Plot Scales for the Paper Space Zoom XP in AutoCAD and IntelliCAD

.
Cette page xiste aussi en franais.

I have added here the rule of thumb for choosing the right
plot scale for a drawing in AutoCAD or IntelliCAD.

Plot
scale

N.B. The Paper Space should be set for a plot scale 1:1
or 1 mm = 1 drawing units. Then in the Paper Space
activate the Object Space Window and do a "zoom 5xp".

10:1
5:1
2:1
1:1
1:2
1:5
1:10
1:20
1:25
1:50
1:100
1:200
1:250
1:500
1:1000
1:2000
1:5000

Drawing units
mm
cm
m
10xp
100xp 10000xp
5xp
50xp 5000xp
2xp
20xp 2000xp
1xp
10xp 1000xp
0.5xp
5xp
500xp
0.2xp
2xp
200xp
0.1xp
1xp
100xp
0.05xp 0.5xp
50xp
0.04xp 0.4xp
40xp
0.02xp 0.2xp
20xp
0.01xp 0.1xp
10xp
0.005xp 0.05xp
5xp
0.004xp 0.04xp
4xp
0.002xp 0.02xp
2xp
0.001xp 0.01xp
1xp
0.0005xp 0.005xp 0.5xp
0.0002xp 0.002xp 0.2xp

The rule is very simple:

"zoom" (millimetres in one drawing unit) x (scale) "xp"

For exemple: if I draw in centimetres (10 mm each) and I want to print at 1:50, I will do a "zoom":
(10) x (1/50) = 10/50 = "0.2xp" or even directly "10/50xp"
Other exemple: if I draw in metres (1000 mm each) and I want to print at 1:200, I will do a "zoom":
(1000) x (1/200) = 1000/200 = "5xp" or even directly "1000/200xp"
If you cannot memorize this simple rule, you can print the reference table on this page.
Memo: The shortcut command for zooming is usually "z", so write simply "z 0.2xp" (Enter).

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Document last modified : 2006-02-15 04:59:50 CET

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Scale Conversion Chart

by Ken Hagerup (NPWE28A@prodigy.com)
Note: Match the scale you're working in on the right, with the scale you want to convert to on the
top.
1/200 1/192 1/144 1/100 1/96

1/76

1/72

1/50

1/48

1/35

1/32

1/25

1/24

1/2
00

100.0 104.1 138.8 200.0 208.3 263.1 277.7 400.0 416.6 571.4 625.0 800.0 833.3
0%
7%
9%
0%
3%
6%
8%
0%
7%
3%
0%
0%
3%

1/1
92

96.00 100.0 133.3 192.0 200.0 252.6 266.6 384.0 400.0 548.5 600.0 768.0 800.0
%
0%
3%
0%
0%
3%
7%
0%
0%
7%
0%
0%
0%

1/1
44

72.00 75.00 100.0 144.0 150.0 189.4 200.0 288.0 300.0 411.4 450.0 576.0 600.0
%
%
0%
0%
0%
7%
0%
0%
0%
3%
0%
0%
0%

1/1
00

50.00 52.08 69.44 100.0 104.1 131.5 138.8 200.0 208.3 285.7 312.5 400.0 416.6
%
%
%
0%
7%
8%
9%
0%
3%
1%
0%
0%
7%

1/9
6

48.00 50.00 66.67 96.00 100.0 126.3 133.3 192.0 200.0 274.2 300.0 384.0 400.0
%
%
%
%
0%
2%
3%
0%
0%
9%
0%
0%
0%

1/7
6

38.00 39.58 52.78 76.00 79.17 100.0 105.5 152.0 158.3 217.1 237.5 304.0 316.6
%
%
%
%
%
0%
6%
0%
3%
4%
0%
0%
7%

1/7
2

36.00 37.50 50.00 72.00 75.00 94.74 100.0 144.0 150.0 205.7 225.0 288.0 300.0
%
%
%
%
%
%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%

1/5
0

25.00 26.04 34.72 50.00 52.08 65.79 69.44 100.0 104.1 142.8 156.2 200.0 208.3
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
0%
7%
6%
5%
0%
3%

1/4
8

24.00 25.00 33.33 48.00 50.00 63.16 66.67 96.00 100.0 137.1 150.0 192.0 200.0
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
0%
4%
0%
0%
0%

1/3
5

17.50 18.23 24.31 35.00 36.46 46.05 48.61 70.00 72.92 100.0 109.3 140.0 145.8
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
0%
8%
0%
3%

1/3

16.00 16.67 22.22 32.00 33.33 42.11 44.44 64.00 66.67 91.43 100.0 128.0 133.3

0%

0%

3%

1/2
5

12.50 13.02 17.36 25.00 26.04 32.89 34.72 50.00 52.08 71.43 78.13 100.0 104.1
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
0%
7%

1/2
4

12.00 12.50 16.67 24.00 25.00 31.58 33.33 48.00 50.00 68.57 75.00 96.00 100.0
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
0%

Scale Conversion Formula By: Rob Johnson (robj@speechsys.com)

Scales are ratios of measures in like units: 1/72 is 1 inch on the model = 72 inches on
the full-sized original (or 1 centimeter, furlong, or parsec on model to 72 of same at
full size).

1. The desired scale is then the existing scale times some unknown percentage or
fraction, i.e. the conversion factor (either enlargement or reduction):
DesiredScale = ExistingScale * ConversionFactor
2. Therefore, to find the conversion factor, we regroup and divide to get the
universal scale conversion formula:
ConversionFactor = DesiredScale / ExistingScale
Example: to convert 1/72 to 1/48
ConversionFactor = 1/48 / 1/72 = 72 / 48 = 1.5 = 150%
A 6-ft (72-inch) pilot figure is thus 1-in tall in 1/72 scale and 1.5-in tall in 1/48
scale.
Advantages of the formula: You can always figure out the intermediate ratios
correctly when using photocpier enlargement. In the above example, most copiers
would not do the full 150% in one pass. Most copiers max out at 121% or 141%. I
have seen almost every other possible figure too. So having a chart of common scale
conversions is not likely to be all that useful in many cases. Using the formula, you
just figure out what the scale will be after the 121% enlagement:
IntermediateScale = ( ExistingScale * .121) + ExistingScale.