Black and white (monochrome/grayscale) named plot style (STB) plots color in AutoCAD

Autodesk Support

Feb 5, 2025

Products and versions covered

Issue:

User reported that when attempting to plot a file in black and white (monochrome) or grayscale using an STB file in AutoCAD, some (or all) of the objects are plotted in color instead.

Causes:

  • Objects or layers are set to use a TrueColor (RGB) value instead of one of the 255 indexed colors.
  • The drawing is configured to use named plot styles (STB) where color-dependent plot styles (CTB) are expected.
  • The Visual Style of the Model tab or viewport is set to a 3D or hidden style (for example, Realistic, Hidden, Conceptual), and the Shade Plot is set to 'As Displayed'. Alternately, the Shade Plot may be set specifically to one of the 3D or hidden style options. Either of these scenarios will cause the applied plot style table (CTB) to be ignored.
  • In the Page Setup Manager or the Plot dialog, the Plot with plot styles checkbox is deselected.
  • An object or layer has a plot style override that is different from what is set in the assigned layer.
  • Objects and layers are set to use style names which are not present in the STB file.

Solution:

Change any colors that are set to a TrueColor value to use one of the 255 indexed colors instead

  • For specific objects:
  1. Select the affected objects.
  2. Right-click and choose Properties to display the Properties Palette.
  3. Adjust the Color setting by picking one of the 255 indexed colors.
  • For specific layers:
  1. Enter the LAYER command to open the Layer Properties Manager.
  2. Choose the color swatch for the affected layers.
  3. Select one of the 255 indexed colors.

Change the plot style mode of the drawing

Enter CONVERTPSTYLES on the command line in AutoCAD and follow the prompt. The drawing switches from using STB plot style tables to CTB plot style tables.

Notes:

  • This command is only present in Windows versions of AutoCAD.
  • Verify this in the Plot or Page Setup Manager dialog box.
  • The Plot Style Table drop-down menu will list CTB files instead of STB.
  • The monochrome.ctb is by default configured to plot black. The grayscale.ctb, is configured to plot shades of gray and black. 
  • If the CONVERTPSTYLES command does not switch the plot style, the file may be corrupt (see How to repair corrupt AutoCAD files)

    Change the Visual Style or Shade Plot setting

    • Click the viewport controls drop-down list in the upper left corner of the model area (Model tab or model space within a layout viewport), and select 2D Wireframe. Then verify that Shade Plot is set to 'As Displayed'.
    • Alternately, change the Shade Plot setting in the Plot dialog (if plotting from the Model tab), or in the properties of the layout viewport to either 2D Wireframe or Legacy Hidden. Those two options will cause the output to adhere to the applied plot style table, regardless of what the Visual Style is set to.

    Change PageSetup and, or Plot dialog setting

    1. Enter the PAGESETUP command to open the Page Setup Manager and click Modify.
    2. Check the 'Plot with plot styles' setting
    3. Check "Display Plot Styles" at the upper right.
    Alternatively, the same checkboxes are also available in the Plot dialog.

    Adjust the plot style in the Plot Style Table Editor

    If a Named Plot Style is expected to plot in black or grayscale, check that the plot style is configured as such. This includes checking whether the styles called for by objects and layers exist within the STB.
    1. Enter the PAGESETUP command to open the Page Setup Manager and click Modify.
    2. Choose the desired STB plot style from the drop-down.
    3. Click the button for Table Editor and verify the plot style configuration.

    Adjust the layer settings for Viewport Plot Style

    1. Enter the LAYER command to open the Layer Properties Manager.
    2. Locate the affected layers, that are not plotting correctly.
    3. Change the Viewport Plot Style column setting to Solid.

    Adjust the layer settings for the model space Plot Style

    1. Enter the LAYER command to open the Layer Properties Manager.
    2. Locate the affected layers, that are not plotting correctly.
    3. Change the Plot Style column setting to Style 1.

    If only Civil 3D objects, such as pipe fittings, are plotting incorrectly

    1. Right click the object and edit style.
    2. Edit the layer properties to match one that plots correctly, or move the component to a layer that plots correctly.

    Change the plot style object override 

    1. Enter PROPERTIES to open the object Properties palette. 
    2. Select an object that is plotting color.
    3. Check the Plot Style assigned to it. 
    Properties Palette in AutoCAD for Windows
     
    Properties Palette in AutoCAD for Windows showing Plot Style override

    Properties Palette in AutoCAD for Mac showing Plot Style override

    Properties Palette in AutoCAD for Mac showing Plot Style override


     

      Products:

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

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