There have been some massive adjustments to Hatches, Coloration Fills, and Gradients in latest DraftSight updates. These Hatch entities are extra sturdy, with extra choices to make our drawings ‘pop’ with top-notch visible results than ever earlier than.
Just lately, DraftSight has been transitioning from old-school pop-up dialog containers that sit on high of the remainder of the consumer interface to built-in ribbon menus, palettes, and different choices that mix into the UI with out protecting the graphics space. The HATCH and FILLAREA instructions are a part of that story.
The Hatch and Fill Space Instructions
The HATCH command is a strong and versatile device. It launches the Hatch Editor ribbon menu proven beneath. It permits you to add readability and legibility to drawings by filling an enclosed space with a predefined hatch sample, strong coloration, or a coloration gradient that blends shades of 1 or two chosen colours.
The DraftSight Hatch Editor
A big collection of ANSI, ISO, pattern, and customized hatch patterns, in addition to 9 coloration gradient choices, is pre-installed. Consumer-defined patterns can be created. Management choices, together with angle, scale, gaps, and spacing, can be found to regulate the chosen sample as wanted.
Why Use Hatches in a Drawing?
Hatches actually assist make data stand out, particularly when mixed with good use of layers and colours. For instance, evaluate the 2 entrance elevations beneath. Each comprise the identical fundamental data, however the one with hatches offers you a greater thought of what the home will appear like from the road.
Why hatch patterns are vital in a drawing
The Hatch / Fill Dialog in DraftSight 2026
As of DraftSight 2026, the HATCH and FILLAREA instructions launch the identical Hatch Editor ribbon menu, so it doesn’t actually matter which command you sort or button you click on. That’s, until you might be working within the Traditional Workspace.
The Traditional Hatch / Fill Dialog Field
In DraftSight 2022 and earlier, the HATCH and FILLAREA instructions at all times launched the Hatch / Fill dialog field proven beneath. It had two tabs, one for hatches and one for fills. The command you issued solely decided which tab the dialog field opened on.
The Hatch / Fill dialog in DraftSight
Beginning with DraftSight 2023, the HATCH command launched the Hatch Creation tab on the ribbon menu as an alternative of the previous dialog field. Choosing an current hatch activated the just about similar Hatch Editor tab. Nevertheless, utilizing the FILLAREA command nonetheless launched the Hatch / Fill dialog field, which gave you the choice to modify tabs and create hatches the previous approach.
The Hatch / Fill Dialog in DraftSight 2026
As of DraftSight 2026, the Hatch / Fill dialog field nonetheless opens whereas working within the Traditional Workspace, the place ribbon menus will not be accessible. Utilizing the EDITHATCH command brings it up in any workspace.
Keyboard-Solely Hatch Command
Some DraftSight instructions work nearly totally utilizing the command line and command window. Examples embody COPY, MOVE, STRETCH, and ROTATE. Selecting choices by way of keyboard entry as an alternative of transferring your mouse away from the Graphics Space helps you’re employed quicker.
Extra complicated instructions like HATCH use a extra visible factor of the UI. Nevertheless, a few of these do have keyboard-only variations accessed by typing a splash (-) earlier than the command identify.
Creating hatching with the -HATCH Command
The -HATCH command is one such instance. It permits you to create hatches utilizing keyboard choices with no dialog field or ribbon menu concerned. There’s additionally a keyboard-only -EDITHATCH command. Keyboard-only instructions are nice for creating customized shortcuts with LISP routines!
The -EDITHATCH command in DraftSight
Making use of a Hatch or Fill
The traditional workflow to create a hatch requires you to pick the hatch or fill sample you wish to use, then click on inside the realm you wish to hatch, or vice versa. Modify settings equivalent to angle and scale as wanted.
Whenever you click on contained in the area you wish to hatch, DraftSight will robotically detect the hatch boundary. You possibly can choose a number of enclosed areas, and the ensuing hatch might be a single entity. Hovering over an space provides you with a preview of the hatch with the at the moment chosen choices.
Hatches and Fills with Background Coloration
Generally, there might be inner areas you do not need to hatch contained in the hatch boundary. These islands are robotically detected. You possibly can change the conduct of how they’re dealt with utilizing the choices within the Hatch Editor. Observe and SimpleNote entities are handled as inner areas, so they won’t be lined in hatch traces.
Higher Hatch Management in DraftSight 2026
Hatching is a breeze with DraftSight’s preloaded hatch patterns and streamlined UI. Settings and choices present practically limitless selection within the hatches you may create. Whether or not you simply need a part view of a easy half, a spruced-up elevation, or a fancy web site map, we’ve received you lined.
To be taught extra in regards to the different nice additions to Draftsight 2026, learn our article right here.
Elevate your perspective with NextTech Information, the place innovation meets perception.
Uncover the newest breakthroughs, get unique updates, and join with a worldwide community of future-focused thinkers.
Unlock tomorrow’s tendencies at this time: learn extra, subscribe to our e-newsletter, and turn out to be a part of the NextTech group at NextTech-news.com
