Model Space vs. Paper Space
If you’re new to AutoCAD, few concepts cause more confusion than model space and paper space. Both are essential parts of the drafting process, but they serve very different purposes. Understanding how to use them together is one of the biggest steps toward producing professional, efficient drawings.
What is Model Space?
Model space is where you create your design. Think of it as the infinite workspace—an endless sheet where you draft geometry at full scale (1:1).
Drawing a table that’s 72 inches long? You draw it 72 units long.
Laying out a building floor plan? Draw every wall, door, and fixture at real-world size.
Model space is about accuracy and design, not presentation.
What is Paper Space?
Paper space is where you prepare your drawings for presentation and plotting. Think of it as the sheet of paper on your desk: you decide what will be shown, at what scale, and how it’s arranged.
Inside paper space, you work with layouts that represent printed sheets (A1, A2, Letter, etc.). Each layout can contain:
Title blocks
Notes and annotations
Viewports — windows into model space that display your design at specific scales
Paper space isn’t for drawing the design—it’s for arranging and communicating it.
Why Use Both?
Accuracy in Model Space
Keeping geometry at real-world size avoids scaling errors and makes edits straightforward.Clarity in Paper Space
You can present the same model at multiple scales—overall plans at 1:100, details at 1:5—without redrawing geometry.Separation of Content and Presentation
Model space is your content. Paper space is your presentation. Keeping them separate keeps your workflow organized.
Best Practices for Using Model and Paper Space Together
Always Draw Full Scale in Model Space
Resist the temptation to scale geometry to “fit” a sheet. Keep it 1:1, and let paper space handle the scaling.Use Viewports Wisely
Create multiple viewports in paper space to show different parts of the model.
Assign each viewport a scale (1:10, 1:50, etc.) so drawings are consistent.
Lock viewport scales to avoid accidental zooming.
Standardize Title Blocks
Place title blocks, logos, sheet numbers, and revision notes in paper space so they stay consistent across all drawings.Use Layer Control Across Both Spaces
Freeze or turn off unnecessary layers in specific viewports.
Keep construction lines visible in model space but hidden in paper space.
How We Use Model and Paper Space at Mette
At Mette, model space is where we do all of our design work—whether that’s a furniture assembly or a full interior layout. Everything is drawn to real-world scale, down to the smallest hardware detail.
We use a dynamic block in the model space that mimics the paper space through various scales. This helps us prepare the paper space layout while we draft in the model space, and helps us remember which page has what on it without constantly switching back and forth.
We also (controversially) annotate just about everything in the model space with annotative scales. Paper space annotating has its place, for sure, but we find that annotating in model space results in a faster workflow for us.
Paper space is where we shift into presentation mode. Our layouts contain title blocks, company information, and organized viewports at multiple scales. With our paper already outlined in the model space, it’s quick for us to scale everything accordingly and position each view in the right spot.
This separation means we spend less time redrawing and more time refining. It also keeps our drawings consistent, professional, and easy to edit when clients or fabricators need revisions.
Wrapping Up
Model space and paper space aren’t competing tools—they’re complementary. Model space gives you accuracy and flexibility, while paper space gives you control over how your work is communicated. Preferences vary on use, and we encourage everyone to try different approaches to see what works best for them.
In short: design in model space, present in paper space—that’s the key to a smooth CAD workflow.
