Learn AutoCAD with our Free Tutorials
Welcome to CADTutor
CADTutor provides the best free tutorials and articles for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and associated applications along with a friendly community forum. If you need to learn AutoCAD, or you want to be more productive, you're in the right place. See our tip of the day to start learning right now!
Free Tutorials and More…
The Tutorials section provides over 100 original tutorials for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and other design applications. Michael’s Corner is an archive of productivity articles that brings you the best AutoCAD tips and tricks. Our Forum is a lively community where AutoCAD users can ask questions and get answers. The Downloads area provides free AutoCAD blocks, free AutoLISP routines and free images.
Tutorials of the Moment
Recently viewed tutorials
-
AutoCAD 2010: Ribbon Basics
This video tutorial introduces you to the AutoCAD 2010 ribbon and demonstrates the various options you have when working with it. Running time: 5min 49sec Format: Video
Last visited: less than one minute ago
-
Creating Selections from Image Masks
This simple 7-step tutorial describes the best method for using the images supplied in the CADTutor Image Bank. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: less than one minute ago
-
Scene Setup
Before attempting to create a scene it is important to understand global settings pertaining to any scene that will make modelling more efficient together with settings that pertain to individual scenes and stages in scene development. This tutorial explains Viewport Configuration options, Scene Settings and basic MAX / VIZ Configuration. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 1 minute ago
-
Entering Survey Data using AutoCAD
These techniques apply to basic CAD programs such as AutoCAD, IntelliCAD, etc. If you have a civil/survey program or add-on, such as Land Desktop, SurvCADD, Eagle Point, etc., then there are built-in tools for entering lines and curves. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
AutoLISP Quick Start
This tutorial is designed to help AutoCAD users get to grips with AutoLISP quickly. It demonstartes how to create AutoLISP routines from a standing start. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 3 minutes ago
-
Stage 6: Lighting and Shadows
Lighting outdoor scenes involves the setup of a Sunlight or Daylight system, together with ambient light. This tutorial uses Quickscape Sunlight and Shadows to automatically setup a Sunlight System with some environment settings and including the use of a Quickscape Light Dome for added natural ambient light. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 4 minutes ago
CADTutor Tutorials
Our tutorials are comprehensive but straightforward introductions to AutoCAD and related software. They are designed to help beginners get to grips with design workflows as quickly as possible. There are over 100 to choose from, some text/image based and others in video format. Whatever stage you are at in your learning, you should find a tutorial to help.
Forum Latest
Currently Active Topics
Reload LineTypes in AutoCAD 2027 not working?
by Aftertouch
8 replies
Last post: 6 hours ago
GNSS on AutoCAD
by PGia
26 replies
Last post: 16 hours ago
LAYER PROPERTIES
by ababs
8 replies
Last post: 40 hours ago
Change text color in AutoCAD Lt Tables Lisp request
by MSHR
24 replies
Last post: 46 hours ago
Drafix CAD Pro for Windows 10 and Windows 11
by pcg
3 replies
Last post: 51 hours ago
Python, Clone Layout from another drawing
by Danielm103
0 replies
Last post: 85 hours ago
This Week's Hot Topics
Reload LineTypes in AutoCAD 2027 not working?
by Aftertouch
8 replies
Viewed: 211 times
AutoLISP: Safe alternative to (command "EXPLODE") inside a custom command
by p7q
5 replies
Viewed: 363 times
How to create field that shows text from a dimension
by ColinPearson
0 replies
Viewed: 221 times
Civil design using Bricscad and Civil Site Design.
by BIGAL
0 replies
Viewed: 208 times
Python, Clone Layout from another drawing
by Danielm103
0 replies
Viewed: 167 times
CADTutor Forums
Our forum is a vibrant community of experts and beginners. The main focus is helping beginners get to grips with AutoCAD and to help more advanced users become more productive. The AutoLISP forum is one of the busiest out there, providing expert advice for busy professionals.
AutoCAD Productivity
Avoid Using ‘Standard’ in Text & Dimension Styles
From: AutoCAD Productivity Articles #141
Originally published: August 2015
In addition to Layer 0, every single drawing on the planet has a Text style called ‘Standard’, and a Dimension style called ‘Standard’. They're the defaults.
When developing company standards, it's best to not modify the Standard styles; leave 'em alone and make your own.
And here's why. Let's say you have text you added to Drawing A (using your modified ‘Standard’ text style to use the Trebuchet font), and you drag that text into Drawing B where the Standard text style uses the TXT.SHX font.
Since Drawing B already has a ‘Standard’ text style—see opening sentence, above—who do you think will "win" when it comes to how the text looks? The text in Drawing B will use the font which is already assigned to the Standard text style.

In the illustration, you see the result when I drag the text from Drawing A into Drawing B. Questions?
See all the articles published in August 2015
Michael's Corner
Between 2003 and 2016, Michael Beall (and one or two guests) wrote almost 600 articles for CADTutor. The focus of these articles is AutoCAD productivity, and although some of them are now more than a few years old, most remain relevant to current versions of AutoCAD. The article above is just one example. Check out Michael's Corner for a full listing.
Image of the Week
-
29th June to 5th July 2026
This week's image is by David Bethel
Software used: AutoCAD R12/R13 and Accurender
-
Last Week's Image
Last week's image is by boofrelday
Software used: SketchUp and Podium
-
Two Weeks Ago
This image is by CADken
Software used: SketchUp and Kerkythea
-
Three Weeks Ago
This image is by Jay C
Software used: Revit
Gallery of Work
Over the years, our forum members have contributed hundreds of images, showcasing their amazing work. The images above are just a small selection that demonstrate the wide range of project types our community is involved with. Take a look at our gallery to see all the images published in the last 12 months.
Tip of the Day
Quick Extrusions with Presspull
As of AutoCAD 2007, there's no need to draw closed shapes before extruding. The Presspull tool will find any enclosed area (just like BHATCH) and extrude it.
Any objects can be used as boundaries; lines, circles, splines, they all work. This makes building 3D solid models much quicker than before.
Missed a Tip?
Did you miss yesterday's tip? Maybe you forgot to drop by or maybe you don't visit over the weekend. If so, you can now see all the tips published during the past week. Also, if you have a tip you'd like to share with us, you can post it on our forum and if we like it, we'll publish it here.