Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Continue by creating new layers and assigning objects to them:
1.
Create a new layer for the door, name the layer Door, and make it red.
2.
Just as you've done with the walls and fixtures, use the Properties Inspector palette to
assign the door to the Door layer.
3.
Use the Layers palette to create three more layers, one for the ceiling, one for the door
jambs, and one for the floor. Create these layers, and set their colors as indicated (remem-
ber that you can open the Color Palette dialog box by selecting the Select Color option in
the expanded Color option in the Properties Inspector palette):
Layer Name
Color
Ceiling
Magenta (6)
Jamb
Green (3)
Floor
Cyan (4)
UNDERSTANDING OBJECT PROPERTIES
It helps to think of the components of an AutoCAD drawing as having properties. For example,
a line has geometric properties, such as its length and the coordinates that define its endpoints.
An arc has a radius, a center, and beginning and ending coordinates. Even though a layer isn't
an object you can grasp and manipulate, it can have properties such as color, linetypes, and
line weights.
By default, objects take on the color, linet ype, and line weight of the layer to which they're
assigned, but you can also assign these properties directly to individual objects. These general
properties can be manipulated through the Properties Inspector palette.
Although many of the options in the Properties Inspector palette may seem cryptic, don't worry
about them at this point. As you work with AutoCAD, these properties will become more famil-
iar. You'll find that you won't be too concerned with the geometric properties because you'll be
manipulating them with the standard editing tools in the Tool Sets palette or the menu bar. The
other properties will be explained in the rest of this chapter and in other chapters.
In step 2 of the previous exercise, you used the Properties Inspector palette, which offered
several options for modifying the block. The options displayed in the Properties Inspector pal-
ette depend on the objects you've selected. With only one object selected, AutoCAD displays
options that apply specifically to that object. With several objects selected, you'll see a more lim-
ited set of options because AutoCAD can change only those properties that are common to all
the objects selected.
