Understanding Color Fill in MicroStation
MicroStation provides several ways to fill objects with color, allowing for extensive customization in your design work. The fill options can enhance the visual appeal of your drawings and help in differentiating various elements. Below is a detailed guide on how to apply and modify color fills in MicroStation.
Steps to Fill an Object with Color
1. **Select the Element:** Click once on the shape or object that you want to fill with color.
2. **Access the Fill Attributes:**
– Navigate to the Ribbon Menu.
– Choose the “Drawing” or “Modeling” tab, then go to “Home,” and find the “Modify” section.
– Click on the “Change Attributes” split button to access fill properties.
3. **Set Fill Type:** Look for the ‘Fill Type’ option in the attributes dialog. You can choose options such as ‘None’ (no fill), ‘Opaque’ (filled with active color), or ‘Patterned.’
4. **Choose Active Color:** Locate the ‘Active Color’ setting. This option determines the color used to fill the selected object. You can select the desired color from the color palette.
5. **Apply the Changes:** Once you’ve set your fill type and active color, click ‘OK’ or apply the changes to see the fill effect on your selected object.
Modifying Existing Fills
To make adjustments to a fill that has already been applied to an element:
1. **Select the Element Again:** Click on the object you wish to modify.
2. **Open Change Attributes Tool:** Access the same “Change Attributes” split button through either the Drawing or Modeling tab.
3. **Adjust Fill Options:** Modify the fill type or active color as needed.
4. **Apply and Confirm:** Ensure your settings are correct and apply them to see the updated fill.
Changing Background and Other Colors
Changing the background color of your workspace can also enhance visibility:
1. **Access Settings:** Go to the ‘Settings’ menu.
2. **Select Color Table:** From the dropdown, select ‘Color Table’ which opens the Modify Color dialog.
3. **Choose Desired Color:** Select the background color of your choice and confirm by clicking ‘OK’.
Hatching Techniques in MicroStation
For more intricate designs, you may wish to hatch areas within objects:
1. **Select the Hatch Tool:** From the toolbar, choose the hatching tool.
2. **Method Selection:** Use the ‘Flood’ method to fill around text or elements. You can adjust settings to refine the area of fill.
3. **Set Extended Options:** Click the down arrow in the Tool Settings window to access extended settings. Choose the ‘Locate Interior Text’ option if you need to hatch around text.
Creating and Utilizing Pen Tables for Printing
To ensure that colors print accurately, follow these steps to set up a pen table:
1. **Open Print Dialog:** Click on ‘File’ then ‘Print’ to open the print dialog.
2. **Create New Pen Table:** Under the ‘Resymbolization’ section, select ‘New Pen Table’. Enter a name for your pen table.
3. **Map Colors:** In the Modify Pen Table window, choose the ‘Map Pen Colors’ option, then click ‘Create’ to start a blank mapping table.
FAQs
**1. How can I delete a fill in MicroStation?**
To delete a fill, select the element you want to modify, open the Change Attributes tool, set the Fill Type to ‘None,’ and apply these changes.
**2. What should I do if my fills don’t appear as expected when printing?**
Ensure that you are using the correct pen table and that the color settings in both the element attributes and the printer settings are set as per your requirements.
**3. How can I change the color of an object quickly?**
Use the “Eyedropper” tool within the Change Attribute tool to match the properties of an existing colored element, then apply these properties to your new element.
