How to Make a Dashed Line in DraftSight?

Understanding Dashed Lines in DraftSight

DraftSight provides the flexibility to create and customize lines, including dashed lines, which can be essential for technical drawings. Whether you’re updating an architectural plan or drafting an engineering layout, dashed lines can help denote hidden features or lines that aren’t directly visible. This guide will take you through the steps to create a dashed line in DraftSight.

Steps to Create a Dashed Line in DraftSight

1. Open Your Drawing: Begin by launching DraftSight and opening the drawing you wish to work on.

2. Access the Linetype Settings:

   • Type LINETYPE in the command line and hit Enter. This opens the Linetype Manager, where you can choose from various linetypes.

3. Load Dashed Linetypes:

   • Within the Linetype Manager, click on the Load button. A list of available linetypes will be displayed.
   • Scroll through the list and select the "Dashed" line type you wish to use. After selecting it, click OK.

4. Apply the Dashed Line:

   • With the dashed linetype now loaded, you can select the objects to which you want to apply these lines.
   • For new lines, you can choose the Line tool from the Draw menu or type LINE in the command line. When prompted, ensure you specify the linetype as dashed before drawing the line.

5. Adjust the Scale:

   • To ensure that the dashed lines display correctly, check the LTSCALE (Linetype Scale) value.
   • Type LTSCALE into the command line and adjust the scale value as necessary. A typical value might be 1, but depending on the detail and size of your drawing, you may need to set this to a different value to achieve the desired appearance.
6. Final Inspection:
   • Zoom in to inspect the dashed line closely, ensuring it appears as intended. If adjustments are needed, you can modify the linetype scale or choose a different linetype from the Linetype Manager.

Why Use Dashed Lines?

Dashed lines can serve multiple purposes in drawings:

• They indicate features that are hidden behind other items.
• They illustrate specific boundaries or constraints.
• In architectural plans, they represent elements like existing structures or utilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I change the color of a dashed line in DraftSight?

• To change the color, select the line, right-click, and choose Properties. In the Properties panel, you can choose a new color for your line from the color dropdown.

2. What should I do if my dashed lines are not showing up properly?

• Check that your LTSCALE settings are correctly set. If the scale is too small or too large, it could affect how the dashed lines are displayed. Additionally, ensure that the linetype is properly loaded in the Linetype Manager.

3. Can I create custom linetypes in DraftSight?

• Yes, DraftSight permits users to create custom linetypes. You can define a new linetype by going to the Linetype Manager and using the option to create custom linetypes based on dashes and gaps as per your specifications.