Plotter Problems (x2)

[Kenco9]

I am currently using two types of printers/plotters:
Desktop standard printer: HP Laserjet 8000 Series PCL
-for my Letter, Legal and 11x17 prints
Larger Plotter: HP Designjet 800ps Plotter
-for my prints larger than 11x17 (i.e., Arch C, Arch D, etc...)

My computer is also a Dell Computer Optiplex GX270, 3.20 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 120 GB harddrive and 2048 MB of installed memory. I am running Winows XP Pro.

Question #1: I have set up a template with a wipeout behind the titleblock so the drawing itself will not show up over the title block text. And when I print to the standard desktop printer the everything looks great and works perfectly.

But when I plot to the Larger plotter the wipeout will be one just one large color block (it will be the color of the layer, if the plot style is "None" or a color setting), or it will be black if the plot style is monochrome, grey scale, etc.

Either way when I print to the larger plotter I cant really read the title block! (I even tried printing the wipeout as the color 'white' but of course it printed out just one big black box)

Question #2: On the larger plotter I went to the properties for the plotter under the printer and faxes folder in the windows control panel and I wanted to filter the paper sizes but there is a very limited list of paper sizes and it doesnt include the size I would like (Arch E1 - 30 x 42)

please let me know whatever you guys know!!!!

[chulse]

My solution to #1 is to clip the Viewport to a polygon excluding the area of the titleblock.
I don't use wipeouts, so I can't help with that.

As for #2, all I can suggest is check the paper standards tab on the windows printer properties. Perhaps look for an updated driver?

[GE13579]

I would agree with Chulse as far as a workaround is concerned- using a polygon for the viewport. Alternatively, do you need the full sheet or can you scale down and use a smaller viewport which doesn't overlap the title block?

Another option, can you place the wipeout on a non plottable layer? I use wipeouts occasionally but have never had your problem with them plotting- I didn't think they were a visible entity TBH. For reference, I plot to an OCE 9400 for the larger stuff.

[Kenco9]

On one of the trial prints I did, I put the wipeout on the Defpoints layer which is not a plottable layer and the area the wipeout was covering printed as if the wipeout wasnt even there, so I think the polygon viewport is the best solution, thank you so much for you help!

And as for the paper options on the plotter, I thought it was a driver problem too, but I had hoped not because when its a driver problem I end up tinkering with the settings for a long time.

thank you both for your help

[GE13579]

On one of the trial prints I did, I put the wipeout on the Defpoints layer which is not a plottable layer and the area the wipeout was covering printed as if the wipeout wasnt even there...

Did you check the DRAWORDER?

[SLW210]

For your paper sizes, try this.... I have a HP1050CPlus, but maybe yours is similar.

Select you printer in the plot manager, then select Properties button. Select Custom Properties in under Device and Document Settings and select the Custom Properties... button. Under Paper Size, select the More sizes... button. Select the standards you want to be available or create a custom size.

[Kenco9]

for the DRAWORDER command, I have been using the "send to back display order" and tried printing with that originally when it didn't work. I just tried the DRAWORD command and plotted it on a sheet with the send to back command but both plotted with the same result. a black wipeout box... But I integrated the polygonal viewports with the template and that works out very well!

For the paper options, I attached a picture of all the options that I have when I try to customize the properties. Now at my old job, I had those options of selecting the ANSI, or ARCH paper sizes, but I did not have the ability to do that in my new version of AutoCAD. I'm using an educational version of Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2006, so do you think thats what is holding me back?

[GE13579]

Could you post the drawing with the wipeout? I'm intrigued as to why it's happening... I could try and have a look at work tomorrow? That is unless you're happy to continue to use a polygon for the viewport?

[SLW210]

No, seems like a plotter problem. It should have available all the plot sizes it can plot. Have you checked for an updated driver?

[chulse]

Have you checked the paper standards settings in the windows printer properties box?

[SLW210]

Have you checked the paper standards settings in the windows printer properties box?

I do not get that option on any of my printers through the windows printer properties box. Must just be the HP800.

[zars]

Well, I didn't have that tab until I downloaded the driver from hp.

[chulse]

I do not get that option on any of my printers through the windows printer properties box. Must just be the HP800.

I don't think there is a autodesk driver for the 800ps, we just use the windows driver...

[cadguy68]

Hi Kenco9

For future reference you can use the colour setting 255 for your wipeouts, it looks grey on screen but prints as close to white as you can get.

Hope this helps

Cadguy68

[Kenco9]

as far as the wipeout is concerned... I can't post anything, its just a standard drawing I'm using in paper space and it looks fine when I print preview but only prints out as a solid black block, but i'll stick with the polygonal viewports, they work great!

on the plotter problem, the driver I downloaded from the HP website was last updated in 2005 and below is a screen capture of all the options I have when I have pull up the properties, I dont have a paper standards tab.

[chulse]

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=25302&prodNameId=377958&swEnvOID=228&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=pl-44422-1

this is the driver i use...

[Kenco9]

After I did this a screen popped up saying that Windows created a better driver for the plotter... and it had the sizes I needed, so whatever happened, worked! thanks!

[chulse]

Glad it worked :)