• AutoCAD

AutoCAD layers

Organization is the ultimate key to success. Get and stay organized with layers.


00:03

In AutoCAD, layers organize objects in a drawing.

00:07

You can organize objects by function or purpose.

00:10

Layers also reduce the visual complexity of a drawing by hiding information you don’t need to view.

00:16

This also improves display performance.

00:18

While you can have as many layers as you wish in AutoCAD, only one layer can act as the current layer.

00:24

All new objects are drawn on the current layer by default.

00:29

In the ribbon, Layers panel, the name of the current layer displays.

00:34

In this case, the layer is titled, “0”.

00:38

Layer 0 is the default base layer of all AutoCAD drawings, and it cannot be renamed or deleted.

00:45

Typical industry practice is to create multiple layers before you begin drawing, rather than creating all drawing objects on Layer 0.

00:54

With a drawing open that has multiple layers, from the ribbon, Layers panel, expand the Layers drop-down.

01:02

Select a layer.

01:04

In this case, a layer titled “Furniture” is selected.

01:07

Notice that the current layer name updates accordingly.

01:11

Anything you create will be placed on the current layer.

01:14

Back on the ribbon, Draw tool, select Circle.

01:18

In the drawing area, create a circle to represent a table.

01:23

To verify the layer of any object, just hover the cursor over the object and a tooltip displays, indicating the object properties.

01:32

These include the object’s type, color, layer, and linetype.

01:37

Double-click the object to display the Quick Properties palette.

01:41

The properties displayed here include the same as the tooltip, plus other information.

01:46

However, you can use this palette to change the layer of the object.

01:50

From the palette, expand the Layer drop-down.

01:53

A list of all drawing layers displays.

01:56

From here, you can select another layer to assign the object.

02:01

On your keyboard, press ESC twice to close the drop-down and then the palette.

02:06

Double-click another object in the drawing to review its properties, including its assigned layer.

02:13

When you’re finished, press ESC.

02:16

Locate an object that is not on the current layer and click it once.

02:21

In this case, a door is selected.

02:23

Notice in the ribbon, Layers panel, that the current layer updates to be the layer that the door is placed on.

02:31

In this example, the layer is titled “DOORS”.

02:34

Now, with the same object still selected, press CTRL and click an object that is on a different layer.

02:41

This time, the current layer is not listed in the ribbon, because both objects are on different layers.

02:48

Press ESC to deselect the objects.

02:51

Expand the Layers drop-down again and select another layer.

02:55

Hover your cursor over the circle you just drew.

02:59

The properties tooltip now indicates the layer that the object was created on,

03:04

while the current layer remains set to the one you selected.

03:08

Knowing how to switch between layers and how to determine which layers that objects are placed on

03:13

can provide much-needed organization to your drawings and streamline your workflows.

Video transcript

00:03

In AutoCAD, layers organize objects in a drawing.

00:07

You can organize objects by function or purpose.

00:10

Layers also reduce the visual complexity of a drawing by hiding information you don’t need to view.

00:16

This also improves display performance.

00:18

While you can have as many layers as you wish in AutoCAD, only one layer can act as the current layer.

00:24

All new objects are drawn on the current layer by default.

00:29

In the ribbon, Layers panel, the name of the current layer displays.

00:34

In this case, the layer is titled, “0”.

00:38

Layer 0 is the default base layer of all AutoCAD drawings, and it cannot be renamed or deleted.

00:45

Typical industry practice is to create multiple layers before you begin drawing, rather than creating all drawing objects on Layer 0.

00:54

With a drawing open that has multiple layers, from the ribbon, Layers panel, expand the Layers drop-down.

01:02

Select a layer.

01:04

In this case, a layer titled “Furniture” is selected.

01:07

Notice that the current layer name updates accordingly.

01:11

Anything you create will be placed on the current layer.

01:14

Back on the ribbon, Draw tool, select Circle.

01:18

In the drawing area, create a circle to represent a table.

01:23

To verify the layer of any object, just hover the cursor over the object and a tooltip displays, indicating the object properties.

01:32

These include the object’s type, color, layer, and linetype.

01:37

Double-click the object to display the Quick Properties palette.

01:41

The properties displayed here include the same as the tooltip, plus other information.

01:46

However, you can use this palette to change the layer of the object.

01:50

From the palette, expand the Layer drop-down.

01:53

A list of all drawing layers displays.

01:56

From here, you can select another layer to assign the object.

02:01

On your keyboard, press ESC twice to close the drop-down and then the palette.

02:06

Double-click another object in the drawing to review its properties, including its assigned layer.

02:13

When you’re finished, press ESC.

02:16

Locate an object that is not on the current layer and click it once.

02:21

In this case, a door is selected.

02:23

Notice in the ribbon, Layers panel, that the current layer updates to be the layer that the door is placed on.

02:31

In this example, the layer is titled “DOORS”.

02:34

Now, with the same object still selected, press CTRL and click an object that is on a different layer.

02:41

This time, the current layer is not listed in the ribbon, because both objects are on different layers.

02:48

Press ESC to deselect the objects.

02:51

Expand the Layers drop-down again and select another layer.

02:55

Hover your cursor over the circle you just drew.

02:59

The properties tooltip now indicates the layer that the object was created on,

03:04

while the current layer remains set to the one you selected.

03:08

Knowing how to switch between layers and how to determine which layers that objects are placed on

03:13

can provide much-needed organization to your drawings and streamline your workflows.

Was this information helpful?