If you need to control the appearance of an attached image or underlay (DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN) in AutoCAD — adjusting how strong or faded it appears, or making it monochrome — the ADJUST command and a few related tools let you do that quickly. This guide explains what the ADJUST command does, how to use it step‑by‑step, alternatives, common problems and fixes, practical tips, and a helpful FAQ.
What is the ADJUST command?
The ADJUST command in AutoCAD lets you change the visual appearance of a selected underlay (PDF, DWF/DWFx, DGN) or raster image. The command controls three main settings:
- Contrast — increases or decreases image/underlay contrast.
- Fade — makes the image/underlay lighter/faded so drawing geometry is more readable.
- Monochrome — toggles black‑and‑white rendering of the underlay/image.
These settings are useful when you attach a scanned drawing, PDF underlay, or photo and need it visible but not visually dominant over your CAD geometry.
How to use ADJUST — step by step
Option A — Command line (ADJUST)
- Type ADJUST at the command prompt and press Enter.
- Select the image or underlay you want to change.
- A small dialog or contextual controls appear allowing you to set Contrast, Fade, and Monochrome. Move sliders or enter values, then confirm (OK or close) to apply.
Option B — Properties palette
- Select the image or underlay.
- Open the Properties palette (type PROPERTIES or press Ctrl+1).
- Under the selected object properties find and change Contrast, Fade, and Monochrome values directly. Changes apply immediately.
Option C — Ribbon / Contextual tab
- Select the image/underlay.
- Use the contextual ribbon tab that appears (for images an Image tab; for underlays an Underlay tab).
- Locate the Adjust group and change Contrast, Fade, or toggle Monochrome using slider or controls.
Option D — Right‑click menu
- Select the underlay or image and right‑click.
- Choose the Adjust or Image > Adjust option (menu varies by AutoCAD version).
- Use sliders/toggles and apply.
Notes:
- Slider ranges usually represent percentage‑like values (0 = no change, higher value = greater effect). Exact numeric ranges depend on AutoCAD version.
- Adjustments are stored with the drawing and persist with the attached underlay/image.
Options and controls explained
- Fade: Use when the underlay should be present but visually secondary. Higher fade = lighter/less intrusive underlay.
- Contrast: Increase to make lines and details stand out; decrease to soften the underlay.
- Monochrome: Converts the underlay/image display to black and white to improve legibility or prepare for plotting.
- Properties method: Preferred when you want exact numeric control or to use object properties in scripts or templates.
- Contextual ribbon: Convenient for quick visual adjustments.
Alternative methods and related tools
- Use the Properties palette (recommended when ADJUST UI is unavailable).
- Use the Raster Image Tools or Underlay tools in the Insert / Attach panels for extra control.
- Export or edit the image in an external editor (Photoshop, GIMP) to modify brightness/contrast and reattach — useful when large or precise pixel edits are required.
- For PDF underlays, create a monochrome PDF externally (via PDF printer settings) and reattach to ensure vector elements are converted as needed.
- If the underlay is nested inside a block or xref, use BEDIT (Block Editor) or open the xref to adjust the underlay inside its host.
Common problems and fixes (Why ADJUST sometimes doesn’t work)
Problem: ADJUST seems to do nothing after running the command.
- Fix: Ensure you actually selected a supported object type. ADJUST applies to raster images and supported underlays (PDF, DWF, DWFx, DGN). It does not apply to regular DWG geometry.
Problem: The selection target is inside a block or xref and adjustments are not visible.
- Fix: Edit the block (BEDIT) or open the xref drawing and adjust the underlay/image there, or explode the block temporarily if appropriate.
Problem: The Adjust dialog or contextual controls aren’t visible.
- Fix: Select the underlay/image first — contextual tabs only appear when the object is selected. If still not visible, use the Properties palette (Ctrl+1) to change Fade/Contrast/Monochrome.
Problem: Changes are applied but display looks unchanged (especially with PDF underlays).
- Fix: Try REGEN or REGENALL to refresh the view. Also check hardware acceleration or graphics driver issues — toggling hardware acceleration (via GRAPHICSCONFIG) can affect display results.
Problem: Image is an OLE object or not a supported raster format.
- Fix: OLE‑embedded objects may not respond to ADJUST. Export the image as a standard raster (JPEG, PNG, TIFF) and reattach as an AutoCAD image.
Problem: Monochrome option not removing color as expected for PDF underlays (vector content).
- Fix: PDF underlays containing vector entities may retain colors depending on how the PDF was created. Consider producing a grayscale/monochrome PDF from the source or using external PDF editing tools.
Problem: Underlay is clipped or masked and adjustments seem partial.
- Fix: Check clipping boundaries and masks. Adjust will still affect the full underlay; verify the clipped region and remove clipping if necessary to confirm results.
Tips and best practices
- For drawings you will print in black & white, set Monochrome for underlays to check final output.
- Use Fade to keep underlays visible but unobtrusive; common fade values are 50–80% depending on drawing complexity.
- Save underlay/image settings in a template or layer state if you frequently use the same look.
- When collaborating, document whether underlays are faded/monochrome so others understand the visual intent.
- Avoid excessive contrast that can obscure thin CAD lines on top of the underlay.
- If performance slows with large images, use lower resolution preview or crop the image to the minimum necessary area before attaching.
FAQ
What object types does the ADJUST command support?
The ADJUST command supports raster images (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.) and supported underlays such as PDF, DWF/DWFx, and DGN. It does not apply to native DWG vector geometry.
Can I script or automate ADJUST settings for multiple images?
Yes. You can change Fade/Contrast/Monochrome via the Properties palette programmatically (LISP/.NET) or apply a template/xref with preconfigured settings. For bulk changes, consider a script or LISP routine that selects image/underlay objects and sets their property values.
Why does Monochrome not convert colors in my PDF underlay?
PDF underlays can contain both raster and vector content. Monochrome affects display but may not convert vector PDF colors in the way you expect. For guaranteed monochrome, export or recreate a monochrome PDF from the source and reattach.
The ADJUST UI is missing — how can I change image fade or contrast?
Select the image/underlay and open the Properties palette (Ctrl+1). The Contrast, Fade, and Monochrome properties appear there. You can also use the contextual ribbon tab that appears for the selected object.
Do ADJUST changes affect printing/plotting?
Yes. Fade and Monochrome affect how the underlay or image is plotted. Always check a test plot or preview before final printing to ensure the output matches expectations.
Will ADJUST settings be preserved if I move the image to another drawing?
ADJUST settings are saved with the image/underlay reference in the drawing. If you detach and attach the same external file in another drawing, the new attachment will use default settings unless you transfer the object via copy/paste or xref with the object properties preserved.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for ADJUST?
No universal default single-key shortcut exists, but you can type ADJUST at the command prompt. You can also create a custom alias in the PGP file or set a custom shortcut in your workspace.
How do I revert to original image appearance?
Select the underlay/image and set Fade and Contrast back to their default values (typically 0 or 50 depending on version) and turn Monochrome off. If needed, reattach the original file to guarantee original appearance.