This issue from @felixrothermel0 .
Felix wants to print from Layout and have the PDF look as good as the screen capture from Model space. This was hard because models that we made, worked. So the key here was getting the model from Felix to dig into this.
So let’s unpack this.
Why does Felix’s model look so much worse in layout than the model?
There is actually quite a bit to cover. We got the Model from Felix and there we believe his problems are related to a few settings in the model.
Text Height, Line Weights and Linetypes all need to be diagnosed.
They can look the same in Model as Layout, but we need to make sure the file settings allow this to happen.
As a workaround, Felix was using ScreeCaturetoFile from Model and getting a pretty nice image that was not to scale. So he printed from Layout to get the scale, and then used Indesign to “stretch” the image to be to scale. Very smart to get here, but a lot more work than simple printing to a vector PDF, to scale.
What is wrong with the screen capture?
Well it is a raster image. But even if you wrote out a high resolution file, you can still Zoom in and see the pixel. It is also not to scale.
Why not Print from Model?
You can Print PDF from model, choose vector output, and set the scale at the time of printing.
But you print one rectangle or part of the model space (or you need a special scripts.).
Printing Multiple Layouts
Layouts allow you to print multiple view of the model on the same Layout sheet.
On the layout that Felix provided, he had one Layout with one detail of a very nice 2D plan.
When you print layouts, you get options for all, some or a group of layouts to a Vector PDF and to scale. So this is definitely the best place to print from.
So let’s look at the settings that are causing the issue and get us back to the layout from printing.
The Solution
Start with the Model.
First step was to turn on Arctic Display mode in the model.
We could also all the layers that are organizing the model.
There are print widths by layer, some by object. Not a problem, just harder to keep tack of.
Also Turn on PrintPreview in the Model.
Print preview is controlled by the PrintDisplay command, this is important to know, because there are command line options only available if you type in the command.
Now we go to the Layout. It will look different from the Model.
- Layout is not locked-> We will Lock it.
- Set Arctic as the Displaymode for the Detail.
- Turn on PrintPreview in the Detail.
Text:
To make your text size in Model space be exactly what you see on the Layout, turn OFF
Annotation scale off for layout. (Options → Annotation → uncheck Enable Layout Space Scaling.)
Note: if this is ON, the text height is displayed on the layout so it 1:1, with no scaling. Text that is ¼” high in the Annotation style is ¼” high on the plot. Text that is 5mm high in the annotation style is 5mm high on the sheet of paper.
If Felix wants the text to be exactly how he sees it on the Model, this setting Enable Layout Space Scaling needs to be OFF.
Linetype
Type PrintDisplay and the see the “Layout Linetype Scaling” option on the command line.
This is only available when you run the PrintDisplay command from a Layout
Normally the “viewport scale” scales the display of the object by some factor. For Felix, it is 1/50. Typically the geometry is scaled down to fit in the details and the linetype scale is scales up by 50, which is the proper approach here.
Except, when we look at the custom linetypes in the file, they are already scaled 50 times larger. This is not something that we recommend. The better approach is to use the built in linetype, and scale them up with the Scale factor in Options → Annotations → Linetype.
Why does this “blow up” in Layout?
When the custom Linetype is shown in the model is too large, 50 times too large and then scaled up by the Linetype scale. This custom linetype will only look good if Ltscale is 1 and if the Layout Linetype scale is turned off, details coming up.
Solutions:
- Felix can re-factor his linetypes.
Or
- If he is in a hurry to print, he can just show the linetypes he sees in the Model space.
To do this we type PrintDisplay on the Layout.
And set the turn OFF Layout Linetype Scaling
This will not show up unless you are on a Layout.
Print Time
The last two recommendations are accessed at Print time.
- Set the Linetype Scale to Match the viewport.
And the pen weights are too thick so…
- Scale the pen weights by .5
And now we are ready to print from Layout space and the Layout space will match the Models space display.
In summary:
By creating linetypes are printed size aka “super big” is never so good approach.
Create linetypes similar to Rhino, designed to be scaled up to real world values.
Here you will have more flexibility and an easier time getting your prints to look appropriate.
Lastly, fine tune with settings in your Print dialog.
And reference: Linetypes in Rhino [McNeel Wiki]
If I missed something, let me know.
And if you are having issues with your model and need help, email me at tech@mcneel.com and include a small 3DM that will show me the issue.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Fuigier
