Using Two Colors

Using Two Colors
You can choose a gradient that transitions between shades of a single color by clicking the One
Color radio button, or you can transition between two entirely different colors by clicking the
Two Color radio button. When you select Two Color, the slider below the Two Color option
changes to a color swatch. You can double-click the swatch or click the ellipses button to the
right of the swatch to open the Select Color dialog box.

Selecting Gradient Patterns
Just below the One Color and Two Color options are the gradient pattern options. You can choose
from nine patterns, plus you can select an angle for the pattern from the Angle drop-down list box.
The Centered option places the center of the gradient at the center of the area selected for the pattern.
To place a gradient pattern, select a set of objects or a point in a bounded area, just as you would
for a hatch pattern. You can then click the Preview button to preview your hatch pattern, or you can
click OK to apply the gradient to the drawing.

Tips for Using the Boundary Hatch
Here are a few tips on using the Boundary Hatch feature:
◆ Watch out for boundary areas that are part of a large block. AutoCAD examines the entire
block when defining boundaries. This can take time if the block is large. Use the Boundary Set
options to focus in on the set of objects you want AutoCAD to use for your hatch boundary.
◆ The Boundary Hatch feature is view dependent; that is, it locates boundaries based on what
is visible in the current view. To ensure that AutoCAD finds every detail, zoom in to the area
to be hatched.
◆ If the area to be hatched is large yet requires fine detail, first outline the hatch area by using
a polyline. (See Chapter 18 for more on polylines.) Then, use the Add: Select Objects option
in the Hatch And Gradient dialog box to select the polyline boundary manually, instead of
depending on Boundary Hatch to find the boundary for you.
◆ Consider turning off layers that might interfere with AutoCAD’s ability to find a boundary.
◆ Boundary Hatch works on nested blocks as long as the nested block entities are parallel to
the current UCS.

Space Planning and Hatch Patterns
Suppose you’re working on a plan in which you’re constantly repositioning equipment and furniture,
or you’re in the process of designing the floor covering. You might be a little hesitant to place a hatch
pattern on the floor because you don’t want to have to rehatch the area each time you move a piece of
equipment or change the flooring. You have two options in this situation: You can use the Boundary
Hatch’s associative capabilities to include the furnishings in the boundary set, or you can use the
Display Order feature.