Plot style is not reflected accurately when plotting from AutoCAD

Autodesk Support

Jan 23, 2025

Products and versions covered

Issue:

User reported that the selected plot style is not reflected in the output when plotting or viewing the plot preview in AutoCAD. Also, the following may be observed:
  • This might be independent of the plot style table chosen.
  • Viewport overrides may also be applied (for example, layer color), but are not reflected in the final plot.
  • The plot style works in the XREF file, but not the sheet file.

Causes:

  • TrueColor (RGB) colors are used in the drawing.
  • Corrupt printer driver.
  • The printer driver is incorrectly configured.
  • Non-wireframe visual style is selected.
  • Legacy Shadeplot setting applied to the viewport.
  • XREFOVERRIDE settings.
  • Corrupt AutoCAD Profile.
  • Corrupt drawing.
  • Corrupt Viewport
  • The drawing is using the wrong type of plot style.

Solution:

Drawing-based solutions

  • Change drawing component colors from TrueColor (RGB) to Index colors (1-255).
  • Select "2D Wireframe" or "3D Wireframe" for the visual style on viewports.
  • Select "Legacy Hidden" from the "Shade Plot" menu for a visualization that hides lines when plotting from the Model tab or when configuring page setups for layout tabs.
  • Set the desired visual style in the viewport, then change the shade plot setting to "As Displayed."
  • On the command line type XREFOVERRIDE and set it to 0 (zero).
  • Clear Xref layer overrides:
    1. Go to Layer Properties Manager.
    2. Click Xref Overrides.
    3. Right-click the layer containing the affected object.
    4. Clear all or specific Xref overrides for the selected layer.
  • Optimize drawing per Optimizing drawing files in AutoCAD with Purge, Audit & Recover.
  • Rebuild drawing per: 
  • Convert the drawing's Plot Style using the CONVERTPSTYLES command which converts either named or color-dependent plot styles to the opposite plot style.
  • Change the visual style to 2D Wireframe via the SHADEMODE command. (if the Shaded Plot is set to "As displayed)

Environment solutions

  • Reset the AutoCAD Profile to default (See: How to reset AutoCAD to defaults).
  • Remove and reinstall the affected printer driver.
  • Set printer driver custom properties to plot monochrome or color output as desired.

Other solutions

  • Plot to PDF and then print the PDF. 

Products:

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

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