There are several benefits to switching between model space and paper space to perform specific tasks. Use model space for creating and editing your drawing. Use paper space for composing the printed sheets of your drawing.

Understand the Layout Process

When you use a layout tab to prepare your drawing for plotting, you follow a series of steps in a process. You design the subject of your drawing on the Model tab (in model space) and prepare it for plotting on a layout tab (in paper space).

Process Summary

1. Create your design in the Model tab.
   
2. Use the drawing tabs to set up the layouts available.
   
3. Specify the layout page settings such as plotting device, paper size, plot area, and drawing orientation.
   
4. Insert a title block into the layout (unless you have started with a drawing template that already has a title block).
   
5. Setup viewports and position them on the layout.
   
6. Add dimensions and annotate them in the layout as needed.
   
7. Plot your layout.
   

Working in Model Space

In model space, you draw, view, and edit your model. You can plot from the Model tab, but it is recommended to use the layout tabs to do so. If you print from the Model tab, you always draw objects at full scale. Text, dimensions, and other annotation should be added at a scale that will appear at the correct size when the drawing is plotted. For more information on Model Space, see Overview: Model Space and Crosshairs.

Drawing Tabs

See Understanding Drawing Tabs.

Page Setup Manager

See Overview: Page Setup Manager.

Working in Paper Space

See Working in Paper Space.

Modifying the Title Block

A title block can be added to a layout while in paper space and contains information about the page that is going to be printed. The default title block for the Toolbox drawing templates is a series of different blocks with attributes. You can edit the attributes for each layout and provide the information that you would like to see in the title block. To edit a title block type in “et” in the command line and then select the block you would like to edit. A window will be displayed that contains text fields where you can enter information for the corresponding attribute. When you have entered the necessary information, select the OK button to populate the title block.

In addition to manually editing the title block, you can edit the values in the Projects Properties interface to update the title block. Creating custom project properties is also how you can populate the title block.

In addition to manually editing the title block, you can edit the values in the Projects Properties interface to update the title block. Creating custom project properties is also how you can populate custom title block information. Please review the Project Properties section for more information.

Working with Viewports

See Working with Viewports.

Dimensions and Annotations in Paper Space

Using the standard dimension and text commands, you can add dimensions and annotations to a layout while in paper space. Anything added while in paper space will not be displayed while in the model tab and will just be used for the specific layout.

In paper space, one unit represents the paper distance on a plotted sheet. The units will be in either millimeters or inches, depending on the plot setup for your plotter.