shape or text mask?

[gafemon]

Hi, I'm not sure if anybody is familiar with Vectorworks but anyway.

 

In vectorworks, you can mask or fill a shape so that whatever behind the shape will be mask. I find it extremely useful compare to Autocad where I have to keep trim and extend for every change. Does anybody know a way to do this? see picture

 

As for the text, the dimension text can do color fill where you can fill with background. is it possible to do the same for a multiline text ?

 

I'm not familiar with any coding or add-in so if I have to use them for mask, please explain in simple language. Thank you so much~

 

[Mike_Taylor]

We use a Hatch that has a colour that plots "White" (therfore everything behind is hidden). In th Multiline Text editor, there is a dropdown on the right hand side (beside the OK button). In here there is an option to for Background Mask. Choose that and set it to Background Colour. For the size I prefer it to be 1.0625 rather than the default 1.5.

 

For dimensions the mask is set up directly through the Dimension Style Editor under the Text Heading.

 

Alternatives there is the WIPEOUT command which places a mask as well (this doies not work with circles, arc, elipses or elipse arcs).

[gafemon]

wow. That helps a lot. Thanks

 

For the text, how can i setup so that I dont have to manually mask background every time? The text style setup does not show this option?

[tzframpton]

Make sure it's MText and not Single Line Text.

 

Also note that anything set to True Color of 255,255,255 will "mask", since it's true white. Alternatively, assuming you are like 99% of the AutoCAD designers out there using CTB Plot Styles, pick any color in your CTB Style that you're not using, set the Screening to 0%. Now anything set to that color will "mask" anything behind it. Set this STB Plot Style to a Layer and name the layer "Mask" or something of your liking, and even better results. Solid Hatches, Text, Regions, LWPOLYLINES, etc. Just about anything can be masked using this method.

 

If you use STB Plot Styles, even better. Just set a named styles and set screening to 0% and done.

[gafemon]

Make sure it's MText and not Single Line Text.

 

Also note that anything set to True Color of 255,255,255 will "mask", since it's true white. Alternatively, assuming you are like 99% of the AutoCAD designers out there using CTB Plot Styles, pick any color in your CTB Style that you're not using, set the Screening to 0%. Now anything set to that color will "mask" anything behind it. Set this STB Plot Style to a Layer and name the layer "Mask" or something of your liking, and even better results. Solid Hatches, Text, Regions, LWPOLYLINES, etc. Just about anything can be masked using this method.

 

If you use STB Plot Styles, even better. Just set a named styles and set screening to 0% and done.

 

yeah. I'm using STB. it's a great tip. Thanks

 

so for the MTEXT, how do I setup default style?

[RobDraw]

I don't see an option for masking in the text style. This can be set from the MText editor in the Options drop down or the properties box.

 

 

 

[tzframpton]

yeah. I'm using STB. it's a great tip. Thanks

Awesome, you're one of the few who benefit from STB's.

 

so for the MTEXT, how do I setup default style?

Maybe these will help:

 

http://www.lee-mac.com/mask.html

 

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=18715.0