Rodney Barnard uses the Simplex font for text because it looks good at all scales and in paper space – plus, nearly everyone has it, so it won’t look weird on another system.

“I like to use mtext, especially for notes and specs, as it’s easier to keep things in line and change formatting (tabs or special characters, etc.). Plus, sometimes we get files that have notes all out of line and we have to convert them to mtext to fix that. I added a button to our toolbars with the Text2mtext command to make the transition easier.”

NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: Using a standard font is a great idea. That way you can be sure that when you share your files, the recipient will be able to read the drawings.

If the font is special and your clients don’t have it, make sure you send the proper font file with the drawing. An easy way to do this is to use the Etransmit tool in AutoCAD. It will make sure all fonts are included with your drawing.

Use AutoCAD's Styles Manager to control the Text Styles settings.