Model & Paper Space

This course is part four in a series of courses leading to CAD competency. It introduces you to the concepts behind IntelliCAD, AutoCAD and DraftSight's paper space (and model space) feature. We focus on the various methods which can be used to present a final design to a client, especially where several sheets are required to fully document a design. The paperspace tool can also be used when you want to present several different views of your design on a single sheet  - perhaps a location plan, a section plan and elevation views of a cottage; each view can be at a different scale and show different layers. The figure below shows six paper space (layout tabs) derived from a single model space drawing.

Using Paper Space

Sample some materials from the course

Our courses feature many on screen movies. These are 'how to' instructional guides and have the considerable advantage that they can be replayed as many times as necessary.

Movie Click here try out one of the instructional movies from the course (the movie is 1Mb in size). It will play in the Windows environment using Windows Media Player - a tool that normally comes pre-installed on Windows computers. If required, you can download a free copy of this Media Player software from Microsoft's web site. Simply Google 'Microsoft Media Player. Don't forget that your computer needs a sound card to play audio and the sound card needs to be turned on.

Movie Click here to play a movie which illustrates a creative use of the layout feature in AutoCAD.

Tricky

Cost of courses

  • Online learning via broadband

The most popular option is to take a course as an online learning student. Our online broadband learning courses features rapid enrolment, many multi media instructional movies, online forums, multi-choice reviews, questionnaires, submission of assignments, email support etc. This is an enhanced learning experience at an affordable price. Visit www.softwaretutor.designcad.com.au and enrol now. The course cost is $AUD75.00 for >30 hours of high quality training.You can pay by PayPal which accepts direct deposit and credit cards and start immediately or send us an email requesting an enrolment. We will enrol you and post out an invoice. Payment can then be made by direct deposit. Our bank details will be on the invoice. We do offer reduced rates for students from the same organisation.

  • One-on-one training (Adelaide or Canberra - in our offices or yours).

We can provide face-to face training. Each course takes one day and costs $AUD550.00. We do require some information about what it is that you or your organisation hopes to achieve by training so that we can prepare appropriate materials in advance of the course.

Each participant in one-on-one full day courses is automatically enrolled at no extra cost in the broadband learning version of the matching course (at either softwaretutor.net or landscapetutor.net). This would normally cost an additional $75.00 per person. In this way, students get a double benefit - personal tuition and the ability to access any of the written instructional materials online, replay any of the demonstration movies, download sample files, log questions, take quizzes and submit assignments for review.

Printing materials

Carbon NeutralWe continue our drive to reduce our carbon emissions by using digital delivery of course materials. If you do need to a paper print of part of the course notes (say to print the steps in an operation), we encourage you to print just the web page you are currently viewing rather than the whole module. This can usually be done through the preview option in the print facility of the browser you are using, and selecting print the current page. Another option is to press the Shift PrntSc key combination which puts a copy of what you are viewing onto the Windows clipboard. Then start your word processor Microsoft Word or WordPad (available in everyone's computer) and paste the clipboard contents into the page and print from Word or WordPad.

We also include a PDF version of your course notes on the CD-ROM and you can print from it if required. We would hope that you do not need to print to paper and can read it online using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

About our courses & methodology

Experience over many years has taught us that adults learn best by progressing through a course of study at their own pace and at times that suit them. Wherever possible, they like to learn by working on their own materials, rather than work through long unrelated practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can occur. We introduce a topic, provide a movie showing you how to do the task with your software and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.

Locations & times - face to face group training

Courses may be taken at our training facility at regency Park, South Australia, in Canberra in your offices or in hired facilities. If a course is taken 'in-house' in our offices at Thebarton, it normally runs for a whole day with a break for lunch. Starting time is 9.15 am and finish time around 4.15 - 4.30 pm.We provide tea & coffee and a light lunch.

Credit card payment

We use PayPal, an organization which takes all credit cards using a secure Internet facility. PayPal is a partner within the eBay system. We have chosen PayPal because it is independent of us, allows us to hold money in trust until we have delivered the course. Paypal is now operational in Australia. We will provide a tax invoice on receipt of payment in addition to the PayPal receipt if requested.

When you have finished this course

Please remember to build on your knowledge of Illustrator after you complete this course. We strongly recommend that Illustrator be used quite intensively after these early stages of learning. You will lose a lot if you let new-found skills ‘wither on the vine’. Practice is the key to learning sophisticated software. The key to success is to complete your first real project as soon as possible.

Philosophy

Here is a link to background material on the philosophy behind our course design.

Prerequisites:

An understanding of basic 2-D drafting using AutoCAD or IntelliCAD. We would normally expect that you would have completed the previous three courses in this four part series leading to CAD competency - QuickStart CAD, Basic CAD 1, and Basic CAD 2, prior to taking this course.

Syllabus:

Module

Description

Preliminaries

Setting up AutoCAD and IntelliCAD for maximum efficiency: loading different line type files - the ICADISO.LIN and ACADLTISO.LIN linetype definition files, loading hatch pattern files. Setting the fonts path, font definitions, fonts library, setting the path to your block library etc.

Methods for plotting CAD drawings

Examining the two methods for plotting CAD drawings - from model space or from paper space. Model space - simple plotting, plotting to a defined scale, creating and plotting details, plotting VPORTS. Paper space - plotting multiple views of the model on one sheet, plotting perspective views, enabling hidden line removal in paper space views.

Using Paper Space effectively

Presenting a design in paper space. Examining a design for a concrete slab with plinth and reinforcing rods. Calculating the scale value on the presentation sheet. using MVIEW to create a floating viewport, setting the scale in the view port with the ZOOM XP command. Moving to tiled model space & creating an appropriate dimension style (1-10). Appling dimensions and text. Checking the result in paper space. Moving to model space and creating a different dimension style for a detail. Applying the new dimension on a different layer. Returning to paper space - creating a separate view port and using the VPLAYER command to control visibility of layers in the new detail view port.

Other Paper Space Examples

Developing more designs in both model space and presenting in paper space. A bearing housing - rendering part of the design; dimensioning in model space for the presentation sheet; stretching a design in model space and automatically updating changes in paper space. The importance of associative dimensioning. The importance of the UCSICON command. A structural steel example. Some architectural examples - a shop fit out design, a slab and plan design for a community centre; a 3D model of a small building to house an instrument control room.

Passing a CAD drawing to other software for specialized rendering.

AS1100

A review of the Australian standard and international standards for technical drafting.

Creating and using text styles

Text heights in model space and paper space, the iso3098b font and ISO3098b style, SHX fonts, OpenType fonts, PostScript fonts, using CAD fonts in logos, disassembling fonts, font compilers, installing fonts.

Lines, thickness, line types and layers

Setting colour and thicknesses of lines. Mapping thickness to colour. Assigning line types, loading line types, the line type scale, paper space line type scale, creating custom lines. Line types and layers, managing layers. The layer standard of the American Institute of Architects.

Hatching and scales

Hatching scales, methods of applying hatching, hatching polylines, creating boundaries. Simplifying hatching - the brick wall problem. Using special blocks to indicate scales.

Dimension styles

Creating dimension styles. Associating dimension scales with special scale blocks. Dimensioning in model space for paper space display. Associative dimensioning. Dimensioning in paper space.

Drawing sheets

Creating a series of drawing sheets to the AS1100 drafting standard. Adding intelligence to the sheets by defining nested blocks within the sheet. using the DDATTE command to update blocks.

The ABC of plotting

Pens, paper colour line thickness pen tables, pcp files etc.

Develop a drafting standard

Drawing all the above together by developing a drafting standard.

Prototype drawing

Building a prototype drawing to suit the above - setting preferences.

Starting a new project

Whether you wish to plot from MS or PS, you need to set your drawing up correctly. Building a check list to use for all new projects. Setting appropriate LIMITS, SNAP, GRID, creating named VIEWS, creating a DEFPOINTS layer, inserting title block drawings, creating floating viewports, testing scaling in paper space (ZOOM XP), setting appropriate text and dimensioning styles.  Developing a check list to use on each and every project.

Revising model space 

Details of the old way of doing things, scaling dimlfac etc. Before using paper space, it is important to refresh your understanding of AutoCAD's drawing volume. We look at LIMITS, ZOOM, 2D vs. 3D. associative and non-associative dimensions, dimension styles etc. All are important when handling paper space. The VPORTS command, tiled viewports, saving named viewports are especially important as is the importance of creating named views. We create a series of drawings ready for a  'paper space' workshop. The importance of the UCSIcon is explained along with instruction in the use of the MVIEW command to make floating view ports.

Creating your own paper space drawing

A paper space drawing is created using a series of model space 'parts' built using blocks.  Inserting blocks a back drops - pros and cons. Using the XREF command to attach 'backdrop' drawings to your current drawing. Substituting updated XREF drawings for earlier XREF's. Dimensioning each part in a manner suitable for paper space display. Arranging floating view ports and controlling scales. Plotting from paper space.

More guidelines for using paper space

Drawing full size, setting dimension variables properly, correctly using named dimension styles. Handling text, linetypes and pattern files correctly.

Using VERIFY

Creating a drawing standard for your company. Using a set of AutoLISP programs to check your drawings against a standard.

Using scanned images in paper space (and tiled model space)

Creating hybrid CAD files. Types of image files, TIF, JPG, BMP, etc. in CAD drawings. Preparing image files for insertion into CAD drawings in both paper space and tiled model space. As backdrops to CAD drawings. Rendering 3D images with different backgrounds. Scaling images. Using monochrome images in CAD drawings.

Creating Custom  Menus

Building your own custom menu can be a great time saver.

Dealing with incoming drawings

A check list for dealing with drawings that have been produced by others. What to do with a foreign drawing before you use it?

Pack and Go

Sending a drawing to a client or consultant - using AutoCAD's Pack & Go feature.

About our courses & methodology

Experience over many years has taught us that adults learn best by progressing through a course of study at their own pace and at times that suit them. Wherever possible, they like to learn by working on their own materials, rather than work through long practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can occur- we introduce a topic, provide a movie which shows you how to do it and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.

Locations

Courses may be taken at Regency Park, South Australia, in Canberra in hired facilities, or by distance learning or broadband learning. If a course is taken 'in-house' at Regency Park, it normally runs for a whole day with a break for lunch. Starting time is 9.15 am and finish time around 4.15 - 4.30 pm.