How to Hatch in AutoCAD 2020?

Understanding the Basics of Hatching in AutoCAD 2025

Hatching is a fundamental feature in AutoCAD that allows users to fill specific areas with patterns or solid colors, enhancing the visual representation of drawings. This guide focuses on how to effectively utilize the hatch tool in AutoCAD 2025, covering everything from initiating a hatch to customizing it according to your needs.

Accessing the Hatch Tool

1. Open the Draw Panel:

   • Navigate to the Home tab in the AutoCAD interface.
   • Locate the Draw panel and select the Hatch command. This can be easily accessed by typing HATCH in the command prompt and pressing Enter.
2. Choose Hatch Patterns:
   • A Hatch Creation tab will appear. Within this tab, you will find options in the Properties panel to select different hatch patterns.
   • Click on the desired pattern to set it as the active hatch fill.

Defining Areas to Hatch

1. Select Boundaries:
   • Use your cursor to click within an area you want to hatch. Ensure that the area is fully enclosed; otherwise, AutoCAD can’t apply a hatch.
   • If you want to hatch multiple areas at once, hold the Shift key and click in each desired space.

Adjusting Hatch Properties

1. Modifying Scale and Angle:
   • In the Properties panel, you can adjust the hatch scale. Enter a new value to change how tightly or loosely the hatch pattern fills the area.
   • You can also specify the angle of the hatch pattern. This is useful for achieving realistic representations, such as adding a wood grain direction.

Adjusting Hatch Options

1. Hatch Settings:
   • You can customize various settings in the Hatch and Gradient dialog, including the option to create an annotative hatch, which adjusts scaling based on viewport settings.
   • To access this, type HATCH in the command line again, and navigate to the Settings option.

Editing and Removing Hatches

1. Editing Existing Hatches:

   • If changes are necessary after hatching, double-click on the hatch to open the Hatch Editor. Here you can modify patterns, scale, or even remove the hatch entirely.
   • Click Pick Points to adjust the hatch boundary if you want to include or exclude certain areas.
2. Removing Hatches:
   • To remove a hatch, select it and either press the Delete key or access the Hatch Editor to delete or modify specific sections within the hatch.

Creating Custom Hatch Patterns

1. User-Defined Patterns:
   • If the existing patterns don’t meet your requirements, you can create custom hatch patterns. Go to File > Options > Application Options > Drafting > Hatching.
   • Click on the Create button to open the Edit Hatch Pattern dialog, where you can specify your unique pattern.

Utilizing Super Hatch for Enhanced Representations

1. Applying Super Hatch:
   • The SUPERHATCH command allows you to apply images or blocks to your hatching areas, providing a more detailed finish.
   • Draw the area where you want the enhanced hatch and select the desired image or block from your files.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do if my hatch doesn’t appear?
Make sure the layer containing the hatch is turned on and not frozen. Additionally, check in the Options under Display that ‘apply solid fill’ is enabled.

2. Why is my hatching process slow?
Slow hatch processing may occur when the hatch pattern is overly dense, causing AutoCAD to generate an excessive number of lines. Consider simplifying the pattern or reducing its scale.

3. How can I create an associative hatch?
Use the command AMASSOHATCH, select the area to hatch, and configure the settings in the Boundary Hatch dialog. This ensures that any changes to the object boundaries automatically adjust the hatch.