CAD Standards – Text Font Info

Here is some possible info you may want to add to your CAD Standard on text issues:

The Standard Text size shall be 3/32”. All text shall be UPPERCASE. G-ANNO is the general layer for all text. The color shall be 7.

All text shall use the font “ROMANS” or “ROMAND” where a bold font is desired. All general text shall be a plotted height of 3/32” (equivalent to “10 point”) which reproduces and reduces well on printers, plotters, scanners, faxes and photocopiers.

The ARIAL font shall be used for the Sheet No. in the Title Block as this font best differentiates between a number 1 (one) and the letter I (eye) and will ease the possible confusion between the Discipline Designator for “Interiors” and the number One.  Sheet number text shall be 3/8”.

Care should be taken when using True Type fonts. This would apply to custom logos/names and signage details for example. The intent is to insure that all parties receiving electronic files need not load any additional fonts.  To do this you may want to consider “drawing” the fancy text.

Text heights for Titles shall be 1/4” with a ROMAND font. Text height for Matchline text shall be 3/16”.

All Text Styles shall define the font with a Height of “0”, a Width Factor of .80 and an Oblique Angle of “0”.  Do not define the text height in the Text Style.

Text color/pen widths for each text height will be determined based on Standard Pen Table and Layer Names etc.

TEXTFILL variable should be set to “ON”

I think that standard text heights for a full scale drawing should be 3/32”. It is readable to most people on full size and half size drawings.  Text sizes are to be set at the time the text is placed with the MTEXT, DTEXT and TEXT commands. This allows for simple text sizing and manipulation, without the need to create Styles for each text size.  I have seen some firms use .1 – it is easier to type in and closely mimics a 3/32″ height.