Rhino 3D Tip: Use Rhino Pen Table to Control Printed Line Weights

Control your printed line weights with confidence by using Rhino’s Pen Table. It maps object or layer colors to output line widths and colors, giving you predictable, standards-compliant drawings whether you print to PDF or paper.

Where to find it:

• Open the Print dialog (File > Print or type Print).
• Locate the Pen Table section and click Edit to open the mapping editor.

Quick setup workflow:

• Organize by layer: Assign distinct layer colors that reflect drawing intent (e.g., heavy outlines, medium edges, light construction). Keep Print Color set to “By Layer/Display” to allow the Pen Table to control output.
• Map colors to weights: In the Pen Table, map each color to a specific print width (e.g., 0.70 mm for profiles, 0.35 mm for edges, 0.18 mm for hatching, 0.10 mm for construction).
• Preview in-model: Enable PrintDisplay (type PrintDisplay) to visualize print colors and widths in the viewport while modeling.
• Set consistency at source: Prefer setting Print Width “ByLayer” so changes propagate across your project without per-object overrides.
• Use grayscale for hierarchy: Map less critical colors to gray output to separate annotation, hatches, or background details from primary geometry.

Best practices:

• Limit your pen set: 5–7 line weights are enough for most documentation (e.g., 0.10, 0.18, 0.25, 0.35, 0.50, 0.70 mm).
• Match units and scales: Confirm document units and intended print scale on Layouts so Pen Table line weights read correctly at output size.
• Use Layouts and Details: Control which layers (and therefore pens) appear in each Detail for clean multi-scale sheets.
• Combine with Make2D/Technical: Generate vector edges with Make2D or Technical display, then place results on layers tied to your pen mappings.
• Export and reuse: Save your Pen Table from the editor to reuse across files and share with your team for consistent standards.

Troubleshooting:

• Lines look too light or heavy: Re-check if objects have explicit PrintWidth overrides; set them back to “ByLayer” for Pen Table control.
• Colors not mapping: Ensure Print Color is “By Layer/Display.” If objects have custom Print Color, that can bypass the mapping.
• PDF appears rasterized: In the Print dialog, use vector output to preserve crisp line weights and avoid blurry PDFs.
• Invisible thin lines: Avoid extremely thin widths; many devices can’t reliably print below ~0.08 mm.

Standards and templates:

• Create office-wide templates (.3dm) with predefined layers, colors, and a shared Pen Table.
• Document your pen legend directly on the Title Block so collaborators understand your weight hierarchy.

Why it matters:

• Consistency: Everyone prints the same line hierarchy across projects and teams.
• Speed: Edit one mapping to update an entire set.
• Quality: Clear, legible drawings with purposeful visual hierarchy.

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