How to PRINT to PDF from AUTOCAD

1. Assuming that your document is ready to print to PDF. Locate the TABS at the bottom of your software. In this example, I have a simple plan ready to be printed to PDF.

Look at the TABS at the bottom of the software.

2. Right Click on that TAB and you should get this.

3. Now click on NEW LAYOUT

4. You should get this. a. A NEW layout tab was created, labeled as LAYOUT 3 for me, LAYOUT 1 for you.

5. Now click on the LAYOUT TAB. a. You should be in a white paper space. See image below.

6. Now RIGHT CLICK on the new LAYOUT TAB. As shown in image. a. Click on PAGE SETUP MANAGER.

7. Once you click on PAGE SETUP MANAGER, you will get this screen.

8. Click on MODIFY. a. You will now get this screen. b. Now get comfortable with this screen. This is where you are going to make the majority of changes when it comes to printing.

c. Things to focus on. i. Changing the name of the PRINTER TYPE. ii. Changing the PAPER SIZE. iii. Changing the DRAWING ORIENTATION. iv. Changing the PLOT STYLE TABLE. 9. Now lets begin with the PRINTER TYPE. a. Click on the DROP DOWN ARROW and find either one of the following: i. Adobe PDF ii. CutePDF iii. .dwg to .PDF

10. Now its time to change the PAPER SIZE. a. You may have the choice to pick 11x17 or TABLOID. Pick either one.

11. Now make sure your DRAWING ORIENTATION is set to LANDSCAPE.

12. Now go to PLOT STYLE. a. Click on the drop down arrow and find either one of the following: i. AIA Standard color ii. Monochrome.ctb 1. I prefer monochrome because that means all of your lines will be black.

13. Then hit OK! 14. Hit CLOSE 15. You should notice that your new WHITE PAPER SPACE is much larger (11x17). This will be your paper printout. Anything you see on this paper will be printed into a PDF! 16. So, whenever you hit CTRL+P, you will automatically print to a PDF when you are in this paper space mode. Look at example. I just hit CTRL+P.

17. Look at image below.

18. Hit OK. 19. You will notice that nothing happens, but it did. Just Wait a Second. Look at the bottom of your MONITOR, you will either get a dialog box to pop up or get a message at the base of your screen. a. For me, it is at the bottom of the screen.

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You will get Save PDF File As. Give your PDF file a NAME. Give your file a LOCATION so you can find it after it is done. Click on Save.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE RESULT.

24. And VOILA! There is is!!!

25. You will now do this for all future assignments. Whenever there is anything due that requires a physical print, you can now have a PDF and a final printed version to turn. a. This is critical for all blueprints, especially when displaying your designs onto a presentation board or turning to check for LINEWEIGHTS! 26. In order to be effective with this tool, you will need to do this several times to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.