Clipping a viewport in AutoCAD is a useful technique that allows you to control the viewable area of a drawing within a layout. By clipping a viewport, you can focus on specific parts of your drawing, hide unwanted elements, or create multiple views of the same drawing in different areas.
How to Clip a Viewport
To clip a viewport in AutoCAD, follow these steps:
- Open your drawing: Open the drawing that contains the layout with the viewport you want to clip.
- Switch to layout tab: Switch to the layout tab by clicking on its name at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
- Select viewport: Select the viewport you want to clip by clicking inside it. The viewport will be highlighted.
- Access ‘Viewport Clip’ option: Right-click anywhere inside the selected viewport and choose ‘Viewport Clip’ from the context menu. A submenu will appear with different clipping options.
- Select clipping option: Choose one of the available options from the submenu based on your requirements. The most common options are ‘Polygonal’, ‘Rectangular’, and ‘Invert’.
- Polygonal: This option allows you to draw an irregular shape around the area you want to keep visible.
Click on each corner point, double-click to close the shape, and press Enter.
- Rectangular: This option enables you to draw a rectangular shape around the area you want to keep visible. Click and drag your mouse to define two opposite corners of the rectangle and release the mouse button.
- Invert: This option reverses the visibility of the clipped area. Everything inside the clipping boundary will become hidden.
- Adjust clipping boundary: After selecting the clipping option, you can adjust the size and shape of the clipping boundary by using grips. Click and drag a grip to modify the boundary as needed.
- Exit viewport clip mode: Once you are satisfied with the clipping, press Enter or right-click outside the viewport to exit the viewport clip mode.
Benefits of Clipping Viewports
Clipping viewports in AutoCAD offers several benefits:
- Focused view: By clipping a viewport, you can focus on specific parts of your drawing without distractions.
- Drawing organization: Clipping allows you to create multiple viewports within a layout, helping you organize different views of your drawing in one place.
- Presentation-ready layouts: Clipped viewports are particularly useful when creating presentation-ready layouts for clients or stakeholders. You can choose what information to display and hide, enhancing clarity and understanding.
- Easier navigation: Clipped viewports make it easier to navigate large drawings by isolating specific areas for detailed examination.
In conclusion,
Clipping viewports in AutoCAD is a powerful feature that enables you to control what is visible within a layout. By following a few simple steps, you can easily clip a viewport and enhance your drawing organization, presentation, and navigation. Experiment with different clipping options to achieve the desired results and make your drawings more engaging!