Color Plan Printing
Some drawings only make sense in color: trade coordination drawings, markups, colored legends, site and landscape plans, and presentation sheets. Print My Plans prints color plans from your PDF at one flat price, $3.75 per page, at every size we offer. Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day, arrives as soon as the next day.
Sizes and price
| Size (inches) | Color | Black & white |
|---|---|---|
| 18 × 24 (ARCH C) | $3.75/page | $1.95/page |
| 24 × 36 (ARCH D) | $3.75/page | $1.95/page |
| 30 × 42 (ARCH E1) | $3.75/page | $1.95/page |
| 36 × 46 (sewing pattern) | $3.75/page | $1.95/page |
| 36 × 48 (ARCH E) | $3.75/page | $1.95/page |
The color price doesn’t change with sheet size, so a 36 × 48 color sheet costs the same as an 18 × 24 one.
When color is worth it
- MEP and trade coordination drawings, where each trade or system has its own color.
- Redlines and markups that need to stand out from the base drawing.
- Site, civil and landscape plans with shaded areas, planting zones or colored legends.
- Zoning, phasing and demolition plans, where color shows what changes and when.
- Presentation sheets for clients, boards or community meetings, including renderings placed in the set.
When black & white is enough
Standard construction documents are usually designed to read in one color. For those, black & white at $1.95 per page does the job at about half the cost. A common approach is to print most of the set in black & white and only the sheets that need it in color. Upload them as two items: one with the color sheets set to Color and one with the rest set to Black & White.
Cost examples
- 5 color sheets at 24 × 36: 5 × $3.75 = $18.75
- A 20-page set with 4 color sheets: 4 × $3.75 + 16 × $1.95 = $15.00 + $31.20 = $46.20
- 3 copies of a 6-page color presentation set: 18 × $3.75 = $67.50
Add the shipping rate shown at checkout. More on our pricing page.
Getting good color from your PDF
- Embed the colors in the PDF. Export with color enabled. Some CAD plot styles convert everything to black, so check the plot style or pen table before exporting.
- Expect some difference from your screen. Screens emit light and paper reflects it, so colors on paper can look a little different, especially very bright or very dark ones. Use clearly different colors for anything that has to be told apart.
- Watch light colors and thin lines. Pale yellows and light grays can be hard to see on paper, especially as thin lines.
- Images need enough resolution. Renderings and photos placed in a sheet look best when the image has enough pixels for the printed size.
- Order one sheet first if color matching is critical for a large run.
The full file checklist is in how to prepare a PDF plan set for printing.
How ordering works
- Export a PDF at the sheet size you want to print (for example, 24 × 36 for an ARCH D set). Our file requirements explain how.
- Upload your plans and order: choose black & white or color, the sheet size and the number of copies. If you need a purchase order or job reference on the order, enter it in the optional “P.O. Number (optional)” field.
- Choose a shipping option at checkout. The shipping cost is shown before you pay.
- We print to scale and ship.
Printing large color sheets? See 36×48 color plan printing, with worked color examples at 36×48 and 30×42.
Frequently asked questions
How much does color plan printing cost?
$3.75 per page at all sizes we offer (18×24, 24×36, 30×42, 36×46 or 36×48), plus the shipping rate shown at checkout.
Can I mix color and black & white sheets?
Yes. Order the color sheets and the black & white sheets as separate items, each with its own setting.
Will the colors match my screen exactly?
Printed color can look slightly different from a screen. If exact color matters, order a single test sheet first.
Is color printed to scale too?
Yes. Color and black & white sheets print the same way: as uploaded, without scaling.
