Subject: Setting the layer print style

If your drawing uses named print style tables, you can specify a print style for each layer. Named print style tables contain print styles that you set up to control what enti­ties look like when they print, without actually changing the entities in the drawing.

If your drawing uses color-dependent print style tables, you cannot specify a print style for a layer. These types of print style tables automatically determine printing requirements by the color assigned to a layer or an entity. For details about converting a drawing that uses color-dependent print style table to use named print style tables, see Changing the print style table type of a drawing.

In drawings that use named print style tables, the default print style is Normal for all new layers. If desired, you can assign a print style using the Explorer. Changing the print style assigned to a layer changes the print style of all entities drawn on that layer with the BYLAYER print style.

When you create new entities, it’s a good idea to assign the BYLAYER print style to any entities that you draw on that layer, unless you want to override the layer print style. CADdirect uses the BYLAYER print style as the default print style setting when you create entities (in the Drawing Settings dialog box).

To change the print style assigned to one or more layers (only in a drawing that uses named print style tables)

   1   Do one of the following to choose Explore Layers ():    

•   On the ribbon, choose Home > Explore Layers (in Layers) or choose Tools > Layers (in Explorer).

•   On the menu, choose Format > Explore Layers or choose Tools > Explorer > Explore Layers.

•   On the Explorer toolbar, click the Explore Layers tool.

•   Type explayers and then press Enter.

   2   Click in the Print Style column for the layer you want to change.

   3   If necessary, select a different print style table in the Active Print Style Table list.

   4   In Print Styles, select a print style.

   5   Click OK.

Entities don’t have to use layer’s print style.
For drawings that use named print style tables, you can also assign a specific print style to an entity, which overrides the layer’s print style setting. When you create a new entity, use the Tools > Drawing Settings > Entity Creation tab to change the cur­rent print style. For an existing entity, select the entity, right-click for the shortcut menu, and choose Properties. You can then modify the entity’s print style using the Properties pane.