Autodesk AutoCAD is a powerful software widely used by professionals in various industries to create detailed 2D and 3D designs. One of the essential features of AutoCAD is the wipeout command, which allows you to hide specific parts of your drawing or remove unwanted parts of objects, making your design more polished and professional.
What is Wipeout in AutoCAD?
Before diving into how to use the wipeout command, let’s understand what wipeout actually does. In simple terms, wipeout creates a polygonal area that masks underlying objects with a solid color or gradient fill. This feature is especially useful when you want to hide complex details or cluttered background elements without deleting them from your drawing.
Using the Wipeout Command
The wipeout command can be accessed either through the ribbon interface or by typing “WIPEOUT” into the command line. Once activated, follow these steps to effectively use the wipeout feature:
Step 1: Creating a Wipeout Object
To create a wipeout object, you need to define its boundaries. There are two methods for doing this:
- Polygon Method: Select the “Polygon” option from the prompt menu and specify each vertex point of the polygon that will define your wipeout boundary.
- Rectangle Method: Choose “Rectangular” from the prompt menu and specify two opposite corners of a rectangle that will serve as your wipeout boundary.
Note that you can create multiple wipeouts within a single drawing by repeating this step.
Step 2: Choosing Wipeout Fill Options
After defining the boundaries, you need to decide how you want your wipeout object to be filled. AutoCAD offers various fill options, including solid, gradient, or a predefined hatch pattern. To select the desired fill type:
- Solid Fill: Type “S” and press Enter to choose a solid color for your wipeout object.
- Gradient Fill: Type “G” and press Enter to create a gradient fill for your wipeout object. You can specify the starting and ending colors for the gradient.
- Hatch Fill: Type “H” and press Enter to apply a predefined hatch pattern to your wipeout object. You can select from a range of hatch patterns available in AutoCAD.
Remember that you can change the fill options at any time by selecting the wipeout object and accessing its properties.
Step 3: Adjusting Wipeout Display Order
By default, AutoCAD places new wipeout objects on top of other objects in your drawing. However, you might want certain objects to appear above or below the wipeout. To adjust the display order:
- To Send Back: Right-click on the wipeout object, navigate to “Draw Order,” and select “Send to Back.”
- To Bring Forward: Right-click on the wipeout object, navigate to “Draw Order,” and select “Bring to Front.”
You can also use the “Draw Order” command from the ribbon interface or type “DRAWORDER” in the command line for more advanced control over object display order.
Conclusion
The wipeout command is an incredibly useful tool in AutoCAD that allows you to hide specific parts of your drawing with ease. By using this feature effectively, you can enhance clarity, remove unwanted elements, and create more visually appealing designs. Remember to experiment with different fill options and adjust the display order as needed to achieve the desired result in your AutoCAD projects.