Understanding Background Masks in AutoCAD
Creating a background mask for text in AutoCAD is essential for enhancing the visibility and aesthetic appeal of your drawings. A background mask is essentially an opaque color that appears behind your text, ensuring that it stands out against various backgrounds. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of adding, modifying, and removing a background mask to your text in AutoCAD.
Adding a Background Mask to Multiline Text
Create Multiline Text: Start by activating the Multiline Text tool. You can find it on the "Home" tab under the "Annotation" panel. Click on "Multiline Text," and then click in your drawing area to create a text box.
Open the Text Editor: After typing in the text, select the text box. This action will access the contextual ribbon dedicated to text formatting.
Enable Background Masking: Locate the "Style" tab in the text formatting ribbon. Here, find and click the "Mask" button to open the Background Mask dialog box.
Configure Background Mask Options: In the Background Mask dialog box, opt to use a background mask. You can also choose the color for your mask; options include a specific shade or the drawing’s background color.
- Finalize Settings and Close: Once you have made your selections, click "OK" to apply the background mask to your text.
Adding a Background Mask to Text Attributes
Access the Text Attribute: For text attributes, double-click on the specific attribute you wish to modify. An ellipsis (…) button will appear; click on it.
Open Text Formatting Editor: This action will direct you to the text formatting editor.
Enable Background Mask: Right-click on the text within the editor and look for the option labeled "Background Mask." Select this option to activate the background mask feature.
Select Mask Color and Options: Similar to multiline text, choose to use the drawing background color or another color of your choice.
- Apply the Changes: After setting up the background mask details, click "OK" to apply the changes to the text attribute.
Adjusting Background Mask Size and Properties
Modify Mask Size: If the background mask appears too large around your text, adjustments can be made. Click on the "Extras" tab, then select "Background Mask."
Control Padding with Border Offset Factor: You’ll find a setting called "Border offset factor." Adjust this value to increase or decrease the padding around the text, ensuring a perfect fit with your design.
- Apply Changes: After making your adjustments, ensure everything is correct and close the settings menu.
Removing a Background Mask
Access Multiline Text Editor: To remove the background mask, double-click on the text that has the mask applied.
Locate the Background Mask Option: In the text editor, find the "Background Mask" button again.
Disable the Mask: Uncheck the "Use background mask" option in the Background Mask dialog box.
- Confirm the Changes: Click “OK” to finalize the removal of the background mask.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I apply multiple colors to different parts of the same text?
Yes, you can create separate text boxes and apply different background masks to each. However, multiple masks on a single text element are not supported directly.
2. Is it possible to mask just part of a text element?
Currently, AutoCAD allows masking for entire text blocks, but there is no built-in option to mask only a portion of the text. You would need to segment your text into different boxes to achieve this effect.
3. How does a background mask affect printing?
When printing, a background mask will be printed as part of the text, appearing as an opaque background behind the text. Ensure that your printer settings are correctly configured to reflect these changes on paper.
