Plotting the Graphics Window

[M.Shuler]

I have a few annotations on a 3D model that I want to print and give to the shop floor for a quick in house EC. The issue is I cannot find a way to easily "preview" the print before it's on paper, and the Based on Zoom setting is never accurate to the limits of the graphics window.

Is there an easy way to either preview the print before I actually print the view, or set the "size" of the graphics window to a standard paper size so the Based on Zoom setting will represent a full sheet of paper.

[tbraxton]

Create a drawing and place the view and annotations on the drawing. You will then have control of the drawing size and match it to a standard paper size as required.

[M.Shuler]

Yes this would work but I would rather not make a drawing if I do not have too. Sometimes I need to print a 3D view of a specific area of a model and printing right from the graphics window would be quicker than having to create a drawing with proper isometric views of the area I need to show.

[tbraxton · Accepted solution]

Create a planar datum curve representing the paper size on the orthographic reference plane of the model for the view desired. Orient the view and then use screen grab using the curve of the paper size to define the extent of the capture. This will still not set the model to be displayed at 1:1 in the graphics window. Creo zoom algorithm is not user controlled so short of using a scale in front of your screen there is no way to automatically set the display at 1:1.

If there is no requirement for scale just use a capture utility such as Snagit to grab what you need. You can then print preview in the capture utility. I use Snagit for this type of scenario.

[M.Shuler]

This does work but is still not the functionality I am looking for. Using a screen grab program like Snagit (I use Greenshot) presents it's own set of challenges. Mainly that I use Creo dark mode and I would have to switch to a different color scheme, grab my orientation view, then switch back to dark mode.

I feel it would be a better workflow to know what on my graphics window will be printed before I have wasted company ink and paper, without having to use 3rd party applications.