How To Change Hidden Line Spacing In AutoCAD?

Understanding Hidden Line Spacing in AutoCAD

When working with AutoCAD, accurately controlling the appearance of hidden lines is essential for creating clear and professional designs. Hidden lines, typically represented by dashed lines, illustrate edges that are not visible in the current view. Adjusting the spacing of these lines can significantly impact the readability of your drawings.

Step 1: Accessing the Properties

1. Select the Viewport: Click on the viewport that you wish to modify. The viewport is the area where your drawing is displayed.

2. Open the Properties Palette: Navigate to the View tab, then locate the Palettes panel. From there, click on the Properties palette option to bring up the relevant settings.

Step 2: Adjusting the Linetype Scale

1. Locate the Misc Options: In the Properties palette, scroll to find the Misc section. This section allows you to configure various properties related to your viewport.

2. Modify Shade Plot: In the Shade Plot drop-down menu, choose ‘As Displayed.’ This ensures that hidden lines are rendered in accordance with the current visual style.

3. Setting Linetype Scale: To adjust the hidden line spacing, check the current linetype scale. You can do this by entering the command LTSCALE in the command line. Input a new value that suits your drawing needs. Increasing this value will generally increase the spacing between hidden dashes, while decreasing it will bring them closer together.

Step 3: Adjusting Global Scale Factors

1. Open Linetype Manager: Go to the Application menu and select Print, then Manage Plot Styles. Here, you can adjust the overall settings for line types.

2. Find the Global Scale Value: In the Linetype Manager, locate the section for Global Scale Factor. Adjust this factor to impact how linetypes are displayed globally throughout the drawing.

3. Check and Save Settings: Ensure your modifications are correct, then save your drawing. It is often beneficial to test and review your changes in various viewports to see how they appear in different contexts.

Step 4: Saving Template Files

1. Update Your Template: After making your adjustments, consider saving these settings in your template files. This will help streamline future projects by retaining your preferred hidden line spacing.

2. Revisit Settings: If you use different templates or drawings, regularly revisit these settings to ensure consistency across your projects.

FAQ Section

1. Why do my hidden lines still appear solid despite adjustments?

   • This may be due to an incorrect linetype scale. Ensure the LTSCALE variable reflects your intended drawing scale, and also check if the specific layer’s linetype is set correctly.

2. How can I ensure hidden lines display correctly in paper space?

   • Use the MVIEW command to adjust the properties of your viewports in paper space. Select the viewport and specify ‘Hidden’ for the shade plot to visualize hidden lines properly.
3. What if modifying the linetype scale does not show changes?
   • If you find that changes are not reflected, check the Viewres system variable; increasing its value might improve the display of linetypes.

By following these steps and utilizing the FAQ section, adjusting hidden line spacing in AutoCAD becomes a manageable task, enhancing your design clarity and effectiveness.