SCALE and SCALEREF - Resize Objects

What it does

• SCALE – enlarges or reduces objects about a base point by a scale factor.
• SCALEREF – scales the drawing so a measured distance equals its real distance. Good for drawings imported from PDF or images.

Where to find it

• Ribbon: Draw › Modify › Scale (submenu: Scale, Scale by Reference)
• Command line: SCALE (Alias SC)
• Command line: SCALEREF (Alias SR)

SCALE steps

1. Select the objects (or start the command first, then select and press Enter).
2. Type SC and press Enter. Scale: pick base point using object snap.
3. Click the base point.
4. Scale factor <2>: Type the factor (for example 0.5) and press Enter.

Shortcut: SCALE 2 enters the factor first. Then you only click the base point.

SCALEREF steps

1. Select the whole drawing you want to adjust.
2. Type SR and press Enter.
3. Click the two ends of a distance whose real value you know.
4. The Scale by Reference window shows the measured value. Type the real distance and click OK.

Shortcut: SCALEREF 98.4 100 (measured value, real value).

Try it: Christmas tree ornaments in three sizes

A set of three plywood tree ornaments, 80, 60 and 40 mm wide. Draw the big one, copy it twice, and SCALE the copies down.

1. Tree: PL, then -40,0 @80,0 @-22,35 @12,0 @-30,45 @-30,-45 @12,0 -40,0, and press Enter. Hanging hole: C, 0,68, 3, Esc.
2. Drag a window around the tree and its hole. Type CO and press Enter. Base point 0,0, then destinations @100,0 and @180,0. Press Enter.
3. Drag a window around the middle tree (from 50,-10 to 150,90). Type SC 0.75 and press Enter, then click the midpoint of its bottom edge (Midpoint snap).
4. Drag a window around the right tree (from 130,-10 to 230,90). Type SC 0.5 and press Enter, then click the midpoint of its bottom edge.

All three trees stand on the same line, because each one was scaled about its own base.

Challenge: Copy the big tree once more and use SC 1.25 for a tree-top ornament.

See also

• Measuring with DIST
• Import PDF