Education_006 – Applying Graphic Attributes

Applying Graphic Attributes
Vectorworks is a very graphic program. We have control over the stacking order of objects ( the way things appear at the front or the back), we can assign colors to objects, we can change line weights and line styles, and so on. It is important that you understand how to control the graphic style of objects so that you can make your drawings more readable.

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  • Go to the Basic tool palette.
  • Click on the Selection tool.

  • Click on the top-left rectangle.

  • Right click on the rectangle.
  • From the contextual menu choose Send >  Send to Front.


This changes the stacking order for this object and moves it to the front. Visually, the object appears to be in front of all the other objects.

  • Right click on the rectangle again.
  • From the contextual menu choose Send >  Send to Back.


This changes the stacking order for this object and moves it to the front. Visually, the object appears to be in front of all the other objects.

  • Ensure that the top-left rectangle is still selected.
  • Go to the Attributes palette.
  • Click on the Fill Style pop-up menu.
  • Choose Solid.

  • Click on the white rectangle below the Fill Style pop-up. This opens the color palette where you can choose the color.

  • Click on a gray color.
  • As you have selected the first rectangle, only this rectangle will now have the chosen gray color.

  • Select the second rectangle you created.
  • Go to the Attributes palette.
  • Click on the Fill Style pop-up menu.
  • Choose Hatch.

  • Click on the Hatch pop-up menu below the Fill Style pop-up. This opens the palette to choose the Hatch.
  • Click on a hatch.


Only the selected rectangle will have the hatch, not the other rectangles.

  • Select the third rectangle.
  • Go to the Attributes palette.
  • Click on the Fill Style pop-up menu.
  • Choose Gradient.

  • Click on the gradient color below the Fill Style pop-up. This opens the palette to choose the gradient.
  • Click on a gradient of your liking.
  • Only the selected rectangle will have the chosen gradient.

  • Select the first rectangle.

  • Go to the Attributes palette.
  • Click on the Line Thickness pop-up menu.
  • Choose a heavy line.


As with the Fill Style, the changes are only applied to the selected object.

  • Select the third rectangle.

  • Go to the Attributes palette.
  • Click on the Fill Style pop-up menu.
  • Choose None.

  • Go to the Attributes palette.
  • Click on the Pen Style pop-up menu.
  • Choose Line Type.

  • Click on the Line Type button to open the palette to choose the LIne Type.
  • Click on the required Line Type.


The selectedrectangle will have the required Line Type.

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©Jonathan Pickup 2013

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