Hatch

Ribbon : Insert | Hatching Options

Default : Draw | Hatches

Hatching is used to indicate sectional planes or to annotate particular features such as grating, concrete, glass etc.

The hatching result is referred to as the Brush Pattern and can be defined in the Colors and Brushes Palette.

When hatching is inserted, the pattern becomes associated to the object. If the object is modified, for example, using the Stretch tool, the hatching correspondingly adjusts to the new size or shape.

The properties (scale, angle etc) of the hatch pattern can be set prior to creating the hatch by right clicking onto the hatch feature in the Draw toolbar, shown above.

Hatch patterns are created as compound entities. To reduce the hatch pattern to individual entities use Modify > Explode.

Hatching can either be produced using the Path or Pick Point method.

In the example below, 5 different hatch patterns have been inserted into the rectangular shapes using both the Path (closed area) or Pick Point (intersected) method.

Hatch patterns created using Pick Point method

Hatch

Menu Options :

Ribbon : Insert | Hatching Options | Leader

Default : Draw | Hatch

By selecting a closed area such as a rectangle, a hatch pattern can be inserted.

To preset the required hatch pattern, right click onto the Hatch tool shown below tool and apply the preferred color, pattern and scale.

In the example below, the vertical rectangle has been shaded with a solid color with a 60% transparency.

Vertical rectangle shaded using solid color with 60% transparency and invisible outline

Path HatchING

Path hatch allows hatching to be created in a region specified by a boundary.

This hatch option can also be used to ‘fill’ the area of an entity.

Worked Example

In the example below the path hatch tool has been used to create a filled area in the vertical rectangle.

To do this, right click onto the Path Hatch tool.

Set the Brush Pattern to the preferred option. In this example, the pattern L45 was used.

Set an appropriate scale for the size of the area to be hatched. In this example, a scale of 25 was used, but this will differ from drawing to drawing.

The angle, when using a pre-defined pattern, must remain at 0º. Click OK.

Right click in the editor and select the By Entity option. This option is also found in the Inspector Bar at the base of the editor.

Select the object to hatch, then right click and select Close from the local menu.

The result should resemble the illustration below right.

Pattern created using ‘by entity’ option

Pick Point Hatch

This option allows a region to be hatched providing it is defined by a boundary, similar to the illustration below right.

The properties (scale, angle etc) of the hatch pattern can be set prior to creating the hatch by right clicking onto the Pick Point hatch feature in the Draw toolbar, shown above.

Hatch patterns are created as compound entities. To reduce the hatch pattern to individual entities use Modify > Explode.

Hatch patterns are associative. They will correspondingly update when their associated object is modified.

Worked Example

In the example below, 3 different regions are apparent.

All 3 regions have been hatched in a different hatch pattern to illustrate this as follows.

The top hatch is created from pattern L45, Scale 5, Angle 0.

The middle hatch is created from pattern L45, Scale 15, Angle 0

The bottom hatch is created from pattern L45, Scale 25, Angle 0, Crossed.

The hatch pattern, when finished creates its own border, similar to the illustration below.

Layer Order

Design Director

Objects on a specific layer can take precedence over other layers, for example, if the objects on a specific layer should be in front of another layer. This is usually the case when a hatch boundary is placed around an object, shown above.

By adjusting the number in the layer order field of the Design Director palette shown below. Objects on a higher layer will be placed in front of other layers.

Using Layer Order to give layers precedence over other layers

Draw Order

Tools | Draw Order

The physical layering of objects can be controlled using Tools > Draw Order. This allows objects to be in front or behind others.

In the example below left the horizontal rectangle is in front of the vertical rectangle. In the example below right, the horizontal rectangle is behind the vertical rectangle.

Physical layering of objects controlled using Tools > Draw Order

Hatch Pattern Creator

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Ribbon : Insert | Hatching Patterns | Create Hatch Patterns

Default : Tools | Create Hatch Patterns

The hatch pattern creator allows the user to create new vector-based patterns which can be created from scratch or adapted from similar patterns.

Hatch styles created using the Hatch Pattern Creator are stored as a brush pattern and can be used in the same manner as other hatch patterns, adapting scale, angle, color etc to suit various applications.

Worked Example

Use the example drawing Hatch Pattern Creator, or create in the editor a series of patterns similar to the illustration below. Do not use pre-defined hatch patterns or a solid filled rectangle.

Select the Hatch Pattern Creator Tool from the menu options above making sure the option By Symbol is selected. Hatch options are found at the bottom left of the editor.

Enclose the objects which form the hatch pattern in a selection rectangle, shown below.

Use the blue handles to create the approximate intervals between the hatch pattern, taking the selected group of objects as the first repeat of the pattern.

In this example, the blue handles have been moved just inside the selection rectangle, to positions indicated below.

Right click and select Finish from the local menu. Click Yes to save this style in the Brush Style Table.

Input the name MOSAIC into the field provided, shown below.

Creating a new hatch pattern

Inserting a newly created Hatch Pattern

The newly created hatch pattern is available for inserting into any pre-drawn object. Draw a rectangular shape in the editor, then use either Pick Point Hatch or the Path Hatch option to insert the newly created hatch pattern.

In this example, the Mosaic hatch pattern has been inserted at a scale of 1 and an angle of 0.

New hatch pattern inserted into close area