AutoCAD 2004. One Step at a Time (Part 1)

Overview

Following this lesson, you will:

• Know how to add color to a drawing using the Color command

• Know how to use linetypes in a drawing using the Linetype command

• Know how to use lineweights in a drawing using the Lweight command

• Know how to use layers in a drawing

• Know how to modify layers, linetypes, lineweights, and colors in a drawing using:

  • CHProp

  • Properties (and the Object Property Manager)

  • Matchprop

• Know how to use the Autodesk Design Center

This is one of my favorite lessons to teach. It may be that I appreciate the respite from new drawing routines. It may be that I like dialog boxes. But more probably, it's just that by this point in the course, I'm really tired of looking at black-and-white drawing!

In the drafting world, we learn to differentiate between objects by well-established uses of linetypes and lineweights (widths). The number and spacing of dashes in a line, the width of a line, or combinations of dashes and width say a lot about what is being represented on the drawing. (For more information about specific representations, look in any basic drafting text.) We'll learn to use these tools in a CAD environment as well. But in the CAD environment, you'll have an additional tool at your disposal “ color.

This lesson will lead you through two different methods of using linetype, lineweight, and color to differentiate between objects in your drawing; these are the direct approach (using specific commands such as LType , LWeight , and Color ), and using layers. Each method should be considered exclusive. That is, you shouldn't combine them, as the results will no doubt aggravate someone.