AutoCAD

For Using AutoCAD 2009

User Interface 

The user interface in AutoCAD® 2009 Menu Browser

software has undergone a major renovation. In the upper-left corner you will find the
You are going to love how quickly you can new Menu Browser button. Here are all the
navigate to your favorite commands while menus that used to lie across the top of your
still maintaining plenty of room for your screen listed vertically for easy access.
drawing.

Right off the bat you will notice that the

default model space background color has
changed to off-white, making it easy for

User Interface
layer colors to be consistent in both model
space and paper space.

New Quick Access Toolbar

In the upper-left corner of the screen is the
powerful new Quick Access toolbar. Here
you will find the frequently used New, Open,
Save, Plot, Undo, and Redo commands.

In addition, you can easily add your own

favorites. Right-click and choose Customize
Quick Access toolbar and then drag your
favorite commands to personalize it for
maximum productivity. A right-click menu
option will restore the traditional menu bar
as well.
 

Use the new Search tool in the upper-right Pin Important Drawings and Actions
corner of the menu browser to quickly Here is a favorite: The shortcut menu in the
search for any commands you need help menu browser lets you pin a drawing file so it
finding. Behind the scenes, AutoCAD won’t fall off the list. You can also pin actions
searches the CUI file to find all matches. you use over and over for quick access.
Double-click any listed item to launch the
associated command.

The menu browser also provides access to

recent or open documents (with preview

User Interface
icons if you choose). You can display them
in an ordered list or group them by date or
file type for added convenience. Move the
cursor over any drawing name to display
a preview image and other document
information. You can control the length
of this list in the Options dialog box.

Use the Recent Actions option to view and

execute commands recently accessed from
the menu browser. Double-clicking the Menu Browser
button closes AutoCAD.
 

InfoCenter tearing a panel off the ribbon to create a

You will find the new front and center floating panel. You get to set the ribbon up to
InfoCenter a quick means to search for help work the way you do. Lock them all into place
information. Just click the arrow to open or by using the Lock button on the status bar.
close the search field. And, of course, you can always switch back to
the “AutoCAD Classic” workspace while you
familiarize yourself with this new interface.

The Ribbon Status Bar

The ribbon is new to AutoCAD, but with The status bar has been updated to include

User Interface
a little practice you will quickly see the some new, powerful tools and improve
benefits. The ribbon consists of tabs and efficiency. You can choose to view text
panels. Each tab contains multiple panels, or icons for the standard settings, such
and each panel contains multiple tools. as Osnap, Grid, and Dynamic Input. The
These are completely customizable in the new interface makes it easier to tell which
CUI—just as your existing toolbars are. settings are on (much appreciated!).

Right-clicking many of these options (such

as Polar or Osnap) also enables you to make
quick work of changing the settings (thus
saving you an extra click).

You can anchor them to the side of the You will find a variety of tools on the status
screen much like the Dashboard or turn them bar that we’ll cover later in more detail.
off for more screen real estate. You can easily Following is a graphic to help you decipher
reorganize the panels by dragging and even the new icons (you can’t change these to
 

text). Notice that Workspace has been Tooltips

moved down to the status bar (saving more Tooltips have been expanded to provide
room) and that Viewport and Annotation more information as you need it. The longer
have been combined to keep them in sync. you hover the cursor over a tool, the more
information appears. (You can control this
feature in more detail on the Display tab in
the Options dialog box.)

User Interface
Check out the new Hide XREF Scales
option added to the VP Scale list.

Layout Tab Improvements

• Rename a layout by double-clicking the
Layout tab.
• Reorder layouts with a simple drag-
and-drop. Hidden Message Settings
• Use the Ctrl and Shift keys to select Throughout the application, warning
multiple layouts for dragging and messages have been updated to provide
dropping. more help. Should you decide to turn them
• Hold down Ctrl while dragging to create off, they become hidden messages. Control
a copy. the display of these messages on the
• Drag layout tabs onto the active sheet Systems tab in the Options dialog box.
set to add a new sheet, or choose Import
Layouts as Sheet from the shortcut menu.
Viewing 

Check out the fantastic viewing tools added Use the Quick View control panel to close
in AutoCAD 2009. and publish all layouts, create a new layout,
or pin your Quick View Layouts on the
Quick View Layouts screen until you decide to close them.
The new Quick View Layouts tool on the
status bar displays a row of layout images.
This visual display makes it easier to
navigate to the correct layout. Too many
layouts to fit on your screen? No problem—
just move your cursor past the edge of the
image strip to view additional layouts.
Use the icons in the upper corners of

Viewing
Right-clicking any layout displays the each Quick View Layout for speedy printing
standard shortcut menu with a fabulous and publishing.
new Export Layout to Model option.
Quick View Drawings
Also located on the status bar, Quick View
Drawings displays a row of your open
drawings. You also have easy access to the
layouts in each of the drawings.
 

Use the Ctrl key while rolling the the cube. Click a hot spot to restore the
mouse wheel to increase or decrease the associated view. It is easy to find the
size of the drawing preview image. ViewCube command on the View panel
on the Home tab (3D modeling workspace
Use the control panel to pin open the Quick must be activated).
View Drawings images, start a new drawing,
open an existing one, or close Quick View
Drawings.

The ViewCube is available when your

Viewing
drawing is set to any 3D visual style.

You can quickly save or close a drawing You can also use the compass ring at the base
(not just the current drawing) by using the of the ViewCube to switch between views.
buttons in the upper corners of the drawing Drag any of the letters on the compass ring
image. to rotate the current view in the same plane.
Choose between UCS and WCS from the
ViewCube Feature Coordinate System pull-down menu; you
Now it is easier than ever to view in 3D. The can even create a new UCS from this menu.
new CUBE command displays an intuitive
3D navigation cube. This interactive Click the house icon on the ViewCube
ViewCube™ feature becomes active when to quickly return to the home view. Just right-
you move your cursor over it. Hot spots click the ViewCube to set the home view.
highlight as you move your cursor around
 

You can control many aspects of the SteeringWheels Feature

ViewCube from the ViewCube Settings dia- The new SteeringWheels™ view control
log box, available by right-clicking the cube. makes it easy to navigate both 2D and
3D environments. It also combines many
different types of navigation tools into
one. You can grab the new SteeringWheels
feature from the status bar or by entering
the word WHEEL. The SteeringWheels
control follows the cursor as you move it
so it is always handy.

Viewing
Several SteeringWheels options are
available; just pick the one that best suits
your current needs. Let’s look at the options
available on the full navigation wheel:

• Zoom
• Pan
• Orbit (3D)
 

• Rewind (a visual zoom previous) can control the appearance and settings in
• Center (recenters the view based on the the SteeringWheels Settings dialog box.
selected point)
• Walk (simulates walking through a model)
• Look (rotates horizontally and vertically
around a fixed point)
• Up/Down (slides the current view along
the Y axis of the screen)

Switch to Up/Down by holding down

the Shift key (in Walk mode).

Viewing
In paper space you only have the
ability to zoom, pan, and rewind.

When you get really good at using the ShowMotion Feature

SteeringWheels feature, you might decide If you do presentations for your clients,
to try the downsized mini wheels. Mini then you will love the new ShowMotion™
wheels are much smaller and have tooltips feature. ShowMotion tools let you quickly
instead of labels. step through different views in your drawing
(with different effects) for presentation
The SteeringWheels feature offers many purposes. The feature can be found on the
options, such as increasing or decreasing status bar or by executing the MOTION
the walk speed. These options can be found command.
in the right-click menu or by selecting the
down arrow in the lower-right corner. You
 10

Use the NEWSHOT tool to create new views The ShowMotion tool resembles the new
for your presentation. For organizational Quick View tools. View categories display
purposes you might want to save your views first with the views assigned to each
under specific named categories. You can category. To play through all of the views,
save three types of views: Cinematic, Still, click the Play All button in the control panel.
and Recorded Walks. The ShowMotion fea- Use the Loop option for continuous play.
ture enables you to assign transitions and You can close ShowMotion while views
movements, such as zooming in and orbiting. are playing so as to not distract from the
presentation.

Viewing
Geographic Location
You can now define the geographic
location of a drawing by importing location
information from a KML or KMZ file or
from the Google Earth™ application.
GEOMARKERVISIBILITY controls the
visibility of the geographic marker.
Object and Layer Properties 11

See how new object and layer tools in The new Quick Properties tab in the
AutoCAD 2009 can make your dreams Drafting Settings dialog box provides
come true. additional control.

Quick Properties
The new Quick Properties tool enables you
to view and modify object properties in
place, without having to go to the Properties

Object and Layer Properties

palette. You can turn Quick Properties (QP)
on or off from the status bar. After turning
the feature on, simply select an object and
the properties display for editing. You can
control which properties are displayed for
each object in the CUI (for speedy access
select the Customize button in QP).

Layer Management
The Layer Properties Manager is now
modeless so you can keep it displayed
as you use other commands. That means
you can dock, autohide, or anchor it just
like your other tool palettes. And it is now
dynamic—any changes you make in the
Layer Properties Manager are instantly
applied to the drawing (no more “Apply”).
 12

If you have ever had a hard time viewing A new option to combine layer
the layer name column when you slide over property changes for Undo/Redo can be
to the right side of the column, you will be found in the User Preferences tab of the
happy to know that now you can freeze Options dialog box.
or unfreeze columns. Optimize one or all
columns to keep content from truncating, or Customize Layer Manager
maximize one or all columns to help ensure Control the display order of the layer
that no headers are truncated. If you need property columns by dragging the column

Object and Layer Properties

more real estate in the dialog box, you can headings—put your favorites on the left
now collapse the Filters pane. for easy access. Too many columns? Turn
off the ones you aren’t using by choosing
The new Layer panel on the ribbon is filled Customize from the shortcut menu.
with all types of layering controls—be sure
to give it a try.
 13

Freezing a Layer in All Viewports Remove these viewport overrides

The shortcut menu enables you to create from the right-click menu. Use
a new layer that is frozen in all viewports, VPLAYEROVERRIDESMODE to temporarily
a function that is also available as a new ignore the overrides for viewing or plotting.
button. Here you also find additional These overrides affect only those objects
controls to freeze or unfreeze the selected with the bylayer attribute.
layer or layers in all viewports.
Use the new SETBYLAYER command to

Object and Layer Properties

Renaming Layers quickly change objects to bylayer, including
AutoCAD 2009 provides three ways to those within blocks and nested blocks.
rename a layer: double-click the layer
name, select a layer and press F2, or choose Direct Access to the Layer States Manager
Rename from the shortcut menu. The LAYERSTATE command (LAS alias)
provides access to the Layer State Manager
Layer Properties per Viewport from the command prompt (also on the
How often have you wished you could assign Layer panel of the ribbon). Use the Import
layer properties per viewport? Wish granted. option to bring in layer states directly from
No more tedium duplicating geometry on DWG,™ DWT, or DWS files. Now you can
separate layers and flipping the layers on also edit or view layer states from xrefs.
and off per viewport. Now you can double-
click in a viewport and assign a specific color,
linetype, lineweight, and plot style per layer
that affect only the current viewport.
 14

Layer Evaluation Tool Updated Layer Settings Dialog Box

The Settings button in the Layer Properties Many layers settings have been moved to
Manager enables you to turn on a layer the Layer Settings dialog box, which can be
evaluation tool. found in the Layer Properties Manager.

• The first time you save or plot, the current

list of layers is stored for evaluation
purposes.

Object and Layer Properties

• When new layers are added, an
Unreconciled New Layers notification
appears. Click the link to view the
nonmatching layers.
• A new layer filter for unreconciled layers
is automatically created.
• You can customize this process in the
Layer Settings dialog box.
• Two system variables, LAYEREVAL and
LAYERNOTIFY, can also be used to turn
these features on or off.
Action Recorder 15

Imagine being able to quickly and easily After you are finished with your task, simply
record your drawing steps for repeat use. click the Stop button. You are prompted for
All designers have tedious tasks they do a Macro Name, and a text version of your
throughout the design day—now you can macro appears in a box for you to view. A
record it once and replay it as many times file with an extension of .actm is then saved
as you want. You can even include such to the directory indicated in Options.
features as pausing for user input, selecting
objects, and more. Now you are ready to try your macro by
clicking Play.
On the Tools tab, simply click the Record

Action Recorder
button on the Action Recorder panel to
start recording your steps.

The Action Recorder records actions from

the command line, toolbars, ribbon panels,
pull-down menus, the Properties window,
the Layer Properties Manager, and the
Tool palette.
 16

Some tips for your action macros: Macros don’t understand dialog
boxes except for the Layer Manager
• Right-click any action line of your macro and Properties dialog boxes. All other
to request user input (for example, you commands with dialog boxes need to be run
want them to determine the radius of a at the command line, with a dash [-] in front
circle). of the command. For example: -HATCH. The
• Right-click any action line of your macro macro can get you into a dialog box, but you
to insert a comment to help lead your will need to enter any information and exit
user. manually.
• Right-click to edit input such as points,

Action Recorder
numbers, and text strings. The Preferences button enables you to
determine the behavior of the Action
Recorder panel.
Annotation Scaling 17

If you have found getting the proper scale

factors per viewport to be frustrating and
confusing, then you will love annotative
scaling. No longer do you need to create
multiple sets of text and dimensions
on multiple layers. Now you create one
set of annotative objects (such as text,
dimensions, multiple leaders, blocks,
attributes, and hatches), indicate the desired
actual plotted size, and it automatically

Annotation Scaling
displays at the correct size.
You can change an existing object to
Controlling Annotation Scale annotative using the Properties command.
An annotative property can be assigned to
objects such as text, dimensions, blocks, Redefining a style or definition to be
and hatches. Just create the object at the annotative does not affect existing objects.
actual size you want it to plot and indicate Use the ANNOUPDATE command to update
the intended scale factor or factors. Any selected objects to match their style or
object with an annotative property can definition (model space only).
have one or more scales assigned to it (such
as ¼”=1’ or 1:50). This capability makes it
easy to display the same object in different
viewports with varying scale factors. For
example, the same text object could appear
in one viewport that is scaled 1/8” = 1’, and
another viewport at 1”=1’.
 18

How can you tell whether an object is Annotative Controls on the Status Bar
annotative just by looking at it? Drag your • A Lock/Unlock Viewport button appears
cursor over the object to see the annotative when a viewport is selected.
indicator. • Use the controls on the status bar to set
the VP Scale and to sync the Annotation
Scale (accessible only if the viewport is
unlocked).
• Only the annotative objects that have the
same scale factor as the viewport appear
in a viewport. Toggle the Annotation

Annotation Scaling
Visibility button to display annotative
Set the annotative scale factor in objects for all scales (even if they are
model space to reflect the most prevalent not supported by the viewport’s current
scale factor in the drawing. annotation scale).

For those objects that need to display at

multiple scale factors, use the Properties
palette to add scale factors. You can also
use the OBJECTSCALE command.

It is faster to use the OBJECTSCALE

command when dealing with different Use SCALELISTEDIT to customize the
object types. list of scales.
 19

If an annotative object disappears If you have a large quantity of

(and you don’t want it to), click the annotative objects, you can speed things up
Automatically Add Scales to Annotative by turning off the Maintain Visual Fidelity
Objects button before changing the option. Be sure to turn it back on before you
annotation scale. save the file to a previous version.

Backward Compatibility Linetypes are automatically scaled

An option on the Open and Save tab of by the viewport’s annotation scale. Disable
the Options dialog box helps ensure that this behavior with the MSLTSCALE setvar if

Annotation Scaling
those who are not using AutoCAD 2009 needed.
can see your annotative objects. Each scale
of the objects is saved as an independent
object on its own layer. The layers are
automatically frozen in the appropriate
viewport.
Dimensioning 20

Techniques
Cool dimension features multiply the
options and give you more control.

New Multiple Leaders

The MLEADER command permits more
control over leaders than ever before. Not
only can you control the order of leader
creation (head first, tail first, or content

Dimensioning
first), but you can also add multiple leader
lines where needed.

AnnotationTechniques
Multiple Leader Style Manager
The MLEADERSTYLE command controls Use the shortcut menu to add leader
format and display options, just like lines. Use grips for speedy editing.

Scaling
dimension styles. Options include the
following: Aligning Leader Lines
• Type of leader line (straight, spline, Leaders not lining up properly? The Multiple
or none) Leader Align tool snaps leaders into place
• Type of arrowhead for you. You can even control the spacing
• Leader connection info between them.
• Text information
• Assign a block (great for creating Use the MLEADERCOLLECT command to
balloons) combine multiple block-type leaders into a
single multiple leader.
 21

Smart Dimension Break Command • Dimension an arc beyond its endpoints

The DIMBREAK command breaks dimension with the updated diameter and radial
or extension lines where they intersect dimension commands.
objects or other dimensions. The breaks
automatically update if you move the
intersecting objects—even if they no longer
intersect. You can also use the Restore
option to remove all breaks.

Dimensioning
AnnotationTechniques
• The Tolerance alignment option in the
Dimension Style dialog box enables you
to align decimal separators or operational
symbols.

Scaling
More Cool Dimension Features
• Create inspection dimensions with
the Inspection Dimension tool
(DIMINSPECT).
• Add a jog to linear dimensions with the
DIMJOGLINE command.
• Evenly space baseline dimensions with the
DIMSPACE command.
• Place the dimension text outside the
angle being measured with the updated
Angular Dimension command.
Text Step Savers 22

Use these handy tricks to buy yourself some More Efficient Spell Checker
time when working with text in AutoCAD No need to select objects first. The updated
2009. spell checker searches the entire drawing
by default. You can also specify the current
Use ESC to Exit MTEXT space or specific objects if you prefer. When
Now when you click Escape in the MTEXT an error is found, AutoCAD now highlights
editor, the software gives you a chance to and zooms to the word in the drawing.
save your text. Make this the default if you
choose. The Check Spelling Settings dialog box
enables you to customize the spell checker.

Text Step Savers

In-Place Spell Checking You can choose to include dimension text,
Catch those spelling errors as they are attributes, and xrefs, and set a variety of
happening in MTEXT. AutoCAD underlines exclusions, such as capitalized words or
in red those words that are not in the words with numbers.
dictionary, and the right-click menu offers
spelling suggestions.
 23

MTEXT Column Wrap More Control over Paragraphs

Ever wish text would automatically wrap The MTEXT command gives you more
across multiple columns in wide areas of control over paragraph alignment,
your drawing? Your wish has been granted indentations, and spacing.
with the dynamic columns option in the
MTEXT command. Use grips along with the
text formatting ruler to get the exact results
you are after.

Text Step Savers

Create Attributes with Multiple Lines
of Text
The new Multiple Lines option enables you to
create attributes that support multiple lines,
underlining, overlining, fields, and so forth.
Table Step Savers 24

Simplify your work with table improvements Retain Changes in Tables

in AutoCAD 2009. Any changes you make to an AutoCAD table
are retained, even if you update the table to
Bidirectional Excel Tables reflect any changes in the Excel file.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could bring a
Microsoft® Excel® file into AutoCAD and Wrap Long Tables Across Multiple Rows
truly link the file? If you could change the To wrap tables across rows, simply select the
Excel file and have it update in AutoCAD, table and adjust it with grips or use the new
and vice versa? Good times are here, Table Break tool in the Properties palette.
because now you can do exactly that.

Table Step Savers

Create Incremental Data Fast
Just use the updated Paste Special com- Auto-fill enables you to quickly increment
mand, choose AutoCAD Entities, and select data in cells by dragging, just as in Excel.
Paste Link to insert the Excel spreadsheet You can also combine blocks and text in the
into AutoCAD. This process creates a data same cell.
link. Should any changes occur in the XLS
file, a bubble notification lets you know that
the data link has changed and provides an
easy option to update the table.

Create a Table from a Data Link

An option in the TABLE command also
enables you to create a table from an Excel Easily Extract Object Data
file. Just select all or part of the sheet. You Use the DATAEXTRACTION command to
can also create a table from object data. sort and extract object data, such as plines,
to a table (including summations). This
Use the DATALINK command to feature is great for gas or water lines.
manage all of your various data links.
Productivity Tips 25

These features can help you really boost More Powerful Find and Replace
your productivity. The FIND command now contains toggles
to enable searching blocks and xrefs (along
Export Layout to Model Space with many other additions). And FIND now
You can export all visible objects from the zooms in on the found objects (so it’s no
current layout to model space with the longer a mystery).
EXPORTLAYOUT command.

Objects that are outside the paper

boundaries of the layout are also exported.

Productivity Tips
Dynamic XCLIP
Now you can dynamically adjust the
XCLIP boundary frame with grips without
re-creating the entire boundary. A new
grip also makes it easy to invert the XCLIP
boundary.

Speedy WBLOCKs
Should you decide to turn an existing block
or dynamic block into a WBLOCK, it is easier
than ever. Simply select the block, enter
W for the WBLOCK command, and your
selected block is ready to go.
 26

Updated Array Command View Grip Tips on Dynamic Blocks

Now you can zoom and pan while As you hover the cursor over a dynamic
previewing. block grip, the associated parameter
description displays as a tooltip.
Missing Printers Identified
Missing printers are now identified with a Publish Sheet Sets in Reverse Order
“Missing” prefix instead of a suffix—no more An additional option on the Sheet List
accidental truncation of that key piece of shortcut menu enables you to publish in
information. reverse order.

Productivity Tips
Recover Drawings Along with Xrefs Publish One Sheet at a Time
Now you can run the recover process on a The PUBLISHCOLLATE system variable
drawing and all the associated xrefs. Find enables you to print one sheet at a time.
this capability under Files>Drawing Utilities This variable allows other plots to enter the
or use the RECOVERALL command. printing queue.

ETRANSMIT Enhancements You can also use PUBLISHCOLLATE

You no longer need to save your drawing to print a PDF file with multiple pages.
before executing the ETRANSMIT
command. You will also find the handy
Purge option in the Transmittal Setup dialog
box to help ensure that you are sending
nice, clean drawings.
Sharing 27

Sharing your drawing information is linestyles, lineweights, and colors to

important, and AutoCAD 2009 makes it AutoCAD layers, linetypes, lineweights,
even easier to do so. and colors (and vice versa). Use the new
DGNMAPPING command to set and save
Working with DGN Files these settings.
Now you can attach Bentley MicroStation®
V7 and V8 DGN files to your AutoCAD
drawings or export DWG files to V7 and V8
DGN format using File>Export. Bring them
in as externally referenced underlays with
DGNATTACH using Insert>DGN Underlay.
Clip the DGN from the shortcut menu

Sharing
(or use DGNCLIP) and use Properties to
adjust contrast, fade, and monochrome (or
DGNADJUST).

Import V7/V8 DGN data with DGNIMPORT

using File>Import. When importing, you see
a dialog box that prompts for information
regarding external DGN references, text DWG TrueView
nodes, and units to help you get the best • The software provides backward and
results. forward conversion of DWG files from
AutoCAD Release 14 to AutoCAD 2008
You can now control the layer visibility of using the conversion features of DWG
attached DGN files by selecting the DGN TrueView™ 2009 software.
Layer option from the shortcut menu. A • Now anyone can view, publish, and plot
handy mapping tool maps DGN levels, DWG files with DWG TrueView.
 28

Download DWG TrueView for free* (and we • Autodesk Design Review 2009 enables
all love free!) at www.autodesk.com/dwg. you to search models and drawings for
text, drawing, object properties, and
Use DWG TrueView to quickly apply a other metadata in the DWF file.
page setup to multiple layouts. • And you can now rotate any type of sheet
or raster file before adding markups (so
Autodesk Labs you don’t need to turn your monitor on its
Be sure to visit to visit Autodesk Labs to stay side anymore).
up and running on tomorrow’s technology.
At labs.autodesk.com you can download The free* download is available at
(for free) many cool tools regardless of your www.autodesk.com/designreview.
discipline.

Sharing
Autodesk Design Review
Make it easy for your colleagues who don’t
use CAD. When you publish to DWF™ (or
DWFx) format, your colleagues can use
Autodesk® Design Review software to view,
measure, mark up, and track changes to any
design.

• Designs published to DWFx format can

be viewed natively in the Windows Vista®
operating system (in addition to Design
Review). Be sure to specify the resolution for
vector and raster graphics when creating
DWF files—it allows for much greater
precision.
Bonus Section: 29

Autodesk Impression
Impress colleagues and clients with graphics Getting Started
created directly from your CAD drawings Use the Jump Start Tour to help you begin
with Autodesk® Impression software using Impression, with easy-to-follow, step-
(available to subscription customers only). by-step exercises and informational videos.
Now you can bypass the tedious and time- And if you want an even more in-depth
consuming task of creating graphics by introduction to the application, check out

Bonus Section: Autodesk Impression

hand or importing CAD files into graphics the Quick Start Guide on the Help menu.
software for polishing.
Online Resources
Simply open your DWF or DWG file in Additional learning resources, including
Impression and add strokes, textures, fills, interactive e-Learning lessons, are available
and entourage (such as people, plants, and online at the Impression Community,
cars) to create your own custom illustration. impression.autodesk.com. This site also
provides access to content exchange, tips,
galleries, and much more.
 30

Additional Tips for Current Area Fill

Impression Users Color in multiple areas fast using the
Freehand option in the Area Fill tool. Drag
Stroke Type a freehand spline path across the areas you
Try assigning a custom stroke style to want to fill in. Everywhere the spline crosses
incoming lines as you open a DWG file. a bounded area, the selected fill style is

Bonus Section: Autodesk Impression

As you open a DWG file in Impression, applied to the area.
use the Import DWG wizard to select
a favorite stroke for all incoming lines
regardless of their layer. This can give your
DWG file a hand-drawn look before you
even start rendering.
 31

Drop Shadow Effects A Sense of Randomness

Adding a drop shadow effect to a style is Various tools in Impression enable you to
a great way to add the illusion of depth to introduce a sense of randomness to your
your illustration. For example, create a style illustrations to give them a natural look in
with a drop shadow effect you can assign to an automatic way (did you get that?). While
landscaping blocks such as trees or shrubs substituting your plain, boring DWG blocks

Bonus Section: Autodesk Impression

and it appears to give the blocks height. with beautiful, stylized Impression blocks,
You can also make the drop shadow appear you can vary the scale and rotation of the
inside the style for a pool or sunken effect. substituted blocks by dragging the Block
Variation sliders.