Understanding Revision Clouds in AutoCAD
Revision clouds are essential tools within AutoCAD, utilized primarily to indicate areas of a drawing that are subject to changes or revisions. These clouds typically consist of arcs that form a cloud-like shape, offering a visual cue to reviewers and collaborators about which parts of the design require attention. One common task users face is converting existing shapes—like polylines—into revision clouds. Here’s how you can achieve this efficiently.
Steps to Convert a Polyline to a Revision Cloud in AutoCAD
Follow these steps to convert a selected polyline into a revision cloud:
- Access the Draw Panel: Navigate to the Home tab on the AutoCAD ribbon. From there, find the Draw panel.
- Select the Revision Cloud Option: Click on the drop-down menu in the Draw panel, then select Revision Cloud.
- Convert an Object to Revision Cloud: Right-click within the drawing area. A context menu will appear; choose Object. This option allows you to select pre-existing shapes to convert.
- Select the Polyline: Click on the polyline that you wish to convert into a revision cloud. Make sure that the selected polyline is a closed or continuous shape, as this is necessary for the conversion.
- Confirm Arc Direction: After selecting the polyline, press Enter to maintain the existing arc direction. If prompted for adjustments, follow the on-screen instructions as needed.
- Finalize the Conversion: After confirming the arc directions, press Enter again to complete the command. The polyline will now be transformed into a revision cloud shape.
Modifying Revision Cloud Properties
Once you’ve converted a polyline to a revision cloud, you might want to adjust the properties for better clarity or to fit project standards.
Changing Arc Length
To modify the minimum or maximum arc lengths of your revision cloud:
- Access the Revision Cloud command from the Home tab.
- Right-click in the drawing area and choose Arc Length.
- Enter a new value for the minimum arc length when prompted.
- Next, specify a new value for the maximum arc length.
- Press Enter to apply the changes or Esc to exit the command without changes.
Revising Cloud Appearance
To adjust how your revision cloud looks, you can modify properties such as color or line type through the properties palette or by using the command line for adjustments.
FAQ
1. Can I use any shape to create a revision cloud in AutoCAD?
No, only specific shapes like polylines, circles, and ellipses can be converted into revision clouds. The shape must be closed or continuous for proper conversion.
2. Is there a way to revert a revision cloud back to a polyline?
Yes, you can right-click on the revision cloud, select ‘Editing,’ and choose to reverse the cloud or convert it back to a polyline if required.
3. How can I add annotations to a revision cloud?
You can add annotations by selecting the Revision Cloud and using the annotation tools available in AutoCAD to label or comment on the areas highlighted by the cloud.
