Line types
LiberoDraft knows eight line types: five dash patterns and three special types with their own drawing routine. An element shows the type of its layer as long as it has no line style of its own.
The eight types
| Type | Characters in lists | Structure | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid | ──── | continuous line | — |
| Dashed | ── ── | dash 12, gap 6 | screen pixels |
| Dotted | ·· ·· | dot 2, gap 4 | pixels |
| Dash-dot | ── · ── | dash 12, gap 4, dot 2, gap 4 | pixels |
| Center line | ── ─ ── | dash 20, gap 4, dash 6, gap 4 | pixels |
| Sealing layer | ▬ ▬ ▬ | band in line colour with punched-out windows, an edge at top and bottom | paper mm |
| Ventilation grid | ● ● ● | row of dots; dot diameter from the line width | paper mm |
| Structural bonding | ─∿─ | line with one tooth per period | paper mm |
Dash patterns are drawn on screen in pixels — they stay the same size when zooming, so they show legible dashes at every zoom. In print and SVG export they are converted to millimetres. Special types, by contrast, are defined in paper millimetres from the start and grow and shrink with the zoom; in the model the reference scale converts them to model mm, in the sheet paper mm apply directly.
Where the line type is set
| Place | Effect |
|---|---|
| “Edit Layer” dialog, field “Line type” | type of the layer — applies to all elements “from layer” |
| “Properties” panel, field “Line style” | own type of one element; “— from layer —” removes it; below it the object line type factor for special types |
| “Properties” panel, multiple selection | line style of all selected elements at once (“— mixed —” if they differ) |
| Gizmo window | drop-down “— from layer —” and the wrench 🔧 that opens the “Line types” dialog |
| Move layer contents, “take from the target layer” | removes own line styles |
| Pick up attributes | keeps a deviating line type as override for new objects |
Snapshot principle
Pattern values of the special types (edge thickness, divisions, tooth dimensions …) are not read continuously from the dialog. When a layer or an element changes to a special type, it receives a complete snapshot of the current values and keeps it — later changes in the dialog affect new objects only. When changing away the snapshot (and the object factor) is dropped. Reading order: own snapshot of the element, else that of the layer, else the factory set. To update existing objects use “Apply to selection” in the dialog.
Line type factors
Two factors multiply: the factor per type in the “Line types” dialog (like LTSCALE, but separate for sealing layer, ventilation grid and bonding — scales the pattern division of all objects of the type at once) and the object line type factor in the “Properties” panel (like CELTSCALE, this element only; 0.05–100, factory 1). The dash patterns have no factor.
The “Line types” dialog
Access: “Settings” dialog → box “Line types” → button “▬ ▬ ▬ Line types…” (1); or the wrench in the gizmo window. The dialog lies above the settings dialog and stays open after “Apply”.
Reference scale model space 1 :
Converts the paper mm of the patterns in model space to model mm (1:50 means: 1 paper mm = 50 model mm), 0.001–10000, factory 1. Applies per drawing; in the sheet paper mm apply directly. When creating a viewport the program offers to set the reference scale to the viewport scale so that the model shows the same patterns as the viewport.
Sealing layer
Edge thickness (mm, factory 0.10), division dash (factory 3), division window (factory 3), minimum band width (factory 0.25). The band width follows the line width of the object, read as paper mm; the minimum band width applies to hairlines. Windows in sheet colour are punched out of the band, the edge stays at top and bottom.
Ventilation grid
Centre-to-centre distance (factory 2.4), minimum dot diameter (factory 0.25). The dot diameter follows the line width of the object.
Structural bonding
Period (factory 12), tooth — rise over (1.2), height above (3), fall over (2.4), depth below (2.5), return over (1.2); all paper mm, the tooth sits in the middle of each period. The line width stays that of the object.
Line type factor (per type)
One factor 0.05–100 (factory 1) per special type — see Factors.
Preview line width, preview
The preview shows the sealing-layer band in original size (real millimetres on screen, 76 × 30 mm) with the entered preview line width (factory 0.7 mm). Below it, notes appear when values do not fit: “Note: with this edge thickness no window remains at width … mm — the band is drawn solid.”, a note that the window is too low for print below 0.3 mm, and one that the tooth is wider than the period.
Apply, Apply to selection, Close
“Apply” saves the values permanently for new objects, the window stays open (“Line type settings applied — the pattern values apply to new objects”). “Apply to selection” additionally transfers the current state to the selected objects with a special type (“n object(s): line type pattern values applied”). “Close” discards changes not yet applied.
Selection filter, DXF, print
- The selection filter of the status bar can filter by line types (box “┄ Line types”).
- DXF import maps ISO line types (ACAD_ISO02W100 …) via the standard mapping to Dashed or Dash-dot; a DXF profile defines own mappings, the export writes the line type per element.
- In print dash patterns are output as millimetre patterns, special types with their paper mm; the sealing-layer window is made by a white cover line.
Related topics
- Layers — line type as a layer property
- “Settings” dialog — the box “Line types”