Working with Autodesk Inventor 2017 often requires preparing your designs for physical documentation or presentation. A standard technical drawing usually relies on a white canvas to ensure clarity and adherence to industry standards. However, learning how to change background color in inventor 2017 printable settings is a valuable skill when you need to reduce eye strain, match specific corporate branding for internal reviews, or accommodate a dark theme environment for late-night design sessions.
Understanding the Drafting Environment vs. The Model Environment
Before diving into the specific steps, it is crucial to distinguish where the change takes place. The background color setting is not controlled within the 3D modeling environment itself, but rather in the Drafting environment and the Sheet Format. If you change the color in the model view, it will not affect the final printed output. Therefore, to change the background color in inventor 20017 printable output, you must be working within a drawing (.idw) file that contains a Sheet File.
Accessing the Application Options
The journey begins in the main interface of Inventor. You need to modify the global application settings that dictate how the software renders graphics on screen and how it interprets print boundaries. Navigate to the top menu bar and select the "Tools" option. From the dropdown menu, click on "Application Options" to open the configuration dialog box where display and print settings are managed.
Adjusting the Drafting Background Settings
Within the Application Options dialog, locate and click on the "Colors" tab. This section allows you to define the visual appearance of your drawing sheet. Look for the "Drawing Background" section within the list of color schemes. By default, this is usually set to "Automatic" or "White." To change the background color in inventor 2017 printable mode, click on the color swatch next to "Background." Selecting a solid color here ensures that your physical printout maintains the intended visual consistency, regardless of the screen brightness.
Setting |
Description  |
Automatic |
Uses a white background for models and a gray background for sheets. |
White  |
Uses a solid white background for everything. |
Custom Color |
Allows you to define a specific RGB or indexed color for the sheet background. |
Verifying the Sheet Environment
After setting the color in the Application Options, you must ensure your active sheet is configured correctly. Open your drawing file and double-click on the sheet number, usually located in the top or bottom title block. This action activates the Sheet Environment. Even if the color appears correct on screen, you should verify that the border and background settings are not being overridden by a specific Sheet Format. To check this, go to the "View" tab and select "Sheet Format" to toggle its visibility off; this isolates the base sheet to confirm your color choice is applied.
Managing the Print Setup
The final step to ensure your digital changes translate to the page involves the Plotter Configuration. When you go to File > Print, the Plot Style Table (CTB or STB) dictates the colors. To preserve the background color you just set, ensure you are using a "Monochrome" or "Grayscale" plot style. If you are using a color plot style and the background appears washed out or incorrect, you may need to edit the CTB file or select the "Uniform Background" option within the Plot dialog to lock in the color you chose in the Application Options.
By following these steps methodically, you gain full control over the visual output of your designs. This process eliminates the guesswork involved in printing and ensures that your technical drawings maintain a professional and consistent appearance whether viewed on a monitor or in a physical portfolio.
