Black and white (monochrome/grayscale) color-dependent plot style (CTB) plots color in AutoCAD

Autodesk Support

Mar 21, 2025

Products and versions covered

Objects in drawings plot color when using a black and white (monochrome) or grayscale Color-Dependent Plot Style Table (CTB) in AutoCAD.

Objects or layers have been assigned a True Color (RGB) value. Color assignments in CTB files use AutoCAD Index (256) colors. This may be objects inside a block.
The viewport or Model tab is set to use a 3D visual style (Realistic, Conceptual, etc.).
The viewport's or page setup's Shade Plot setting is set to use a 3D visual style (Realistic, Conceptual, Hidden, etc.).
The option in the Plot dialog box for Plot with plot styles is not selected (checked).
The layout or viewport is corrupted.
Color settings within the CTB file are not maintained when copying between AutoCAD workstations.
Custom CTB file from MAC workstation not maintaining color settings when installed on a windows PC.

Modify the objects and layers to use an Index Color instead of True Color or Color Book.
Modify layer or color of block content. See Blocks do not change color based on layer that the block is placed on in AutoCAD.

To convert your CTB file to an STB file
1. On the command line, enter the CONVERTCTB command.
2. In the Select File dialog box, select the CTB file that you want to convert and then click Open.
3. In the Create File dialog box, enter a name for the new STB file.
4. Click Save.
To configure your DWG file to use the STB file
1. On the command line, enter CONVERTPSTYLES.
2. Click OK.
3. In the Select File dialog box, select the STB file that you have created.
4. Click Open.

Select Model space or viewport to use a non-3D visual style, such as 2D Wireframe or Legacy Hidden.

Note: For AutoCAD LT, this option is not available. Instead, copy all the model content to a new drawing and create viewports if needed.

Set the Shade Plot setting of the viewport or the Page Setup to either 2D Wireframe, Legacy Hidden or As Displayed (the latter goes along with a current visual style of 2D Wireframe or Legacy Hidden).
Make sure that the checkbox for Plot with plot styles is checked in Plot dialog box.

Replace the viewport or recreate the layout. See AutoCAD Help | To Create a New Layout Viewport.
Alternatively, copy a valid viewport and paste it into the layout.
Adopt the viewport afterward to the specific need.
Note: Copying elements from the corrupted layout can introduce corruption into the new layout.
Create viewport overrides to plot using the expected colors.
Create a layout or duplicate it.
Double-click within the viewport to activate it.
From the Layers palette, change the color in the VP Color column.
When plotting, use the default acadlt.ctb file.
Make sure that the color settings within the CTB match those from another workstation, if the CTB file was copied between machines.

AutoCAD for Mac; AutoCAD LT for Mac; AutoCAD Products;

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