3.2Title blocks, layout & printing / PDF export
A professional sheet carries a title block: the standardized frame that identifies the document (title, scale, date, author, revision, sheet number). It's inserted in paper space, often as a block with attributes. Then you configure the layout: paper size, printer/plotter, area to plot, and above all the plot styles.
The plot styles (CTB or STB) determine how on-screen colors/objects become lineweights and gray scales when printed — the step that produces a legible, hierarchical plan. Finally, the PDF export (via the PDF printer or EXPORTPDF) produces the file to distribute. Mastering this chain — title block → layout → plot styles → PDF — is delivering impeccable documents.
Section vocabulary
- Title block
- Standardized frame identifying the document (title, scale, date, author, revision, sheet no.).
- Layout
- Print configuration of a paper space: format, plotter, plotted area, plot styles.
- CTB / STB plot style
- CTB: plotting driven by object color. STB: by named styles. Defines lineweights and grays when printing.
- Lineweight (when printed)
- Thickness of the printed line, giving hierarchy to the drawing (strong outlines, fine details).
- PDF export
- Production of a PDF (PDF printer or EXPORTPDF) to distribute the sheet.
What are CTB/STB plot styles for?
In practice — Producing a printable sheet
- Insert a title block in paper space and fill in its information (title, scale, date…).
- Configure the layout (Layout Manager): paper size (A3), plotter, area to plot.
- Choose a plot style (CTB/STB) and check the lineweights: strong outlines, fine details, consistent grays.
- Export to PDF (PDF printer or EXPORTPDF) and check the final rendering.
Key points to remember
- The title block identifies the document (title, scale, date, revision, sheet no.).
- The layout defines format, plotter and plotted area.
- Plot styles (CTB/STB) translate colors → lineweights and grays when printing.
- PDF export (EXPORTPDF) produces the file to distribute.
Frequently asked questions
CTB or STB, which one to choose?
The CTB (color-dependent) is the most widespread and the simplest: each object color corresponds to a lineweight when printed (a long-standing convention deeply rooted in design offices). The STB (named styles) is more modern and flexible but less common. Above all follow your company/sector standard: if a CTB standard exists, adopt it for consistency in exchanges.
My PDF doesn't respect the lineweights, why?
Check three things: that the correct plot style (CTB/STB) is selected in the layout; that « Apply lineweights » is enabled; and that lineweights are defined (preferably by layer, or by the plot style). A « all thin » or « all thick » PDF almost always comes from a badly selected plot style or undefined lineweights. Preview before plotting.