Can I have a layer that is visible on screen but does not print in AutoCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in AutoCAD, you can keep a layer visible on screen and prevent it from printing by turning off that layer’s Plot property in the LAYER command. This is the most common professional method for notes, construction lines, and reference objects. Limitation: this only works if objects are on the correct layer.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If important geometry is accidentally placed on a non-plot layer, it will display normally in Model Space and Layouts but will be missing from hardcopy or PDF output. This is a very common plotting failure in shared production drawings.

How to Make a Layer Visible but Not Print

  • Command: LAYER

  • Shortcut: LA

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Type LA and open the layer properties Manager from the Home Ribbon > layers panel.
    2. Find the target layer and locate the Plot column (printer icon).
    3. Click the Plot icon to turn plotting off for that layer, then close the manager.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Plot property in Layer Properties Manager

  • Expert Setting: When the Plot icon is turned off, objects on that layer remain visible on screen but are excluded from plot and PDF output. This is a layer-level property, so every object on that layer is affected.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The objects you expect not to print are actually on a different layer, often due to incorrect object properties or pasted content.
  • Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): The layer may be inside an xref, and the plot control is being managed in the referenced file instead of the host drawing.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Users sometimes freeze or turn off the layer instead of disabling Plot, which hides it on screen rather than keeping it visible.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Use LAYMCH or Properties to move the objects onto a dedicated non-plot layer, then turn off that layer’s Plot setting in LAYER.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use non-plot layers for construction lines, viewport guides, and internal notes, but avoid using them for anything that may be required in issued drawings.

FAQ

Can I make a Defpoints layer non-printing?
Defpoints is typically non-plotting, but it is not recommended as a general-purpose working layer.

Will a non-plot layer still show in a viewport?
Yes, it remains visible unless separately frozen or turned off in that viewport.

Does this also stop the layer from appearing in PDFs?
Yes, if the layer Plot property is off, its objects will not be included in plotted PDF output.

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