Format Panel¶
The Format Panel controls the appearance of your drawing sheet and individual entities. Use it to configure sheet layout, assign layers, set colors and line types, and manage text, dimension, and hatch styles — ensuring consistent, professional output.
Two sections
The Format Panel is divided into Sheet Format (sheet-level settings) and Entity Format (properties of selected drawing entities).
Sheet Format¶
Configure the visual and structural properties of your drawing sheet. These settings affect the entire sheet and determine how it appears on screen and when exported to PDF.
| Property | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Size | Standard paper size for the drawing | A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, Custom |
| Orientation | Page layout direction | Portrait, Landscape |
| Drawing Scale | Scale factor for printed output | 1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 2:1, and more |
| Sheet Color | Background color of the sheet | Any color; helps differentiate sheets |
| Sheet Border | Border lines around the sheet edge | Enable/disable; configurable thickness and style |
Scale matters for print
Set the drawing scale before you start drawing. The scale determines how real-world dimensions map to the sheet — e.g., at 1:2 scale, a 100mm line appears as 50mm on the sheet.
Learn more about sheet configuration in Sheet View and Sheets Panel.
Entity Format¶
Configure the appearance of individual drawing entities. Select one or more entities to view and edit their properties — changes apply immediately.
Layer¶
Assign entities to layers for organizing complex drawings. Each layer controls:
- Visibility — show or hide all entities on a layer
- Lock status — prevent accidental edits
- Default color and line type — entities inherit the layer's style unless overridden
Learn more in Layer Manager.
Color¶
Set the stroke or fill color of entities.
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| ByLayer | Entity uses the color defined by its layer (recommended for consistency) |
| Custom | Override with a specific color for individual entities |
Thickness¶
Define line weight in millimeters. Use thicker lines for:
- Outlines and visible edges — typically 0.5mm–0.7mm
- Hidden lines — typically 0.25mm–0.35mm
- Construction / center lines — typically 0.18mm–0.25mm
Engineering drawing standards
Follow IS/ISO/ANSI standards for line thickness to ensure your drawings meet industry conventions.
Stroke (Line Type)¶
Choose the line pattern for entities.
| Line Type | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Solid | Visible edges, outlines |
| Dashed | Hidden edges |
| Center | Center lines, axes of symmetry |
| Dotted | Construction or reference lines |
| Custom | User-defined dash patterns |
Manage line types in Line Style.
Text Style¶
Configure the appearance of text entities:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Font | Font family for the text |
| Height | Character height in drawing units |
| Width factor | Horizontal scaling of characters |
| Alignment | Left, center, right, or justified |
Manage presets in Text Style.
Dimension Style¶
Control how dimensions are displayed:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Units | Decimal, fractional, architectural, etc. |
| Precision | Number of decimal places |
| Arrow style | Closed, open, tick, dot, etc. |
| Text position | Above, centered, or beside the dimension line |
Apply mechanical or architectural conventions. Manage presets in Dimension Style.
Hatch Style¶
Define fill patterns for closed boundaries:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Pattern | Standard patterns (lines, cross-hatch, brick, etc.) or solid fill |
| Scale | Pattern density — smaller values create finer patterns |
| Angle | Rotation of the hatch pattern |
Used for section views, material indication, and area fills. Manage presets in Hatch Style.
Section views
Use 45° cross-hatching at appropriate scale for section views in engineering drawings — this is the industry standard for indicating cut material.