Many AutoCAD users—especially those working in architecture, engineering, or construction—prefer to display external references (Xrefs) with a faded or transparent appearance to distinguish them from live drawing elements. While applying transparency on-screen is straightforward, achieving the same effect in print can be frustrating.
This guide will show you how to make an Xref print faded without modifying the original file or its layers.
Why Layer Transparency Alone Doesn’t Work
A common assumption is that placing an Xref on a transparent layer should be enough to make it appear faded when plotting. While this may work visually in the model space, users often notice that their print output looks exactly the same—fully opaque. This is because AutoCAD requires a combination of layer settings, system variables, and print configurations to respect transparency during plotting.
Step 1: Apply Transparency to Xref Layers
Open the Layer Properties Manager by typing LAYER into the command line. You’ll see that layers from your Xref are listed with a prefix like xrefname|layername.
Find the relevant layers and apply a transparency value (e.g., 60). This step determines how faded the content will look. Keep in mind that transparency values range from 0 (fully opaque) to 90 (highly transparent).
If you’re using a suite like the AutoCAD AEC Collection, which includes tools for managing complex files and layer hierarchies, this becomes even easier to organize across multiple views.
Step 2: Set VISRETAIN to 1
The VISRETAIN system variable ensures that any layer overrides made in the host drawing are preserved—even after reloading the Xref. Without this, AutoCAD will revert to the original Xref settings.
-
Type
VISRETAINin the command line and press Enter. -
Enter
1when prompted.
This way, the transparency you applied to the Xref layers in the current drawing will be retained.
Step 3: Enable XREFOVERRIDE
Another helpful variable is XREFOVERRIDE. When enabled, it allows your drawing to override display properties of the referenced file.
-
Type
XREFOVERRIDEand press Enter. -
Set the value to
1.
This tells AutoCAD to apply your local display settings (like color and transparency) to the attached Xref, even if the source file defines them differently.
If you’re working with AutoCAD LT and find limitations with certain advanced overrides, consider whether upgrading to the full AutoCAD version is suitable for your workflow.
Step 4: Enable Transparency in the Plot Dialog
Even after setting layer transparency and system variables, AutoCAD will not show any fade effect in the printed output unless you explicitly enable transparency in the Plot dialog.
-
Type
PLOTand open the print setup. -
In the bottom-right corner of the window, make sure the Plot transparency box is checked.
-
Preview your layout before printing.
If you skip this step, all your previous settings will be ignored during printing.
Still Not Working?
If the Xref still appears opaque in print even after following these steps:
-
Double-check that your plot style (CTB/STB) is not overriding transparency.
-
Confirm that you’re not using a device configuration that disables advanced graphics.
-
Consider testing in a new drawing to isolate whether the issue is drawing-specific.
In some cases, full functionality may only be accessible through more advanced licenses, such as the one included in the AutoCAD-based AEC Collection, which supports more sophisticated plotting behavior across disciplines.
Conclusion
Fading an Xref in AutoCAD for printing requires more than just assigning it to a transparent layer. You need to adjust key system variables and ensure the transparency setting is explicitly enabled during plotting. By setting FILEDIA, VISRETAIN, and XREFOVERRIDE correctly—and using the right layer transparency values—you can achieve consistent, faded output without modifying the original Xref file.
For more time-saving solutions like this, check out our growing archive of AutoCAD troubleshooting tips.
