NPS AutoCAD Pen/Color Reference

100%
Black

Rapidograph

Decimal

Acad Color #'s
Low Priority

Acad Color #'s
High Priority
000 0.010

cyan
4 36 68 100
132 164 196 228
00 0.013

magenta
6 38 70 102
134 166 198 230
0 0.017 white
7 39 71 103
135 167 199 231
1 0.021

red
1 33 65 97
129 161 193 225
2 0.026

yellow
2 34 66 98
130 162 194 226
3 0.035

green
3 35 67 99
131 163 195 227
4 0.043
27 59 91 123
- - - -
5 0.055

blue
5 37 69 101
133 165 197 229
6 0.067
30 62 94 126
- - - -
10x10.gif (93 bytes)

50%
Gray

Rapidograph

Decimal

Acad Color #'s
Low Priority

Acad Color #'s
High Priority
000 0.010
14 46 78 110
142 174 206 238
00 0.013
16 48 80 112
144 176 208 240
0 0.017
10 42 74 106
138 170 202 234
1 0.021
11 43 75 107
139 171 203 235
2 0.026
12 44 76 108
140 172 204 236
3 0.035
13 45 77 109
141 173 205 237
4 0.043
28 60 92 124
- - - -
5 0.055
15 47 79 111
143 175 207 239
6 0.067
31 63 95 127
- - - -
10x10.gif (93 bytes)

30%
Gray

Rapidograph

Decimal

Acad Color #'s
Low Priority

Acad Color #'s
High Priority
000 0.010
24 56 88 120
00 0.013
26 58 90 122
0 0.017
20 52 84 116
1 0.021
21 53 85 117
2 0.026
22 54 86 118
3 0.035
23 55 87 119
4 0.043
29 61 93 125
5 0.055
25 57 89 121
6 0.067
32 64 96 128
10x10.gif (93 bytes)

No Plot

Rapidograph

Decimal

Acad Color #'s
Low Priority

Acad Color #'s
High Priority
- - dk gray
8 40 72 104
- - lt gray
9 41 73 105
- -
17 49 81 113
- -
18 50 82 114
- -
19 51 83 115
Masking

Rapidograph

Decimal
- -
136 137
Related Links:

pen settings files .ctb & .pcp

How to use this chart
For a given pen width, there are several AutoCAD colors which can be used.   For example, for a rapidograph #1 (0.021" wide) black, you can use colors 1, 33, 65, 97, 129, 161, 193 or 225.  All of these colors will plot the same; 0.021 wide black.

Pen weights available are rapidograph 000 through 6, each in 100% black, 50% grayscale and 30% grayscale. Due to difficulity with photo-copying light shades of gray, we recommend only using the 30% pens for poche or hatched areas - not for general line work.

What is low priority, high priority, and 'masking'?
The masking colors, 136 & 137, plot like an eraser; they are "white" in color, and can overwrite or mask other pens. So, if you used the SOLID command to create a solid using color 136, that solid could mask objects "underneath" (in the context of the DRAWORDER command).  Objects "above" the solid would print.  For example, using this technique, you can hide a portion of a contour line which would otherwise run through text. We prefer using this method rather than AutoCADs wipeout command, since wipeout it has several known bugs.

When using AutoCAD to print, there is no difference between low priority and high priority color numbers.  However, here at the Denver Service Center office, we use Plot Station / PrfGenerator software to print AutoCAD drawings, and it has capabilities that AutoCAD does not have.  One such feature is the ability to assign "priorities" to AutoCAD colors.  So, using Plot Station, any high  priority color will show through the mask colors, and any low priority color will be hidden by mask colors - all of this happens regardless of draworder.

The bottom line:
Unless you're using Plot Station / PrfGenerator here at the Denver Service Center office, use the low priority colors for most objects.  Use the mask colors for objects to act like an eraser.  And, pay attention to the draworder of objects if you're masking.

Also, be sure you have the latest version of our pen settings file:
NPS_HP_Grayscale.ctb

Should I use colors that are not shown on this chart?
NO! Even though our .ctb files will print colors not shown here (like color 150), please don't use those colors. We are reserving those colors for unexpected uses. In the future, color 150 might plot to a 1" wide line with Mickey Mouse ears every .5".  Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea.