After you finish creating a model at full size, you can switch to a paper space layout to create scaled views of the model, and to add notes, labels, and dimensions. You
can also specify different linetypes and line widths for display in paper space.

Model Space and Paper Space

As you know, you create the geometry of your model in model space.

Originally, this was the only space available in AutoCAD. All notes, labels, dimensions,
and the drawing border and title block were also created and scaled in model space.

After paper space was introduced, you could click a layout tab to access a space designed specifically
for layouts and scaling. In the following illustration, paper space is active. There
are currently only two objects in paper space: a drawing border block, and a single
layout viewport, which displays a view of model space.

Working with layout viewports is described in more detail later in this topic.

Four Methods for Scaling

There are four different methods in AutoCAD that are used to scale views, notes, labels,
and dimensions. Each method has its advantages depending on how the drawing will be
used. Here’s a brief summary of each of the methods:

• The Original Method. You create geometry, annotate, and print from model space. Dimensions,
  notes, and labels must all be scaled in reverse. You set the dimension scale to the
  inverse of the plot scale. With this method, scaling requires a little math. For example,
  a common scale used in architecture is 1/4″ = 1′-0″ which is 1:48 scale. If a note
  is to be printed آ¼” high, then it must be created 48 times as large, or 12″ high in
  model space. The same scale factor also applies to dimensions, and an ARCH D drawing
  border at that scale is 144 feet long. When the drawing is printed as a D-size sheet,
  everything scales down to the correct size.
  NOTE:Many AutoCAD drawings were created with this method, and many companies still use
  it. Once everything is set up, the method works well for 2D drawings with single views
  and inserted details.

• The Layout Method. You create geometry and annotate in model space, and print from
  the layout. Set the dimension scale to 0 and the dimensions will scale automatically.

• The Annotative Method. You create geometry in model space, create annotative dimensions, notes, and labels (using a special annotative style) in model space from
  the layout, and you print from the layout. Annotative objects display only in layout
  viewports that share the same scale. The dimension scale is automatically set to 0
  and all annotative objects scale automatically.

• The Trans-Spatial Method. You create geometry in model space, create annotations
  in paper space on a layout with dimension scale set to 1, and you print from the layout.
  This is arguably the easiest, most direct method, and it is the method of choice for
  this VCade.

Talk to other AutoCAD users in your discipline about these four methods and why they
chose the method that they use.

Specifying the Paper Size of a Layout

The first thing that you should do when you access a layout tab (1) is right-click
the tab (2) and rename it (3) to something more specific than Layout 1. For a D-size
layout, ARCH D or ANSI D might be good choices.

Next, open the Page Setup Manager (4) to change the paper size displayed in the layout
tab.

Layout Viewports

A layout viewport is an object that is created in paper space to display a scaled
view of model space. You can think of it as a closed-circuit TV monitor that displays
part of model space. In the illustration, model space is active and accessible from
within the current layout viewport.

In a layout, when model space is active, you can pan and zoom, and anything else that
you could do on the Model tab.

For example, let’s say that you created a backyard deck design in model space, and
now you want to lay out and print your design from a layout tab.

The view in the layout viewport is not yet set to the correct scale.

Scaling Views and Trans-Spatial Annotation

Here are the steps to follow if you use the trans-spatial method of annotating your
drawing:

1. Click the layout tab. If you started the drawing with your own custom drawing template
   file, several tasks might already have been completed: the layout might already be
   set to D-size, and the title block might already have been inserted in the layout.

2. By default, paper space is active, so double-click within the layout viewport to make
   model space active. Notice that the edge of the layout viewport becomes thicker as
   a result of switching to model space.

3. Zoom out and center the model space view by panning. However the displayed view is
   still not set to the correct scale.

4. Double-click outside the layout viewport to make paper space active again.

5. Open the Properties palette and then click to select the edge of the layout viewport.

6. In the Properties palette, specify a standard scale of 1/4″ = 1′-0″ from the drop-down
   list. This action scales your view of model space precisely to the D-size drawing.
   You also set the Display Locked property from No to Yes. This prevents any unintentional
   display changes to the view.

7. Move the layout viewport as needed, and adjust its edges using grips.

8. Create notes, labels, and dimensions directly in paper space. They automatically appear
   at the correct size.

9. Turn off the layer on which you created the layout viewport object. This hides the
   edges of the layout viewport as shown below.

10. Print the drawing to paper or as a DWF or PDF file.