AutoCAD Tip: Annotate and Plot from Paper Space for Consistent Sheets

For predictable, professional sheets across every scale, build your model in Model Space and do all annotations and plotting from Paper Space.

Why Paper Space for annotations

• One text height for everything: set plotted text/arrow sizes once (for example, 2.5 mm or 3/32 in) and stop chasing scale factors.
• Viewport-aware control: use per-viewport layer overrides and freezes to tailor what each view shows without duplicating geometry.
• Cleaner models: keep Model Space geometry-focused; move notes, dimensions, leaders, tables, and symbols to layouts.
• Reliable plotting: Paper Space is WYSIWYG—what you see in the layout is what you plot.

Setup checklist

• Create or switch to a layout tab. Run PAGESETUP, pick device, paper, plot style table (CTB/STB), and set “Plot” to Layout.
• Insert your title block in Paper Space at real paper size. Save it in a template (DWT) for reuse.
• Create viewports (MVIEW), position them, assign exact scales from the status bar, then lock each viewport.
• Key system variables:
  • PSLTSCALE = 1 for consistent linetypes across viewports.
  • MSLTSCALE = 1 for sensible model linetype display.
  • DIMSCALE = 1 because annotation lives in Paper Space.
  • DIMASSOC = 2 to make Paper Space dimensions associative to model geometry through viewports.
• Text and dimension styles: set plotted heights (not model-space heights). Keep leaders/arrows sized for print.

Annotate effectively

• Place dimensions, text, multileaders, tables, north arrows, and detail tags in Paper Space.
• Dimension through viewports with OSNAP; you should see associative highlights if DIMASSOC = 2.
• Use VPLAYER to freeze layers per viewport and apply per-viewport layer color/lineweight overrides for graphic clarity.
• For repeated callouts, store Paper Space annotation blocks on Tool Palettes for drag-and-drop consistency.

Troubleshooting quick wins

• Wrong dimension values? Confirm you’re snapping through a locked viewport and DIMASSOC = 2; avoid measuring Paper Space edges of the viewport frame.
• Text looks too big/small? Verify you’re using plotted heights and that annotations are in Paper Space, not Model Space.
• Linetype looks off in layouts? Set PSLTSCALE = 1, run REGEN, and confirm viewport scale is a standard value.
• Viewport prints faintly? Check plot style mappings and viewport transparency; avoid plotting the viewport boundary layer.

Pro workflow tips

• Start from a layout-ready template (DWT) with page setups, title blocks, text/dim styles, and standard viewports preconfigured.
• Use Sheet Set Manager to batch-publish, automate sheet data with Fields, and standardize across teams.
• Create separate viewports for details at different scales; annotate each view in Paper Space to keep readabilities consistent.

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