Assign and manage layer properties

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Autocad

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layers are a fundamental feature for managing and sharing drawing content.

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The power of layers is enhanced

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by controlling their visibility and their properties.

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When used properly layer properties give more

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flexibility and control over drawing designs.

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After completing this video, you will be able to

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use the layer properties manager to create new layers

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assign and change layer properties

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open the bakery floor plan drawing provided in the data set

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in this drawing.

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All the geometry is the same color because all of

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the layers have the same color property assigned to them.

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This makes the drawing difficult to read and

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difficult to distinguish between different types of geometry

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on the ribbons home tab,

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click the layer properties tool on the layers panel.

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The layer properties manager shows a list of the drawings. Current layers.

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As we mentioned, all of the layers have the same color.

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Let's assign colors to a few layers so that

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we can improve the readability of the drawing.

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Click the equipment layer in the list,

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then click the color box associated with that layer,

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choose color 2 53

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and click OK.

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All of the geometry on that layer now

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updates to reflect that layer's new color property.

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The process of assigning and in some cases,

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reassigning layer properties can be tedious and time consuming

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layer properties in their visibility states can

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also be saved and restored by using auto

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layer states feature.

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This drawing contains a few layer states that were previously saved

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in which the color properties have already been assigned to the layers

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on the ribbons home tab expand the layers panel drop down,

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then expand the layer state drop down and select

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color model by restoring the previously saved layer state.

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The drawing reflects the color properties that were current

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when that layer state was saved.

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Layer states can be directly created from within the layer properties manager.

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When you right click on any layer,

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you can choose save layer state or restore layer state, click restore layer state.

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This opens the layer state's manager.

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The layer state's manager provides all the tools needed

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to create and maintain layer states

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as well as

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the ability to import and export layer states to

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be shared with other users by clicking the icon.

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In the lower right hand corner of the dialog box,

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you can specify which layer properties you

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want associated with a particular layer state.

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Click close to exit the layer state manager.

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New layers are created directly in the layer properties manager pallette,

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click the new layer icon at the top of the layer list

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name the new layer flooring and press enter the new layers properties are adopted

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from the layer that was selected when the new layer icon was clicked.

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In this case, the equipment layer was selected.

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So the new flooring layers default properties

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were inherited from the selected equipment layer

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in the process of assigning properties to layers.

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One property is unique from the others. The line type property

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line types are a unique layer property because line types must be loaded into

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the drawing before they can be assigned to a layer in this drawing.

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Let's represent the door thresholds with dashed lines

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in the layer properties manager, click the door thresholds layer

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then click the continuous line type associated with it

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in the select line type dialog box, click load,

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find the hidden line type,

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click. OK?

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Select the hidden line type

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and click. OK. Again to assign that line type to the selected layer

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click. OK?

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And now you can see the door thresholds show the

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hidden line type distinguishing them from the walls nearby.

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Another layer of property that can aid in the

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clarity of drawings is the line weight property.

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Let's assign a heavier line weight to the walls so that they stand out.

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And the layer properties manager select the walls exterior layer,

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then hold the shift key down and select the

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walls interior layer allowing us to assign a line weight

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to multiple layers simultaneously.

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Click the default line weight associated with those layers,

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then choose the

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Click OK?

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If your line weight display is turned on on the status bar,

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your walls should now appear heavier

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layers can also be assigned to transparency.

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Click on the value in the transparency

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column to display the layer transparency dialogue.

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The transparency value can range from zero, completely opaque

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to 90% transparent.

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Controlling which layers are visible can also bring clarity to your drawings.

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There's a number of ways to control visibility.

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Let's start with the layer properties manager.

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In the layer properties manager layers can be turned off or frozen

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for most users. And in most cases,

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either option will work fine for this exercise. We'll use the freeze option,

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click the text layer,

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then click the icon in the freeze column associated with that layer.

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The text labels are no longer displayed.

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Freezing layers in model space, freezes them globally,

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meaning they're frozen in model space as well as in all view ports.

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But layers can also be frozen in specific view ports. Only

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click on the floor plan layout tab,

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double click inside of the Viewport on the ribbons home tab,

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click the freeze tool on the layers panel,

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then click one of the rectangular fluorescent light fixtures on the plan.

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The command line reports layer lights has been frozen in this Viewport press enter

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to complete the command,

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open the layer properties manager again and note that the lights

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layer has a freeze icon under the column viewport freeze,

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meaning that that layer is visible globally but is frozen within this viewport only

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click back on the model tab to see that the lights layer is still visible

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layer visibility can also be controlled on the ribbon through the layer list.

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Drop down on the layers panel

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as well as on the layers pull down on the quick access toolbar.

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When used properly,

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layer properties can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your layers

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and helping communicate your design.