Anyone used the "Screening" attribute in a Plot Config File?

[Teflon]

Does anyone have any tips on adjusting "screening" in an AutoCAD plot configuration file? I need to fade out sections of a drawing.

I currently set a "Phantom" layer to a specific pen color and adjust the pen color screening in the PCF file. I'd like to use screening, but I get either dark or "blotchy" prints in the screened areas..

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[architech]

We use fading/ screening here.
We acomplish this through the CTB files.

Exit AutoCAD
Open "My Computer"
Browse to where you store CTB files.
[note: hit F3 to search for CTB files on your machine]
Make a copy of your standard CTB file.
Now double click on the copy!
A dialog box should appear w/ 3 tab along the top
Click the middle tab (Table View)
(look @ the 3rd item down)
Should say "COLOR"
FOR THE ENTIRE ROW FROM "COLOR 1" TO "COLOR 255" ALL should be BLACK!
NOW select a few to be the GREY color.
(We use Color "#251, #252, #253, #254&quot
(Under the "COLOR" property ... we have the colors mimick each other ...)
(In other words, COLOR #251=251; COLOR #252=252; COLOR #253=253; & COLOR #254=254)


This setup should now give you FOUR LEVELS of INTENSITY ofr fading.

Save your file (CTB).

Now open AutoCAD,
Make sure your LINEWORK in the AutoCAD file everything is "BYLAYER" in terms of COLOR!

NOW, go to your layer manager box and select the layers you want to fade.

Change the color to 253 ... for example.

Plot
Choose the the CTB file you just made.
And plot!

That should do it.

Hope that helps!

Rich

 

[exit]

Hi Rich Architech,
new login, new luck...???

Lothar

Win NT4.0(SP6),2000(SP3)
AC 2000i(SP2), ADT 3.0(SP3),
AC 2002, ADT 3.3,
AC 2004, ADT 2004

 

[Teflon]

Thanks Rich!

Unfortunately I've come to realize the printer is a problem. I tried your method, but my printer is producing very poor quality when fading.

I'm thinking the issue is in my Laser Printer Driver. Fading of individual lines results in inconsistency in the line quality. Fading of solid color sections look OK. I think I'll try increasing the line thickness.

Thanks again.

 

[architech]

Dude (Teflon),
if you increase the line wieght in the CTB file under "Color #253 ... etc ...." The fading should improve. We have the same problem with our laser printers for "A size" sheets and "B size sheets".

I created a separate CTB file for these printers and increased the weight to an EQUAL PEN WEIGHT OF 1 or 2.
Depends on your preference.

I hope that helps.

Later guy.
And thanks for the star!

And a big HELLO to you, Lothar.