Troubleshooting

AutoCAD can’t bold text?

AutoCAD cannot always make text bold directly — it depends mainly on the font type. Below is a clear, beginner-friendly guide explaining why, how to get bold text, step-by-step methods, alternative workarounds, common errors and fixes, and practical tips for reliable results.

Quick answer

  • If your text uses a TrueType font (TTF) or another font file that has a bold variant (for example, Arial Bold), you can use that font or apply bold in the MTEXT editor.
  • If the font does not include a bold version (common with many SHX fonts), AutoCAD cannot make it bold directly. You can simulate bold using width factor, lineweight, duplicate/offset, or by converting text to geometry and thickening it.

Why AutoCAD sometimes cannot bold text

  • Font dependency: Bold is a property of the font file. Some fonts (especially SHX) have no bold style.
  • MTEXT vs DTEXT: The MTEXT editor supports formatting (bold/italic) for fonts that support it. Single-line text (DTEXT) has more limited direct formatting options.
  • Plot/print settings and layer/lineweight may affect how bold text looks in output.

Step-by-step: Make text bold in AutoCAD

H3 — Method 1: Use a font that has a bold variant (recommended)

  1. Type STYLE in the command line and press Enter.
  2. In the Text Style dialog, select the style you are using (or create a new one).
  3. From the font list, choose a TrueType font or a font family that includes a Bold variant (e.g., select “Arial” or directly “Arial Bold” if shown).
  4. Click Apply and Close.
  5. Select your text (MTEXT or DTEXT) — it will update to the selected font/style.

Notes:

  • For MTEXT, you can also select a word or phrase in the MTEXT editor and click B to toggle bold if the chosen font supports bold.

H3 — Method 2: Change text style for all text of that style

  1. Type STYLE → Enter.
  2. Pick the relevant style → change the font to a bold file or a bold TTF.
  3. Apply and close. All entities using that text style update automatically.

H3 — Method 3: Simulate bold using Width Factor

  1. Type STYLE and select the text style.
  2. In the Text Style dialog, change Width Factor from 1.00 to a value slightly larger (try 1.05–1.2).
  3. Click Apply.

Notes:

  • This stretches characters horizontally (not truly thicker strokes), but can visually approximate a bolder look for fonts without bold variants.
  • Avoid extreme values; too large values distort legibility.

H3 — Method 4: Use Lineweight (best for DTEXT visual effect)

  1. Select the single-line text (DTEXT).
  2. Open the Properties palette (Ctrl+1).
  3. Change Lineweight from ByLayer to a heavier value (e.g., 0.30 mm).
  4. If you don’t see changes visually, toggle LWT (Lineweight display) on the status bar.

Notes:

  • Lineweight changes affect the stroked entities used to draw text outlines in some contexts; results vary with font types and display settings.

H3 — Method 5: Convert text to geometry and thicken (accurate but destructive)

  1. Back up your drawing or work on a copy of the text.
  2. Use Express Tools TXTEXP (or explode MTEXT/DTEXT after converting with an available tool) to convert text into editable polylines or geometry.
  3. Use OFFSET, FILLET, or STROKE operations to thicken the outlines.
  4. Optional: Join polylines and hatch or use region/solid editing for filled bold effects.

Notes:

  • This converts text to geometry — it is no longer editable as text. Use when final plotting artwork requires consistent thick text.

Alternative methods and creative workarounds

  • Duplicate text and slightly offset the duplicate(s) to create a faux-bolder appearance. Use a small offset (e.g., 0.02–0.05 drawing units) and place duplicates behind the original.
  • Use MTEXT formatting for parts of a paragraph: if your MTEXT font supports bold, select the substring and press B in the editor.
  • Use annotative text styles so the bold effect scales correctly across viewports and annotation scales.
  • Export to PDF and use PDF editor to embolden — only when acceptable for final output and not for editable CAD text.

Common issues and fixes

  • Issue: Bold button is greyed out in MTEXT editor.
    Fix: The active font is an SHX or a font without bold style. Switch to a TTF that includes bold, or change the Text Style to a bold font.

  • Issue: Text looks bold on-screen but prints thin.
    Fix: Check Plotter/Printer settings, plot style table (CTB/STB), and ensure lineweights are honored. Also confirm the PDF/PLOT driver embeds fonts correctly.

  • Issue: Width factor distortions make text unreadable.
    Fix: Reset the Width Factor to 1.00 or choose a smaller increment (1.02–1.10).

  • Issue: Lineweight change has no visible effect.
    Fix: Turn LWT display on (status bar) and verify text is not set to ByBlock or assigned a layer with thin lineweights.

  • Issue: Need bold for many labels but can’t change font.
    Fix: Create a new text style that uses a bold TTF and swap styles for those labels or use conversion-to-geometry if you must keep the original font visually thicker.

Practical tips and best practices

  • Always use text styles rather than changing individual text properties whenever possible — it keeps drawings consistent and easy to edit.
  • Prefer TrueType fonts (.ttf) or OpenType fonts for rich formatting support (bold, italic). Use SHX only when required by standards.
  • Save your bold text style in a template (DWT) so future drawings reuse the exact style.
  • For drawings that will be printed/PDF’d by others, confirm font availability on the plotting machine or embed/plot to PDF that embeds fonts.
  • When simulating bold, preview at final plot scale to ensure legibility and no overlap; check in different viewports and annotation scales.
  • Keep a backup before converting text to geometry — conversion is destructive.

FAQ

Can I bold SHX fonts in AutoCAD?

No — most SHX fonts do not include a bold variant, so AutoCAD cannot make them bold directly. Use a TTF/OpenType font with a bold variant or simulate bold via width factor, lineweight, or conversion to geometry.

How do I bold only part of a text line?

If using MTEXT and your font supports bold, open the MTEXT editor, select the text portion, and click B to apply bold. For DTEXT you must change the entire text entity’s style or convert that segment to MTEXT.

Why does bold text look different on screen vs PDF/print?

Differences can be caused by font substitution, plot style settings, or drivers. Ensure the same font is available on the computer creating the PDF or enable font embedding in the PDF/plot settings.

My bold option is not available — what should I check?

Check that the text uses a TTF font with bold support, verify the selected text is MTEXT (since MTEXT supports inline formatting), and confirm no overrides or plot styles are interfering.

Can I make bold text automatically scale for annotations?

Yes — create an annotative text style that uses a bold font or simulated-bold settings so the appearance stays consistent across annotation scales and viewports.

Is it better to use bold fonts or simulate bold by thickening lines?

Using a proper bold font is preferable for clarity and editability. Simulating bold is acceptable when the font lacks a bold variant or for final artwork — but converting to geometry makes the text non-editable and should be used cautiously.

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