Annotation scale and leaders
Annotation is everything that explains the geometry. Annotative scaling makes text, dimensions and symbols print at the right size at any scale, and multileaders point notes at what they describe.
In this lesson you will
- Understand annotative objects and annotation scale
- Show one annotation at more than one scale
- Create a multileader style and add leader notes
- Avoid double-scaling mistakes
The problem annotative scaling solves
Geometry is drawn full size, but text and symbols must be a fixed size on paper. A 2.5 mm note needs to be 125 units tall at 1:50 and 250 at 1:100. Before annotative objects, drafters kept separate text for each scale. Annotative objects store their paper size and resize themselves to each annotation scale.
How it works
An object can support several scales. Select it and use Add/Delete Scales (OBJECTSCALE) so the same note appears correctly in a 1:100 plan and a 1:50 enlarged plan. Each scale representation can be moved separately.
- 1Make your text, dimension, multileader and hatch styles annotative.
- 2In model space, set the annotation scale (status bar) to the scale you'll print at, e.g. 1:100, before adding annotation.
- 3Place annotation — it is created at that scale.
- 4In a layout, set each viewport's scale; annotative objects appear at the matching scale.
Turn off Automatically add scales (status bar) unless you really want every annotation added to every scale you switch to.
Multileaders
A multileader (MLD, MLEADER) is an arrow or dot, a leader line and a note or block, as one object. Use them to label materials and components: 90 mm stud wall with plasterboard both sides.
Set up a multileader style (MLEADERSTYLE) with annotative on, a closed or dot arrowhead, and your notes text style. MLEADERALIGN lines them up; MLEADERCOLLECT stacks balloon blocks.
Checking annotation
Turn on Show annotation objects — all scales or current only — on the status bar to see what supports which scale. If a note disappears in a viewport, it doesn't support that viewport's scale: add the scale to it.
Quick reference
| Command / tool | How to start it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| CANNOSCALE | Status bar | Current annotation scale |
| OBJECTSCALE | Right-click › Annotative Object Scale | Adds/removes scales on objects |
| MLEADER | MLD | Multileader note |
| MLEADERSTYLE | MLS | Multileader style |
| SCALELISTEDIT | Type the name | Cleans up the scale list |
Common mistakes
Text scaled twice — huge on paper.
Don't combine annotative styles with manual scaling. Paper size in the style, scale in the viewport.
Annotation missing in a viewport.
The object lacks that scale. Add it with OBJECTSCALE.
Exercise
One plan, two scales
- Set up annotative text, dimension and multileader styles.
- At annotation scale 1:100 label three rooms and add two leader notes.
- Add the 1:50 scale to the notes and reposition them for the enlarged view.
- Make two layout viewports at 1:100 and 1:50 and check the annotation is the same size on paper in both.
You should end up with: Annotation that prints at identical paper size at both scales.
Checklist
0 of 4 checked · saved on this device
Lesson quiz
An annotative text style stores the text's paper height.
Finished this lesson?
Taking the quiz marks it complete too. Your course page picks up where you stopped.
Free KitWren tools that help
- Area ConverterConvert square metres, square feet, acres, hectares and more.
- Length ConverterConvert between metres, centimetres, millimetres, kilometres, inches, feet, yards and miles.
- Angle ConverterConvert degrees, radians, gradians, arcminutes and turns.
- Merge PDFCombine multiple PDFs into one file, in any order, choosing which pages to include from each.
- PDF CompressorReduce PDF file size by recompressing images while keeping text sharp — free, private and in your browser.
- PDF to PNGConvert PDF pages to sharp, lossless PNG images.
Free, independent learning material written for KitWren. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. KitWren is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Autodesk. We never provide software downloads, licence keys or cracks — use the official sources.