When plotting, scale is the ratio between the distance in the design file master units and the distance moved by the plotter pen. Two of the more efficient methods of handling plot scaling in MicroStation are:
- Referencing the design file in the border sheet
This method creates a border sheet that is at an "apples to apples" scale (such as inches to inches, like 24" x 36"). Files, details or views are then referenced into the border file.
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Referencing the border sheet in the design file
The border sheet will be scaled up to fit the design file, so the output scale is determined at plot time. For example, 8' = 1" for 1/8 scale, 20' = 1" for 1/20 scale, etc.
Setting Up
The first step in plotting is (obviously) selecting what you want plotted. You can plot by View or Fence. Plotting by view plots the current view, while plotting by fence plots the area inside a userdefined fence. Plotting by fence is more commonit allows precise control over the area to be plotted, which is very important when you are trying to fit a certain area on a sheet of paper at a certain scale.
Place a fence in your design file. Choose File > Print/Plot to open the Plot dialog box. Choose Entity > Fence.
You can now specify how you want the fenced area to be plotted. In the Plot dialog box, choose Setup > Page and then select the sheet size you want to use in the Setup dialog box.
Quick Tip: The sheet size will default to the last size record in the *.PLT file, which is set to E by default (A0 if you are using metric). If you'd like the Page Setup to default to another size, simply make that the last size record in the *.PLT file.
If you want the image rotated 90° on your sheet, toggle on Rotate 90°.
Quick Tip: MicroStation will rotate the plot on the sheet, but not the sheet on the plotter. To do this, you can set the plotter to rotate 90 degrees, or you can reverse the size records in the *.PLT file. For example, (35,23) becomes (23,35).
Choosing Setup > Layout in the Plot dialog box opens the Plot Layout dialog box. Here, you can adjust the margins, as well as the plot height and scale. By default, MicroStation will maximize the size of the plot on the sheet. If you adjust the height of the plot, the width will adjust accordingly, preventing the plot from being stretched at plot time. Below the Margins section of this dialog box, you will find two Scale to fields:
- Scale to <___> % of normal. "Normal" is the sheet size specified in your size records; "percent of Normal" indicates the percentage of the sheet your plot will use. This number will vary with the relationship between your plot size and the page size defined in your size record (usually, it is between 85 and 100 percent).
- Scale to <__> MU:SU/IN. This is where you enter the scale of your plot. The value you enter is determined by the scale you want plotted and your working units. For example, if your master units are feet and your subunits are inches, and you want a plotted sheet with a scale of 1/8", enter 8meaning 8 feet (in the design file) = 1 inch (on paper), or 1/8 inch = 1 foot. The default scale in the SCALE TO <__> MU:SU/IN field is the largest scale that will fit on your sheet. If you decrease this number, MicroStation will give you an auditory alert. This means you must select a smaller scale or a larger sheet size, or decrease the area enclosed by your fence.
Fine Tuning Sheet Sizes
In general, the default settings in the plot driver configuration files should suit your purposes. However, you may need to make some changes to these files to accommodate specific paper sizes, scaling methods, borders, etc. The size= lines (or size records) in your plotter configuration file are where these changes should be made. For example:
size=(23.0,35.0)/num=0/off=(0.12,0.33)/name=d
is broken down in this manner:
- size=(23.0,35.0). The numbers in parentheses are the sheet size. This controls which sheet sizes are displayed in the Setup dialog box. This should not be larger than the maximum printable area of your printer/plotter (check your printer/plotter documentation for this information).
- num=0. This parameter is for page size numbers. On plotters/printers where no page size number is required, the default is zero. This setting is primarily designed for multiple tray printers.
- off=(0.12, 0.33). This offsets parameter sets the distance between the plotter origin and where MicroStation will begin plotting. In other words, offsets control the location of your plot on the sheet (within the maximum printable area).
Quick Tip: By setting the offset statement to 0.0,0.0, the plotter will start printing at the plotter's margins-this is the closest you will be able to plot to the edge of the sheet of paper. With the offsets set this way, you can also determine the origin of the plotter (by looking at the sides with the smallest margins).
- name=d. This parameter controls the name displayed in the Plot dialog box. For certain types of printing/plotting, the name must be set very specifically. For example, for plotting sheets longer than 50 inches to HP plotters, the name must be set to LONG_AXIS. To plot to the tabloid size on CalComp CCL600s, the name must be set to TABLOID.
When setting up paper sizes, keep in mind that most plotters cannot plot the entire width or length of a sheet. For example, most inkjet plotters will only be able to print an area about 23" x 35" on a 24" x 36" sheet of paper. This is due to the mechanical limitations of the plotter, and is referred to as the plotter's maximum printable area, or hard clip limits.
When plotting, keep this equation in mind:
MAXIMUM PRINTABLE AREA = PAGE SIZE - PLOTTER MARGINS
Specifying an area larger than the maximum printable area will result in a clipped plot. To avoid this, make the sheet sizes in the plot driver configuration file no larger than the maximum printable area for your plotter (check your plotter documentation for this value).
Knowing your maximum printable area will help you set up your paper sizes (Figure 1).
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| Figure 1 |
Most standard Architectural D size sheets (24 x 36) have a 1 1/2" border on the left, and 1/2" borders on the right, top and bottom. For this sheet size and border layout, you will need a maximum printable area of at least 23" x 34". Doublecheck your printable area to make sure the border falls within those measurements. If not, decrease the size of your border slightly or check your plotter documentation to see if your plotter has an expanded, or small margin, mode. The ideal setup is when the proportions of the fenced area in MicroStation are the same as the size records in the plot driver configuration file.
Plotter Page Setup
Set up your sheet border in MicroStation and determine your size records. Use the following equations:
sheet height (top margin + bottom margin) = height for size records
sheet width - (left margin + right margin) = width for size records
For example, for a 24" x 36" sheet with a 1 1/2" left margin and 1/2" margins around the top, bottom and right sides of the sheet, the calculations would be:
24" ( 1/2" + 1/2") = 23" (height)
36" (1 1/2" + 1/2")= 34" (width)
Open your plot driver configuration file with a text editor. Scroll down until you see the following line:
size=(22.0,34.0)/num=0/off=(0.27,0.27)/name=d
Replace the sheet sizes (the first two numbers) with the numbers from the previous calculation. The line should now look like:
size=(23.0,34.0)/num=0/off=(0.27,0.27)/name=d
Determine your offsets (the off= setting). This is done by using the following equation:
(desired margin) (plotter margin) = (offset)
Keep in mind that the offsets are the distance from the plotter origin to where MicroStation starts plotting. These calculations will get you close to the margins you want. You may need to do additional finetuning to get your exact margins. For example, if you want to plot a D size sheet with a 1 1/2" border on the left of the sheet and the plotter origin is in the lower right of the sheet, your margin calculations would be based on 1/2" and 1/2", not 1/2" and 1 1/2".
If you are not sure of your plotter's origin, fence and plot a small rectangle (5" x 5") to a large sheet. The corner of the rectangle closest to the corner of the paper is the plotter origin (Figure 2).
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| Figure 2 |
With the origin of the plotter located and the offsets determined, you'll be able to fit your border on your sheet with a minimum of trial and error.
If the trailing margin of your plotter (the last part out of the plotter) is less than you'd like, there's an easy way to work around this. For example, you may want a .5" margin along the top of the sheet and the plotter margin is .4". You can place a point .10" above your border, and when you place a fence, snap to that point, rather than the corner of your border. This will give you an extra .10" outside the border, and, when added to the .40" plotter margin, you have the .5" margin that you wanted.
Metric
If you want your working units to be metric, you need to alter the SCALE TO <_______> MU:SU/IN line, which is controlled by the units listed in the resolution line of your plot driver configuration file (in this case, the units are set to inches).
To plot in metric, use the metric size records and resolution line. The default units are MM (millimeters). To change this to meters, simply delete one M. You'll also need to adjust the resolution. When going from millimeters to meters, simply move the decimal point three places to the left. Be sure to make the same change to your sheet sizes and offsets. Below is an example of metric size records set to plot in meters (centimeters and millimeters are remarked out). Note: You will need to comment out the English sizes, as well.
; Metric size records set for meters
size=(.158,.244)/num=0/off=(0,.007)/name=a4
size=(.229,.355)/num=0/off=(0,.007)/name=a3
size=(.355,.508)/num=0/off=(0,.007)/name=a2
size=(.788,.508)/num=0/off=(.007,.007)/name=a1
size=(1.066,.813)/num=0/off=(.007,.007)/name=a0
resolution(M)=(0.000025,0.000025) ;for plotting to meters ( X units per meter)
;resolution(CM)=(0.0025,0.0025) ;for plotting to centimeters (X units per centimeter)
;resolution(MM)=(0.025,0.025) ;for plotting to millimeters (X units per millimeter)
Quick Tip: When using PRINTER.PLT (the system printer), the metric/English setting is controlled in the Control Panel under Regional Settings in Windows.
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