AutoCAD

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 Introduction to AutoCAD
o Software provided by Autodesk.

o Important tool for a designer.

o Provides detailed and accurate drawings.
o Gives a two-dimensional idea of the space and easily helps the
designer provide several options and design effective layouts.
o Drawings can be imported into other software to be rendered or
used as a base to build 3D models.

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 About AutoCAD
o The software comprises of drawing tools, modification tools and
annotation tools, all of which you will need.

o There are two spaces in an AutoCAD document:

o Model – drawing space
o Layout – plotting/printing space

o Everything in AutoCAD has a shortcut, all you need to do is type

it.

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 Model – drawing space

Layout – plotting/printing space

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 AutoCAD – Units
o Adjusting the document units is the first step that should be done as
soon as you open a new document.

o Just type the word units and press enter.

o Follow the steps on the next slide.

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 AutoCAD – Save – Ctrl + S

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 AutoCAD – Interface
o Ribbon: includes the tabs and panels
o Tabs: found at the top of the ribbon (home, insert, annotate, view)
o Panels: found under the tabs, each tab has different panels. For example,
the
home tab has draw panel, modify panel, annotation panel.

o Command line: shows current commands (tools) and its options. Tells

you the steps to take with each command.

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 AutoCAD – Interface – Status bar
o The status bar provides quick access to some of the most commonly
used drawing tools. You can toggle settings such as grid, snap, polar
tracking, and object snap. You can also access additional settings for
some of these tools by clicking their drop down arrows.

o Not all tools are displayed by default; you can choose what tools to
display from the Customization menu, the right-most button on the
status bar. The tools displayed on the status bar might change
depending on the current workspace and whether the Model tab or
a layout tab is currently displayed.

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 Tabs Ribbon view customization Ribbon

Panels

Command
line Status
bar

Snap mode Polar Snap Line weight

tracking tracking Displa
Extra
Grid Ortho Isometri O-snapy options
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 AutoCAD – Interface – Controls/ Shortcuts
o Undo: Ctrl+ Z
o Redo: Ctrl + Y
o To show the Ribbon: ribbon + enter
o Show/hide command line: Ctrl + 9
o Show/hide grid: F7
o Object snap (on/off): F3
o Object snap tracking (on/off): F11
o Snap mode (on/off): F9
o Polar tracking (on/off): F10

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 AutoCAD – Navigation Panel – Shortcuts
o On the right hand side in AutoCAD there is a navigation panel
o If it is missing, go to the view tab to activate it (check next slide)
o Zoom: use mouse scroll back and forth to zoom in and out
o Zoom extents (zoom all): Z + enter + A + enter
o Pan: press down on mouse scroll and move the mouse around

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 Go to the view tab to control the visibility of the following

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 AutoCAD – Drawing Tools
ALL TOOLS HAVE SHORTCUTS, TYPE THEM AND FOLLOW COMMAND LINE
o Line: L + enter
o Tilted Line or Line with a certain Angle: L + enter → click to start the line and point it in the
direction you want → hold “shift” + “,” → type the angle needed → type the line length.
o Infinite lines: XL + enter
o Circle: C + enter → by default insert radius or type d + enter to insert diameter
o Rectangle: REC + enter
o Rectangle with dimensions: REC + enter → click to start → D + enter → insert dimensions
→ then click on screen to set its direction.
o Polyline: POLY + enter
o Polygon: POL + enter
o Arc: arc + enter → click for the starting point → e + enter to specify end point → r + enter to
type the arcs radius.
o Spline: SPL + enter → specify the points for the curves → when done click enter and you
can adjust the points.
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Drawing tools can be found in the
draw panel in the home tab.

Tools with an arrow right next

to them have a drop down
menu which includes several
tools.

To get the extended version of

tools, as shown, click on the arrow
next to the word draw.

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To use any tool, start by clicking on it or type its
name/ shortcut.
(APPLIES TO ALL TOOLS/ COMMANDS)

When the tool becomes activated you will get

instructions on the command line for the
following steps/actions.
(APPLIES TO ALL TOOLS/ COMMANDS)

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 AutoCAD – Selection Methods
o Green window selection: click left mouse button then move mouse to
the left side. This type of selection will select anything it touches.
o Blue window selection: click left mouse button then move mouse to
the right side. This type of selection will only select items included in
the selection window completely.

Check following slide for examples

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 Green window selection method.
This type of selection will select anything it
touches.

Blue window selection method.

This type of selection will only select items included
in the selection window completely.

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 AutoCAD – Modify Tools
ALL TOOLS HAVE SHORTCUTS, TYPE THEM AND FOLLOW COMMAND LINE
o Move: M + enter
o Copy: CO + enter
o Rotate: RO + enter → select object → specify rotating point then type the angle of
rotation
o Scale: SC + enter
o Scale with reference: SC + enter → select object and specify base point → r + enter →
select the side you want to rescale to a certain and type new dimension
o Stretch: select the side you want to stretch with the green selection window then S +
enter and click and move to the direction you want and type the amount.
o Align: AL + enter
o Mirror: Mi + enter
o Trim: Tr + enter
o Extend: Ex + enter
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 AutoCAD – Modify Tools
ALL TOOLS HAVE SHORTCUTS, TYPE THEM AND FOLLOW COMMAND LINE
o Fillet: F + enter → r + enter to type the radius → then select the two line you need to
apply the fillet in between (fillet radius zero gives a sharp corner)
o Chamfer: cha + enter → d + enter → type the amount of distance and then select the
lines you want to add the chamfer in between
o Offset: O + enter
o Array: AR + enter → select object → then type of array
o Explode: X + enter
o Divide: DIV + enter → select line or object to divide → type the number of divisions
needed → then with the line tool go over the line or object divided to find the division
points. (nodes option must be switched on from osnap)
o Break: break + enter (to break a continuous line at a certain point)
o Hatch: H + enter
o Match: Ma + enter

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 Modify panel found in the home tab. Contains all the
modifying tools.

To use any tool, start by clicking on it or type its name/

shortcut.
(APPLIES TO ALL TOOLS/ COMMANDS)

When the tool becomes activated you will get

instructions on the command line for the following
steps/actions.
(APPLIES TO ALL TOOLS/ COMMANDS)

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 In the home tab, utilities panel, you have the
measure tool.

This tool has several measuring options. It helps if

you want to double check your drawings or
measure anything in your document.

Just select the measuring type or the measuring

tool that will fit what you need to know and follow
the instructions on the command line.

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 In the home tab, properties panel, you can control the
properties/ visual properties of your objects/lines.

If they are set by layer as seen in the below example, they

will follow the properties assigned to the layer they are in.

Otherwise you can override and place the property you

need.

For further properties you can click MO + enter OR Ctrl + 1

on your keyboard to access the detailed properties panel
as seen on the left.

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 AutoCAD – Layers (LA + enter)
o Layers panel is found in the home tab.
o Allows you to control document layers, you can add layers, delete layers, freeze, layers,
control visibility, lock layers, and assign layers to be in current use.

o Layers include several objects of the same use. For example, a layer for the walls
of your project, a layer for the windows, a layer for the flooring and so on.

o Layers and be named and renamed so you can easily locate them and know what they
include.
o You have to assign different properties for each layer depending on what it
includes. For example line weights, line types, colour.

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 Click on layer properties to open the
“layer properties manager” as shown
below.
Smaller preview of
(From left to right) document layer
New layer, new frozen layer, delete layer, set current Options on the s side (from
layer left to right) On/Off, Freeze, Lock

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Here is an example of having several layers with different properties and how it looks in the drawing.

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 AutoCAD – Blocks
o Blocks are ready made objects which you can insert into your document and
use easily and efficiently to save time. They are considered as single entities.

o Blocks can be found within AutoCAD, or they can be made by the designer, and

they can even be downloaded from online sources or website brands to use

their specific pieces of furniture in the project.

o In AutoCAD the place where we get the blocks from is called the “Design
Center”,
for shortcut type on your keyboard AD + enter.
o Check following slides for details on inserting blocks and making them yourself.
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After typing the command you will get this window. Make sure you press on the home icon to get this
same page as shown below. Following that click on “en-us”.

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 Following that click on design center.

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You should be able to see the following cad files. Each file has a different set of blocks. The most useful
ones for you as an interior designer would be the Home Space Planner, House Designer and Kitchens.

To access the blocks double click on the file you need then select blocks as shown below.

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 You will get a variation of blocks in each file as
seen in the left top image.
Select the block you need by double clicking on
it then press ok as seen in the bottom left
image.
It will get attached to your AutoCAD cursor and
now you can place it anywhere in your project as
seen below.

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 To edit a block you can right click on it and select either block editor or edit block in place, make the
changes as needed then save and close editor
If you are editing an AutoCAD file block it is preferable you explode it then block it once more so as not
to change the original file. (check following slides on how to make your own block)

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To make your own blocks, type b + enter, you will get the window below. Type the name of the block,
pick point of insertion, and select the object to be blocked. When all is done click ok.

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 To insert the blocks made by you or blocks already within the file, type I + enter, you will get the side
window as shown below. Here you can find your own blocks and previously inserted blocks that you
worked with. Go to the resents and select the block you need to insert.

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 AutoCAD – Annotate Tools
ALL TOOLS HAVE SHORTCUTS, TYPE THEM AND FOLLOW COMMAND LINE
INSTRUCTIONS
o Annotate tools are tools used for labelling or adding information to the
drawings.
o Home tab has a small annotation panel for quick access. Annotation tab has all
the panels used for annotating such as text, and dimensions.

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 Text tool

Single line option

Written text is in singular line format

Multiline option
Written text can be in the form of paragraphs

When tool is activated you can draw a text box in your drawing area and start typing. A text editor tab will open will tool
i s active allowing you to control the formatting and paragraph styles of the text, similar to a word document as seen
below.

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 Dimension tool
Allows you to insert dimensions to your
documents.

There are different types of dimensions as seen

on the right.
You will need to select the type based of what you
are dimensioning.

The top drop down menu (where it says

standard) has different dimension styles you can
select from.

You can also create your own that fits the size and
visual appearance you need.
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Type D + enter. You will get the dimension style manager
to modify and create your own dimensions style as seen
in the top right image.

You can start by clicking on new to create a dimension

style that is your own.

Then name it and continue.

The following slides shows each tab and some of the

modifications you need to make.

Regarding the size of arrows and text it will depend on

the size of your drawings. So you will need to try and
check till you get the appropriate size.

All changes you make are visible in the side

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 AutoCAD – Hatch
o Hatch is a way of adding a certain type of fill (can be solid, pattern or gradient)
o Found in the draw panel, home tab. For shortcut type H + enter
o A special “hatch creation” tab will open when the command is activated (check next
slide)
o Usually a solid dark grey or black hatch would be used for cut walls. A patterned hatch
can be used to represent a certain type of wall or floor finish for example tiles, bricks,
wood and so on.

o To apply hatch you require an enclosed boundary, otherwise the hatch will not be applied.
o You can find some hatch examples in the following slides.

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 Hatch options, click on the arrows
on the side for more hatch
options

Drop down menu to select type of

hatch (solid, pattern,
gradient)

Hatch colour, top colour is for

colour
solidand pattern whereas the bottom
colour is for a pattern
background

Hatch angle and size can be changed to

fit your
requirements
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 This is what hatching in AutoCAD model And here is how the same plan looks in
space Layout
looks like space

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 This is an example of what can be done using a variety of hatches on
AutoCAD.

Exterior Elevation
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 AutoCAD – Purge
o An AutoCAD file can become really heavy after being used for some
time and the more you insert blocks and import different elements.
o To reduce the size of the file/clean up the file so it can be easier to
handle and use without lagging as much, type command purge.

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 Type purge in your AutoCAD file then
press
enter.

Check all the options on the left side of

the
window and click purge all.

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 AutoCAD – Layout
o Layout space is where the paper is prepared and the drawing is scaled
to be plotted/printed/saved as PDF.
o Usually title blocks are prepared here so the drawings can be
exported in a proper format/ manner with information about it. (check
next slide for title block example)

o Title blocks can be drawn using the normal tools as used in the model

space.
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 A title block normally
includes a logo (of the
company/designer),
designer name, drawing
name, sheet number, sheet
size and scale.

Additional information/
notes can be added to
describe what is being
represented in the
sheet.

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 Go to layout 1, right click on the tab and select “Page Setup
Manager”
This step is done to set the printing preferences and page size.
Before starting anything in layout this step should be
completed.

Following that you will get this window, select modify to the layout
you are working on.

Set the preferences as shown in the example on the right.

Page size will differ according to the scale you intend to set. So
make sure the page size you select and the scale would fit each
other.
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Following that you should have the page size set and ready to be
used.

Create the title block by using drawing

tools.

To get the model space view into your layout, go to layout tab on
top and select “rectangular” and draw the window on your page.
This is called a viewport. Select it and go apply the scale from
status bar. Then Ctrl + P to export as PDF.
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