Layouts and sheets
A drawing can contain model space together with one or more paper-space layouts. Select the sheet that contains the content, title block and viewport arrangement you need.
DWG printing on Windows
How to Print DWG Files Without AutoCAD
Open, review and print AutoCAD DWG drawings with ViewCompanion Premium. Select the required layout, control paper size and scale, apply CTB plot styles, or batch print an entire drawing set—without installing AutoCAD.
DWG support is available in ViewCompanion Premium.
No AutoCAD requiredOpen and print DWG files directly
Layout controlChoose model or paper space
CTB supportUse color-dependent plot styles
Batch printingProcess complete drawing sets
More than opening a drawing
Why DWG printing needs the right settings
A DWG file may contain several layouts, precise drawing units, custom paper sizes, external resources and plot-style information. Reliable printing therefore requires more than simply opening the file and pressing Print.
Scale and paper
Fit a drawing to the selected sheet for review, or use a defined print scale when dimensions and physical output size must be preserved.
Plot appearance
Colors on screen may represent particular printed line widths or colors. A CTB plot style can reproduce the intended plotted appearance.
Step by step
Print a DWG drawing
- Open the DWG fileLoad the drawing in ViewCompanion Premium.
- Select the required layoutChoose model space or the paper-space sheet that should be printed.
- Inspect the drawingCheck that text, external references, images, colors and linework are displayed as expected.
- Open the print dialogSelect the Windows printer or large-format plotter.
- Choose paper, orientation and scaleUse fit-to-page for convenient output or set the required engineering scale.
- Apply the plot style when neededSelect the relevant CTB file if the drawing relies on color-dependent plotting.
- Preview and printVerify placement, clipping, line widths and orientation before sending the job.
Control plotted appearance
Use AutoCAD CTB plot styles
Many DWG workflows use color-dependent plot style tables. A CTB file maps drawing colors to printed properties such as output color, line width and screening. Without the intended plot style, a drawing may print with unexpected colors or line weights.
ViewCompanion Premium supports AutoCAD CTB plot style files, allowing you to use the plotting rules supplied with the drawing or established by your organization.
Typical example
A drawing may display several colors on screen while its CTB file converts every color to black and assigns different line widths for outlines, dimensions, hatching and construction lines.
Example CTB mapping
0.70 mm
0.35 mm
0.18 mm
0.10 mm
Complete drawing sets
Batch print multiple DWG files
When a project contains many drawings, batch printing avoids opening and printing every DWG file separately. Add the required files, select the printer and common settings, and process the set in one operation.
Add drawings
Select the DWG files that belong to the drawing set.
Review order
Arrange the files in the sequence in which they should be printed.
Choose settings
Select the printer, paper handling, scale and other common output options.
Print the batch
Process the complete set without opening every drawing manually.
Need a repeatable or unattended workflow?
ViewCompanion also supports command-line printing with printer configuration files. This is useful for scripts, scheduled jobs and standardized printing profiles.
Choose the right output
Fit-to-page or an exact print scale?
| Printing method | Best used for | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Fit to page | Review copies, office printers and drawings that simply need to fit the available sheet. | The physical drawing scale changes to fit the selected paper. |
| Full scale (1:1) | Templates, manufacturing output and drawings intended to print at their actual size. | The printer and paper must accommodate the complete output dimensions. |
| Engineering scale | Architectural, construction and engineering plans printed at a defined reduction. | Verify drawing units and confirm the scale on the finished sheet. |
| Selected area | Printing a detail or a limited part of a larger drawing for discussion. | Make it clear that the output represents only part of the source drawing. |
Common DWG output problems
Troubleshooting DWG printing
The drawing prints at the wrong scale
Check the detected drawing units, the selected layout and the print scaling option. Fit-to-page intentionally changes the physical scale.
Colors or line widths look wrong
The drawing may depend on a CTB plot style. Select the intended CTB file and preview the result before printing.
Text uses the wrong font
Confirm that the required SHX font files are available. ViewCompanion can be configured with one or more folders used to locate SHX fonts.
Referenced content is missing
Make sure external references and linked raster images are stored in accessible locations and that their search folders are configured correctly.
The wrong sheet is printed
Select the intended model-space or paper-space layout. A DWG file can contain several layouts with different sheets and page settings.
The output is clipped or rotated
Check paper size, printable area, orientation, centering and rotation in the print preview before sending the job.
Frequently asked questions
DWG printing FAQ
Can I print DWG files without AutoCAD?
Yes. ViewCompanion Premium can open and print supported DWG drawings without requiring AutoCAD to be installed.
Can ViewCompanion use AutoCAD CTB plot style files?
Yes. ViewCompanion Premium supports AutoCAD CTB plot style tables for controlling plotted colors, line widths and related output properties.
Can I batch print multiple DWG files?
Yes. Batch printing lets you add several DWG files and process the complete drawing set in one operation.
Can DWG drawings be printed at full scale?
Yes. Drawings can be printed at a selected scale, including full-scale output when the drawing units, active layout and printer paper size are configured correctly.
Can I print only a selected DWG layout?
Yes. Select the required model-space or paper-space layout before printing. Layout-handling options are also available for conversion and automated workflows.
Does ViewCompanion upload my DWG files?
No. ViewCompanion Premium is Windows desktop software and processes supported drawings locally on your computer or through accessible company network storage.
Related ViewCompanion guides
ViewCompanion Premium
Print DWG drawings with your existing Windows printers
Try DWG viewing, layout selection, CTB plot styles, batch printing, conversion, annotation, measurement and comparison with your own technical drawings.