QCAD Pro 3.29.6.0
WIN 10 x86_64
Question..now that I'm nearly done with editing and I have been able to debug/review using A1 local paper.
The image is centered (auto sized) and quite legible at 8.5x11in.
For a final product I'll be switching to Arch E (or ANSI E) for generating a PDF export file.
Other than page size (edit->drawing preferences->page) do I need to worry about line width, font sizes, scaling or is that handled by
change in page size? Sorry I'm still learning inner workings of QCAD.
I'm trying to confirm (as best I can) correct PDF export before submitting to poster supplier.
regards,
Rob
Print settings debug (A1) vs Final (Arch E)
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Post one question per topic.
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robshomo
- Newbie Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2025 9:21 pm
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CVH
- Premier Member
- Posts: 4957
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:17 pm
Re: Print settings debug (A1) vs Final (Arch E)
Hi,
If fitted (and centered) to a different page size the paper scale would change.
One thing that doesn't change with paper scale is the pen size.
These are historical sizes of physical pens from the time when we drew with ink directly on paper or similar substrate.
Weight 1.00mm (ISO) will always be exactly 1.00 mm wide on any metric or imperial paper size.
Because before it was drawn with a pen of 1mm diameter.
There is for example no pen size equal to 4.00mm or larger than 2.11mm.
For that we could exploit polylines with a custom Global Width but also with a flat pen instead of a round one.
The width is then defined in drawing units!
Without a DXF file ... Re-importing 'Cedar View Cemetery - 0122019-25Sep25.pdf'
I would avoid the use of pen 0.00mm because it might not print/export very well.
Typically done with inherited properties from the Layer and Layer States.
Layers are intended to group things that should be displayed and printed alike. (Tutorial: Working with Layers)
Re-importing the PDF does not show separate layers for different things but the original DXF might.
Text using CXF fonts (Single stroke fonts) also use the defined Lineweight.
That can be a problem when scaled down because text height scales down but the pen size not.
Another exception can be the patterning of Linetypes but that is not used in the PDF.
The pattern may also be scaled based on Lineweight, see Application Preferences.
For the rest, the geometry and TTF text would all scale with the paper scale.
The best test is to export it to PDF using ANSI E.
A PDF reader would display that as scaled to your screen width or height but one can zoom in on the details.
Another solution is that the poster supplier scales the ANSI A (Letter) version up by factor 4.
Graphically that would scale the width of the lines up.
Regards,
CVH
If fitted (and centered) to a different page size the paper scale would change.
One thing that doesn't change with paper scale is the pen size.
These are historical sizes of physical pens from the time when we drew with ink directly on paper or similar substrate.
Weight 1.00mm (ISO) will always be exactly 1.00 mm wide on any metric or imperial paper size.
Because before it was drawn with a pen of 1mm diameter.
ANSI E (34 x 44 inch) is 4 times larger compared with ANSI A (Letter) in both directions.
There is for example no pen size equal to 4.00mm or larger than 2.11mm.
For that we could exploit polylines with a custom Global Width but also with a flat pen instead of a round one.
The width is then defined in drawing units!
Without a DXF file ... Re-importing 'Cedar View Cemetery - 0122019-25Sep25.pdf'
- The blue seemingly dashed lines use pen 0.25mm (ISO).
Some rectangles use pen 0.35mm (ISO).
Other artifacts may use a pen defined as 0.00mm.
I would avoid the use of pen 0.00mm because it might not print/export very well.
Typically done with inherited properties from the Layer and Layer States.
Layers are intended to group things that should be displayed and printed alike. (Tutorial: Working with Layers)
Re-importing the PDF does not show separate layers for different things but the original DXF might.
Text using CXF fonts (Single stroke fonts) also use the defined Lineweight.
That can be a problem when scaled down because text height scales down but the pen size not.
Another exception can be the patterning of Linetypes but that is not used in the PDF.
The pattern may also be scaled based on Lineweight, see Application Preferences.
For the rest, the geometry and TTF text would all scale with the paper scale.
The best test is to export it to PDF using ANSI E.
A PDF reader would display that as scaled to your screen width or height but one can zoom in on the details.
Another solution is that the poster supplier scales the ANSI A (Letter) version up by factor 4.
Graphically that would scale the width of the lines up.
Regards,
CVH
-
robshomo
- Newbie Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2025 9:21 pm
Re: Print settings debug (A1) vs Final (Arch E)
Thanks a bunch for feedback! There's a lot more involved than I originally thought.
Sounds like having poster supplier scale up from A1 page may be easiest route.
I'll inquire about that capability.
BTW - The original survey file had over 50+ layers, most of which I turned off for clarity purposes.
Regards,
Rob
Sounds like having poster supplier scale up from A1 page may be easiest route.
I'll inquire about that capability.
BTW - The original survey file had over 50+ layers, most of which I turned off for clarity purposes.
Regards,
Rob
-
CVH
- Premier Member
- Posts: 4957
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:17 pm
Re: Print settings debug (A1) vs Final (Arch E)
Hi,
You probably mean scaling up from a desktop printer size ...
ISO A1 is already 23.386 x 33.11 inch and its aspect ratio is the same as ISO A4, defined as sqrt(2) or 1.414214.
ANSI A (Letter) and ANSI E have an aspect ratio of 1.29412.
US ANSI paper is typically a little shorter but also wider than comparable ISO paper.
ISO A1 is about 3 times larger than the 'quite legible printout at 8.5x11in' ...
... You should definitely see the change in appearance of the line widths because the pen sizes are not scaled up by factor 3.
The aspect ratio of ARCH paper varies and is 1.333 for ARCH E (36 x 48 inch).
Scaling up from ISO A1 to ARCH E in landscape would be limited to factor 1.45 because of the length.
By width one could scale up using factor 1.54 but ARCH E would be about 3 inch too short.
If the printout on ISO A1 is fine then I would increase the pen sizes one step (=sqrt(2)) for the final ARCH E.
0.25mm (ISO) >> 0.35mm (ISO) and 0.35mm (ISO) >> 0.50mm (ISO)
On the other hand:
If the printout is fine on ANSI A (Letter) or ISO A4, I would use pens 1.00mm (ISO) and 1.40mm (ISO) for the final ARCH E.
Regards,
CVH
You probably mean scaling up from a desktop printer size ...
Or scaling up from ISO A4 (8.268 x 11.693 inch) or ANSI A (Letter) (8.5 x 11 inch).
ISO A1 is already 23.386 x 33.11 inch and its aspect ratio is the same as ISO A4, defined as sqrt(2) or 1.414214.
ANSI A (Letter) and ANSI E have an aspect ratio of 1.29412.
US ANSI paper is typically a little shorter but also wider than comparable ISO paper.
ISO A1 is about 3 times larger than the 'quite legible printout at 8.5x11in' ...
... You should definitely see the change in appearance of the line widths because the pen sizes are not scaled up by factor 3.
The aspect ratio of ARCH paper varies and is 1.333 for ARCH E (36 x 48 inch).
Scaling up from ISO A1 to ARCH E in landscape would be limited to factor 1.45 because of the length.
By width one could scale up using factor 1.54 but ARCH E would be about 3 inch too short.
If the printout on ISO A1 is fine then I would increase the pen sizes one step (=sqrt(2)) for the final ARCH E.
0.25mm (ISO) >> 0.35mm (ISO) and 0.35mm (ISO) >> 0.50mm (ISO)
On the other hand:
If the printout is fine on ANSI A (Letter) or ISO A4, I would use pens 1.00mm (ISO) and 1.40mm (ISO) for the final ARCH E.
Regards,
CVH