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Tutorial: How to Print a Project and Edit Print Settings

Do you want to perfectly print your floor plans and 3D models with the correct scale? In this step-by-step tutorial, you will learn how to easily print a project and edit the print settings in cadvilla. First, we will show you how to select your printer and set up the right paper size and orientation. Furthermore, you will discover how to adjust the overall project scale and perfectly link text formatting to it. As a result, your printed layouts will always remain legible and precisely scaled to your chosen paper format.

Below is a detailed overview of the video’s content.

1. Setting Up the Printer

[00:44] Select Your Printer

  • First of all, open the top menu and click on Menu > Printer settings....
  • When the print dialog opens, look for the Name section and select your desired printer from the available dropdown menu (e.g., a PDF printer like 7-PDF Printer).
  • Finally, confirm your selection by clicking OK.

2. Choosing Print Settings and Page Setup

[01:34] Open the Print Dialog

  • To prepare your document for printing, click on Menu > Print 2D view... in the top menu. Alternatively, you can simply press the shortcut CTRL + P on your keyboard.
  • Immediately after, the Page Setup window will appear. Here, navigate to the Paper section and choose your desired Size from the dropdown menu (for example, A4).
  • Next, define the Orientation by choosing either Portrait or Landscape format.
  • Confirm your settings by clicking OK.

3. Dealing with the Print Frame on the Floor Plan

[02:26] Meaning of the Print Frame

  • After clicking OK, a white frame in the shape of the selected paper format might appear over your drawing area. If this happens, it simply means that your project does not fit completely onto the chosen paper format at the current scale. The frame exactly indicates the printable area for that paper size.

[02:50] Option 1: Automatic Scaling (Not True to Scale)

  • If you just want a quick overview, simply press the ESC key. The program will immediately adapt and display the entire project on the paper paper in a Preview window.
  • The disadvantage: The software automatically reduces the scale so the graphic fits the active paper format. Thus, the printout will no longer be true to your original scale.

[03:30] Option 2: Printing a Detail View (True to Scale)

  • If you need a true-to-scale printout, you must select Menu > Print 2D view...  again to bring back the frame.
  • Now, you can use the frame to select a specific detail. Simply move the frame with your mouse over the desired area and click. Consequently, the Preview window will appear, and you can print this specific detail at the correct scale.

4. Adjusting the Scale and Text Properties

[04:42] Change the Project Scale

  • If you want the entire building to fit on the page true to scale, you need to change the overall 2D view scale.
  • Click with the right mouse button directly on the background of your drawing area and select Properties....
  • In the properties’ dialog under General, change the Scale from the dropdown menu (e.g., from 1:50 to 1:100). Afterward, click OK.

[05:27] Link Text Size to the Scale

  • When changing the scale, you must ensure that your text adjusts accordingly to prevent it from overlapping or becoming unreadable.
  • To do this, right-click on an existing text element and select Properties....
  • In the Input text dialog, click on Font style. It is absolutely crucial to check the box for Link to scale and enter a size (for example, 0.15 m).
  • Option: To save this specific setting as a standard for all future dimensions, click on Save as Default and then click OK.

[06:45] Transfer Properties to all Texts

  • To apply this fix to the rest of the plan, click with the right mouse button on the successfully changed text and select Transfer properties....
  • In the new window, uncheck All properties, and only check Font style. Then click Next >.
  • Select on all layers and finish the process by clicking Finish.
  • Note: You must repeat these steps (changing font size and transferring properties) for every individual labeling type in your project (e.g., room labels, dimension texts, sill heights, staircase texts).

5. Successfully Printing the Project

[08:24] Select a Larger Paper Size

  • Does the project still not fit on the paper despite the scale adjustments? If so, open File > Print 2D view... once again.
  • In the Page Setup dialog, choose a larger paper format under Size (for example, A3) and confirm with OK.

[09:24] Print Preview and Final Print

  • If the project finally fits on the paper at the chosen scale, the Preview window will appear directly (without the white frame step).
  • Review the layout to ensure everything looks correct. Then, click OK to definitively start the print process.

If the printed plan’s measurements are not correct when checking them with a ruler, your physical printer is likely scaling the document automatically. Therefore, open your printer’s software settings and deactivate any “fit to page” or automatic scaling options. Instead, always print the plan at exactly 100% original size.

Hint: If the display on the screen ever differs from the actual printout (e.g., parts are missing or cut off), this is usually due to the adjusted print resolution of your printer.