2002 user that desperately needs some help

[SRI]

Hey people,

I am an AutoCad 2002 user. I am printing to a HP2500DesignJet CP and my operating sys is windown 2000. The problem I'm having is that my colors don't come out correctly. A blue line with come out faint, thin and a different color all together. Just wondering if there are known problems with windows 2000 or if there is something that I may be missing in my setup. If any of you have any ideas please let me know what I can try. Thanks for your help.

[architech]

Could you upload the CTB file you're using????
I'm guessing the problem might be there. :mrgreen:

[SRI]

pardon my ignorance. but I work in a small printshop so I don't know alot about the terminology, sorry. I don't know what CBT stands for. Also, I did not have this problem until I upgraded to Windows 2000. I was using Windows 98 and it kept crashing so I upgraded for the stability.

[architech]

When you plot ...
what pen table do you pick?
That would be your CTB.
See below.

:mrgreen:

[SRI]

i had to email it to you cause the forum told me that i was unable to uplaod a file with a ctb extention.

[csiarch]

SRI: F.Y.I.: For it's own protection and to save server file space, the forum will accept zipped files best. There is some information about this in the site information area.

Changing O/S shouldn't affect plots but who knows. Did you consider updating WIN98 w\ MicroSlob service packs instead of whole sale chaning O/Ss? (Too late now).

CTB is a color dependent plot style. The other style type, STB, is used for plotting from different plot styles set up. This is often used in offices where several people may want to plot the same drawing but have different appearances.

In your case, if you're using the basic 9 logical colors, check the CTB file being used for plotting and see if (you said blue or is it cyan (lt blue?)) the specifications for the particular color are set to "Use object color" (should be if you get a blue line). In the same specification for blue, try un checking the box that says "Enable Dithering" Dithering forces the plotter to print lines as a series of dots instead of a "solid" image. If this is the case, you line would appear lighter than normal because the plotter is essentially printing the line as a half-tone image.

Last but not least, is your blue ink cartridge just about empty?

Hope this serves as inspiration.....
:lol:

[VERYCIVILDRAFTER]

I'd bet $5 it's the CTB file but it never hurts to stay current...
Did you try to update the plotter driver since upgrading your OS?

[SRI]

any luck with the CTB file I sent you? And yes we have upgraded the driver. That was the first things we did when we started having problems.

[csiarch]

SRI: Any luck with the suggestions I posted?

Strategy for modifying ctbs is:

Read the user's guide.

Make a copy and work in the copy so you don't screw up the origina;

Redefine tha plot style to point to your modified ctb.

Try a plot and note changes (if any).

Etc, etc, etc. :roll:

[architech]

Hey SRI (Casey),
I sent you back your CTB file ... did it work?
:P