How to Turn On Frames in AutoCAD?

To turn on frames in AutoCAD, you use the IMAGEFRAME system variable and set its value to either 1 or 2.

Controlling Image Frame Visibility in AutoCAD

When you insert an image (like a raster image or PDF underlay) into your AutoCAD drawing, it often has a border around it. This border is referred to as the image frame. Controlling the visibility of this frame is important for both visual clarity and ease of selecting the image.

Using the IMAGEFRAME System Variable

The primary method to control the state of image frames in AutoCAD is through the IMAGEFRAME system variable. This variable accepts numerical values that determine whether the frame is visible, hidden but selectable, or completely off.

Understanding the IMAGEFRAME Settings

The IMAGEFRAME variable has three main settings, corresponding to the different states described by the references:

IMAGEFRAME Value	Setting State	Description	Reference Description
1	Frame Above	The frame is visible and selectable. It is drawn on top of the image.	As the reference states: "Frame above displays the frame above the image."
2	Frame Below	The frame is hidden behind the image, but the image can still be selected by clicking on the frame.	As the reference states: "Frame below hides the frame behind the image, but you can still select the image by selecting the frame."
0	Frames Off	The frame is neither visible nor selectable. You cannot select the image by clicking its border area.	As the reference states: "Frames off turns off the frames."

To "turn on" frames, you typically want them to be visible, which corresponds to setting IMAGEFRAME to 1. Setting it to 2 also means the frames are functionally 'on' for selection purposes, even if not visually present.

Steps to Turn On Frames

Follow these simple steps to change the IMAGEFRAME setting:

Type IMAGEFRAME into the command line at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
Press the Enter key.
You will be prompted to enter a new value. Type 1 if you want the frames to be visible (Frame Above), or type 2 if you want them hidden but selectable (Frame Below).
Press the Enter key again.

The change should take effect immediately in your drawing.

Key Considerations

Setting IMAGEFRAME to 1 makes the frame a clear border around your image, making it easy to see and select.
Setting IMAGEFRAME to 2 keeps your drawing visually cleaner by hiding the border, while still allowing you to interact with the image using the frame area.
Remember that setting IMAGEFRAME to 0 turns frames off entirely, making raster images difficult to select without other methods like selecting objects near the frame area.

By using the IMAGEFRAME variable and choosing a value of 1 or 2, you can effectively turn on and control the visibility and selectability of frames around inserted images in AutoCAD.

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