print it by so doing i make sure that Im done with that drawing and move forward
that allow me to hit as displayed.
For quality its always maximum.
If Landscape is automatically selected under drawing orientation select it. Then hit OK

Under the ribbon Export to DWF/PDF change from display to windows. A small dialog box
will appear then select display preview. A PDF like screen will appear if you are satisfied you
can go to the top left corner and hit a small icon PDF to export and you are done.

Or hit close preview window

So as to modify your drawing if you are not satisfied. To change the plot area click window
icon next to window, respond by continue in the small dialog box that appears.
Specify the area (by clicking from one corner in the top then the other in the botton on the
other side). Display preview to check the drawing.
You do this up until you get the right area you want in your paper then convert it. One can leave the
preview window and convert the drawing to PDF usinf the command in the export to DWF/PDF
ribbon.

Creating borders in your drawing

Every engineering drawing has to have borders that is the accepted standard. It is very easy to draw simple
border lines of a 2D drawing in AutoCAD and 2D views of a 3D drawing like top, bottom, side, front or back
view (remember all these views are in 2D plane maybe XY, XZ or YZ) and in these plane AutoCAD allows
you to draw lines at an point. The greatest challenge is when one wants different view like Isometric view,
and thats what we are going to introduce to you. Take this one for instant

Its imposible to draw a straight line perpendicular to the side of your paper, one can argue and say I have
to disable Ortho mode (comand that allows to draw only straight lines) but I will work hard and spend
more time trying to make my lines straight A shortcut is always available. Also I would have to think
twice before change the size of my border.

This is done by aligning the XY plane of the user coordinate system with screen (your current view)
In home ribbon tab click view under coordinates Ribbon then view (the very first
command on the list that will appear) the screen will automatically align.
Then draw the borders

Then go bact to output to modify the plot area,

Preview to check it

Export to PDF

My PDF FILE

Feedback please, as I plan to do more of these informative documents and videos

Facebook-Unathi Mzaca
Umzaca21@gmail.com