How to Print on Draftsight?

Steps to Define a Print Area in DraftSight

To begin with printing in DraftSight, you first need to specify the area you wish to print. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Print Configuration Manager by navigating to the relevant menu in DraftSight.
2. Select an existing print configuration or create a new one by clicking on the ‘Edit’ option.
3. In the Print Configuration dialog, set your desired printer or plotter, choose the paper size, and determine your print scale.
4. Specify your print range, orientation, and any offsets or additional options you need before finalizing your settings.
5. Click ‘Close’ to save your configurations and prepare for printing.

Exporting Your Work as a PDF

If you prefer to save your work as a PDF instead of directly printing, DraftSight allows you to do so quite easily. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to the File menu and select ‘Export’, then choose ‘PDF Export’ or simply type in ‘ExportPDF’ in the command line.
2. A dialog box will appear; enter the desired name for your new PDF file.
3. Choose which sheets you want to include in the export process.
4. Select the paper size that fits your needs from the provided options.
5. Adjust any additional settings for generating your PDF file according to your specifications.

Printing Multiple Drawings

When you have several sheets to print, DraftSight simplifies the process of printing multiple sheets:

1. Ensure the ‘Print to file’ option is enabled for one-off prints, or enter the number of copies required for multiple prints.
2. Check the box labeled ‘Print selected sheets’ to bring up a window that allows you to select which sheets to print.
3. You can also use the ‘Select Sheets…’ button to make your selections.

Changing the Page Size

If the default page sizes don’t suit your project, you can easily customize them:

1. Type ‘CustomPaperSize’ into the command prompt to initiate the custom sizing process.
2. Choose a built-in printer format such as PDF, PNG, JPG, SVG, or DWF.
3. In the appearing dialog box, look for and select the option for Custom sizes.
4. Click on ‘Add’ to proceed with creating your new custom paper size.
5. Rename the new format as desired to identify it easily in the future.

Creating a New Layout

Setting up a new layout is essential for arranging your drawings efficiently:

1. Select ‘File’, then navigate to ‘Sheet’ and choose ‘Sheet from Template’ or simply input ‘Sheet’ followed by the Template option in the command line.
2. In the dialog box that appears, select a template file (*.dwt or similar) to base your new layout on.
3. Next, in the Sheet List dialog, pick your preferred sheet name and click ‘OK’ to insert it into your drawing.

Saving Your Drawings

To prevent losing your work, saving your drawing file is crucial:

1. Go to the File menu and choose ‘Save As’ or type ‘SaveAs’ in the command prompt.
2. A dialog will open; navigate to the folder where you want to keep your file and enter a name for it.
3. Additionally, select the desired file format from the ‘Save as type’ dropdown menu.
4. Finally, click ‘Save’ to store your drawing.

Integrating a PDF into DraftSight

In cases where you want to include an existing PDF into your drawing:

1. Begin by going to the appropriate menu that allows for insertion of files.
2. Follow the prompts to browse and select the PDF you wish to incorporate into your project.
3. Adjust the positioning and scale of the PDF as necessary once it has been imported.

Printing from Home

For those looking to print directly to a personal printer:

1. Select the home printer from your list of available printers in the print configuration settings.
2. Ensure all other print settings align with your desires, including quality and page layout.
3. Once everything is set, initiate the printing process from the software.

FAQs

What should I do if my print does not look as expected?

Check the print settings, including scale, paper size, and whether you’ve selected the correct sheets to print. It can also be beneficial to preview the print layout before finalizing.

How can I adjust the print quality in DraftSight?

Within the print configuration dialog, there is often an options section where you can adjust the print quality settings based on the capabilities of your printer.

Is it possible to print in color?

Yes, ensure that your printer supports color printing and that you have selected the appropriate color settings in the print dialog.