The materials for a drawing can be changed using the Apply Materials interface. To access the interface, click on the Visual Style menu icon the tool strip, and then click on the Change Materials icon.
The Apply Materials interface allows you to assign materials by AutoCAD layers.
- Main Category – Allows you to select from a list the type of materials to display.
- Sub Category – Allows you to select a material from a sub-list based on the selection from the Main Category.
- Apply Material to Layer – Allows you to assign the selected material to the selected layer(s).
- Create New Layer – Allows you to create a new AutoCAD Layer (this does not allow you to create a new render material).
- Delete Selected Layer – Allows you to delete an AutoCAD Layer.
- Edit Selected Layer – Allows you to edit specific properties of the selected layer.
- Load Preset – Allows you to select a saved set of materials from the list.
- Create Preset from Current Setup – Allows you to save the current setup of materials as a preset that can be selected from the Load Preset list.
- Delete Current Preset – Allows you to delete the currently selected preset.
- Room Components Layers – Displays the layers and render materials that are being used for the room components.
- Product Layers – Displays the layers and render materials that are being used for the products.
- Layer List – The layer list can be organized by clicking on the column headers. Groups can also be created by dragging the column headers into the dark gray space above the list. Organizing the list will help make changing materials a quicker process.
To change materials of the layer(s), first, select the layer from the list (Room Component Layers or Product Layers). Next, select the main category and subcategory to locate the material to be applied. Once the material has been selected, click the Apply Material to Layer icon.
By default, the checkbox “Purge Unused Materials” is checked. With this box checked, any unused materials will be removed from the drawing – this will help keep the size of the drawing down.
Once all materials have been applied to layers, click “Close” to return to the drawing. With the Realistic visual style still active, the change in materials will be displayed.