Text/Linetype/Hatch Scaling?

I have trouble understanding what fvalues to set for particular entities such as linetypes,texts and hatches.

Is there any general rule that applies, or is it mostly trial and error?

As far as text goes it's obvious that text height refers top its actual height, but how can you determin which sizes fit for which purposes.

And as for linetypes, hatches and the rest i am completely lost.

Can someone guide me in the right direction please?

Linetypes can be scaled using the command LTSCALE or PSLTSCALE (for paperspace). People have different preferences which you should be able to find by running a search in the forum.

As for hatching, I generally just work to whatever looks right- should be able to factor it in the BH dialogue box to suit your viewport.

Text is the most straight forward for me. There are standards published which will depend on where you are, but there should be company standards to work to. We only use 3.5mm, 5mm and 7mm text.

Hope this helps.

I have trouble understanding what fvalues to set for particular entities such as linetypes,texts and hatches.

 

Is there any general rule that applies, or is it mostly trial and error?

 

As far as text goes it's obvious that text height refers top its actual height, but how can you determin which sizes fit for which purposes.

 

And as for linetypes, hatches and the rest i am completely lost.

 

Can someone guide me in the right direction please?

Generally speaking, to determine those values you must know what plot scale you will be using.

1) Lets assume for now that is 1/4"=1'-0".

2) What height will you want your text to be when it is plotted? Many offices have gone to .1" rather than 1/8". There is more room on the drawing, the text is still very legible even after being reduced to half sets, and the math is much easier.

3) Figure your "scale factor". So for 1/4"=1'-0" you find how many 1/4's there are in a foot. Divide 1/4" into 12", 12/.25 = 48. (For 1/8"=1'-0", 12/.125=96)

4) Text Height, take the desired plotted text height which is 0.1" X Scale Factor which is 48, text height is 0.1X48 = 4.8 (see the math is much easier with plotted text height to .1") So when you place text for notes, etc. your text height would be 4.8". For text to be used for titles, etc. you simply take the desired plotted height, say .25" X scale factor, so .25X48 = 12. Go through the math once and make yourself a table for all the plot scales in your office and plotted text heights.

5) Hatch is generally the scale factor and that is a good place to start. Some will need to be double that amount, others half, still others much lower. Unfortunately that is as definite as it gets for hatch.

6) Linetypes are controlled by LTSCALE in model space as a global setting. So you would set LTSCALE to 48 in model space. Then when you go to a layout you will need to set LTSCALE to 1 or even 0.5, and PSLTSCALE to 1. There is a scale that can be applied to individual objects but lets leave that alone for now.

Starting with 2009 there is a msltscale along with annotative settings that make linetype scaling a lot easier.

Thanx for the response guys.

Well trying and seeing what's right is what I meant by trial and error, but of course its always best for a setting that gets the values roughly to where they are meant to be and then manual adjust them for optimal results.

As for linetypes I do use the ltpscale as my scale factor, e.g. 0.2 if i scale to 1/200 and then tamper with individual linetypes that still dont seem quite right.

As for text, i agree its the most obvious choice by I was wandering more about each type of text height and width indivisually. Like if it's an annotation or a titles, or a streets name or whatever. You mentioned there might be national standards but i'm not sure every country has them. I'll have to search for what's right for my country and see if I come up withanything.

Generally speaking, to determine those values you must know what plot scale you will be using.

1) Lets assume for now that is 1/4"=1'-0".

I'm scared of this imperial vaues, lets talk metric if possible!

So ok let's say my scales are 1:200 or 1:500 which are mostly used in land surveying drawings.

2) What height will you want your text to be when it is plotted? Many offices have gone to .1" rather than 1/8". There is more room on the drawing, the text is still very legible even after being reduced to half sets, and the math is much easier.

So that means roughly 2.5mm. Ok but for what type of text?

3) Figure your "scale factor". So for 1/4"=1'-0" you find how many 1/4's there are in a foot. Divide 1/4" into 12", 12/.25 = 48. (For 1/8"=1'-0", 12/.125=96)

Seriously i dont speak imperial, i'm having a hard time crunching these numbers in my head! sorry

4) Text Height, take the desired plotted text height which is 0.1" X Scale Factor which is 48, text height is 0.1X48 = 4.8 (see the math is much easier with plotted text height to .1") So when you place text for notes, etc. your text height would be 4.8". For text to be used for titles, etc. you simply take the desired plotted height, say .25" X scale factor, so .25X48 = 12. Go through the math once and make yourself a table for all the plot scales in your office and plotted text heights.

 

5) Hatch is generally the scale factor and that is a good place to start. Some will need to be double that amount, others half, still others much lower. Unfortunately that is as definite as it gets for hatch.

 

6) Linetypes are controlled by LTSCALE in model space as a global setting. So you would set LTSCALE to 48 in model space. Then when you go to a layout you will need to set LTSCALE to 1 or even 0.5, and PSLTSCALE to 1. There is a scale that can be applied to individual objects but lets leave that alone for now.

 

Starting with 2009 there is a msltscale along with annotative settings that make linetype scaling a lot easier.

So for metric on a scale of 1:200 is my scale factor 200 or 0.2? cause i draw objects in real dimension (m) and paper size is (mm) so there's a 1000:1 modeal space/paer space ratio so 1:200 is actually 1000:200? Confusing?

BTW Is paper space really nesecary?I guess it's irreplaceble for architectural drawing but i never use it for my survey drawing? I just plot directly from the model.

Care to change my mind? Sowhat good would it do to transfer drawings to paper space?

Sorry mate, didn't know you needed metric. I don't do metric. I am sure it is easier but never had to do it.

PS brings a lot of advantages to the table; the plot scale is always the same 1:1, large areas can 'clipped' to only show the area you want, the same area can be shown at two different scales, the color, linetype, lineweight, of the objects in each viewport can be shown differently (2009 and up I think), etc.

As for international standards which ones are most oftenty used?

Other than lengths and widths i also have trouble deciding which layer name to use for particular entities and which color ans such. And it's annoying that i have to waste time deciding on these things when i need my time for more important things when drafting a drawing.