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You are here: Home / AutoCAD / Creating Sketch From Your AutoCAD Drawing

Creating Sketch From Your AutoCAD Drawing

July 30, 2009 by Edwin Prakoso 24 Comments

autocad sketchImages on the left looks like hand-drawn sketch (you might have to click on the image to see the larger image). It’s actually an AutoCAD drawing, with a little tweak on visual styles. This is from a sample file included in AutoCAD 2009 installation.

AutoCAD has this capabilities since AutoCAD 2007., when Autodesk made major changes on AutoCAD 3D modeling. Let’s see how we can do this!

 

Open your visual styles manager palettes. Create a new visual styles (you don’t want to mess your existing visual styles!). Give an appropriate name for it. Apply this visual style to your viewport.

Now on the edge modifiers group, activate overhanging edge and jitter edge. Tweak the overhang value and jitter if necessary.

Visual Styles Manager

You should see the effect immediately! You can apply this to any existing visual styles, except for 2D wireframe. You can also plot this effect to your plotter!

sketch - plan

3d sketch

Don’t cheat if your lecturer told you to sketch your design!

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.

Filed Under: AutoCAD

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Alex catalan
Alex catalan
8 years ago

Is there a kind of plugg in software to convert a DWG into a Sketch drawing?

A 3part program attached that allows to get diferent levels and types of hand made drawwing?

Some years ago I used SQUIGGLE.

Thanks a lot in advance…!

0
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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Alex catalan
8 years ago

You can try CADsketch. Get the free trial first and make sure it’s what you need before purchasing it :)

0
Reply
steve eckert
steve eckert
10 years ago

How have you gotten it to plot in black and white? I can’t get any other visual style besides 2d wireframe to listen to my CTB file.

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Reply
C P
C P
10 years ago

Hi Edwin,

Is this effect available for AutoCAD LT or is this exclusively available for 3D versions only?

0
Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  C P
10 years ago

CP,

AutoCAD LT doesn’t support visual styles. Sketches effect are available in visual styles, so yes, I don’t think it’s available in LT.

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Ted
Ted
10 years ago

can you create a sketch plot style in AutoCAD lt? If so then how?
Thnks.

ted

0
Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Ted
10 years ago

Unfortunately AutoCAD plot style doesn’t support sketch visual styles.

0
Reply
naushin
naushin
11 years ago

i need help to make cad porfolio for job…

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Reply
Leo
Leo
12 years ago

why after use sketch effect the hach deform ?

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Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Leo
12 years ago

The sketch effect also affects hatches. What kind of deformation were you referring to?

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Leo
Leo
Reply to  Edwin Prakoso
12 years ago

sharp angles on hatch

0
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Josh McDonagh
Josh McDonagh
13 years ago

Hello, Im trying to use this effect, I have selected it in model space but when I go into paper space the effect disappears. Could you advise me how I can ensure that this effect is plotted, thanks

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Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Josh McDonagh
13 years ago

Hi Josh,
You should be able to control each viewport by activating it and change the visual styles. By default, AutoCAD will plot the viewport styles 'as shown' in layout.

0
Reply
Ron
Ron
13 years ago

Plotting using my regular plot styles (all black) still creates a color drawing. Changing my printer (Adobe pdf) also does not help at all. Perhaps they will come out with a patch for 2013, creating the sketch is easy, I do wish there were more options though. 

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Niels
Niels
13 years ago

hello. im having problems plotting my new "sketch style" in black and white. my printer is set for black and white, but when i try to plot through the visual style manager the print comes out in the colour layers.
it must be a simple adjustment somewhere ?
please help.

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Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Niels
13 years ago

Niels,

You can set plot color in plot styles. Have you checked the ctb/stb file?

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STEVE
STEVE
Reply to  Niels
11 years ago

I CANNOT GET THIS TO PLOT BLACK AND WHITE W/ THE NEW VISUAL STYLE I CREATED…..MY REGULAR CTB FILE PLOTS IN BLACK & WHITE, BUT THIS DOES NOT…PLEASE HELP HOW TO CHANGE THIS

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Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  STEVE
11 years ago

Steve,
You can only use plot styles if you use wireframe as visual styles.

1
Reply
STEVE
STEVE
Reply to  Edwin Prakoso
11 years ago

EDWIN,

WHEN I USE THE 2D WIREFRAME, I CAN USE MY PLOT STYLES AND GET EVERYTHING TO PLOT OUT BLACK AND WHITE, W/ THE LINE WEIGHTS WE UTILIZE HERE IN THE OFFICE. IF I WANT TO USE THE SKETCHY TYPE VISUAL STYLE, WHEN I GO TO PLOT, IT SHOWS EVERYTHING WITHIN THE VIEWPORT PRINTING AS COLOR, NOT BLACK AND WHITE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET THIS TO PLOT OUT SKETCHY, BUT BLACK AND WHITE W/ OUT PEN SETTINGS? PLEASE HELP…..THANX

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Garth
Garth
Reply to  Edwin Prakoso
8 years ago

What use is it if it doesn’t print “sketchy” visual styles in black and white?
I have the same issue. I want to change a hard-lined drawing to sketchy to soften the look of the presentation but when I go to plot it I can’t use my usual plot style to allow it to plot in black and white. How do I overcome this?

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Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Garth
8 years ago

Hi Garth,

Unfortunately you can’t make it black and white with plot styles. You need to change the color of the drawing, if you use layout you can override layer per-viewport color. So the original drawing is not affected.
The other workaround is to change the plotter properties to plot only in black and white or monochrome.

0
Reply
Kevin
Kevin
15 years ago

Great for lines but not for circles. You might want to use Autodesk Impression if you want more control.

0
Reply
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