Autodesk 00308-011408-9F30A - VLA AUTOSKETCH R8-MEDIA W9X/NT, User Manual, Page: 209 / 400

Setting Pen Properties
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When you set pen properties, you set the properties for new entities as well
as any selected entities. You can apply pen properties using the property bar
or the Drawing Options dialog box.
Pen width is independent of the width settings for polyline and polygon
entities. It is specified in the smallest unit available for the hardware that
displays the entity. On your display, the pen width property is measured in
pixels, the individual dots that your video card uses to “paint” the screen. On
a printer, pen width is measured in the pixels that generate the printed
image. Printer pixels are generally much finer than screen pixels. On a plot-
ter, pen width is the width of one stroke of a pen.
You can assign pen properties by-layer. You determine the associated color,
style, and width for a layer using the Graphic Options dialog box. This makes
it possible for you to determine what layer an entity is on just by looking at
the drawing. For information on setting up layers for your drawings, see
online Help.
You can also assign pen properties by-symbol. Again, you determine the asso-
ciated color, style, and width for a symbol using the Graphic Options dialog
box. This makes it easier to distinguish between symbols by sight.
NOTE
The first nine pen styles retain their appearance regardless of the scale
setting. Global and Entity Style Scale factor do not apply to these styles.
To set pen properties
1 Select the entities whose properties you want to modify.
2 Click the Color, Style, or Width drop-down list boxes on the property bar,
depending on the pen property you want to change.
3 Click an item in the list. If the pen property you want is already current,
simply click the current setting.
NOTE You can also set these properties using the corresponding controls
in the Graphic Options dialog box. To display this dialog box, click Graphic
Options on the Tools menu or right-click the Color, Style, Width, or Pattern
drop-down list boxes on the property bar and click Graphic Options on the
pop-up menu.