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2012
AutoCAD Architecture
libraries that contain user-defined materials. It also contains a button for controlling the display of libraries and library categories. You can sort the materials in the library by name, category, type, and color. Library details – This displays previews of the materials in the selected categories. Browser bottom bar – This contains the Manage menu, which provides options for adding, removing, and editing libraries and library categories. It also contains a button for controlling the display options for the library details.
product focus
Materials Libraries The Autodesk library contains more than 700 materials and over 1,000 textures. The library is read-only, but you can copy Autodesk materials into the drawing, then edit and save them to your own library. There are three types of libraries. 1. Autodesk Library – This contains predefined materials provided by Autodesk for use by all applications that support materials. It contains material-related resources such as textures and thumbnails. 2. User Library – This contains all materials, except those in the Autodesk library, that are intended to be shared between drawings. You can copy, move, rename, or delete user libraries. 3. Embedded Library – This contains a cache of materials used or defined in a drawing and available only to that drawing. This library is created automatically when the first Autodesk application using Autodesk materials is installed. You cannot rename this type of library as it is stored within the drawing. The materials in the Materials Library are typically assigned to 3D objects. AutoCAD Architecture objects to which you can assign materials are: curtain walls, walls, doors, windows, railings, roof, stairs, spaces, slabs, mass elements, mass groups, and structural members. You can add materials to a library by opening the Materials Editor, right-click the material, and select Add To. Now select the library to which the material will be added. You can add the material to multiple libraries if desired. Note that materials that you use more often can be placed on a custom tool palette for easier access. Click the Tool Palettes window title bar and click New Palette (see Figure 2) to create and name a new palette. The palette is customizable and you can add material tools by copying and pasting from other material palettes. The controls for doing so are on the Tool Palettes window shortcut menu.
Applying Materials
Figure 2: New tool palette
A material can be applied to individual objects and faces or to objects on a layer. Note that AutoCAD Architecture 2012 supports per-face color for all materials and textures. If an object has per-face color and a diffuse texture, the pre-face colors are shown when the texture is faded.
To apply a material to an object or a face, first select the object and then select the material from the Materials Browser. The material is added to the drawing and it is also displayed as a
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