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How do you make a shaded line in AutoCAD?

Published in AutoCAD Plotting 3 mins read

To create a shaded plot of geometry within a viewport in AutoCAD, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure you are on a layout tab: Shaded plotting is controlled at the layout (paper space) level.

  2. Select the viewport border: Click on the edge of the viewport that contains the geometry you want to shade. This highlights the viewport.

  3. Open the Properties palette: Right-click anywhere on the drawing area and select "Properties" from the shortcut menu. This will open the Properties palette.

  4. Locate the "Shade Plot" property: In the Properties palette, scroll down to the "Misc." section. You'll find an option labeled "Shade Plot."

  5. Choose a shade plot option: Click the current value (usually "As Displayed") next to "Shade Plot." A drop-down menu will appear. Select the desired shading option from the list:

    • As Displayed: Plots the viewport using the current display settings in model space.
    • Wireframe: Plots the viewport as a wireframe, regardless of the display settings in model space.
    • Hidden: Plots the viewport with hidden lines removed.
    • Rendered: Plots the viewport with a rendered appearance, using the current render settings.
    • Legacy Hidden: Plots the viewport with hidden lines removed, using older algorithms which may affect plot output.
    • Note: Available options can depend on your AutoCAD version.

  6. Plot or Print: After selecting the "Shade Plot" option, proceed with plotting or printing the layout. The geometry within the viewport will be plotted according to the chosen shading option.

Important Considerations:

  • The "Shade Plot" setting only affects the plot output. The display in model space or the layout tab remains unchanged.
  • The available "Shade Plot" options may vary depending on the graphics card and display settings used in AutoCAD.
  • "Rendered" requires proper rendering settings and materials assigned to the objects in model space to achieve a realistic shaded appearance.

This method focuses on controlling the shaded plot of a viewport. It does not directly create a shaded line object in the drawing. If you're looking to change the appearance of a line itself to have a shaded effect, you might consider using gradient hatches, or polylines with varying widths or transparency applied.

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