How to Create 2D Objects: AutoCAD Foundations

[The AutoCAD Blog]

2D objects are fundamental to creating designs in AutoCAD and include many forms such as lines, arcs, circles, rectangles, and polygons.

For our AutoCAD Foundations blog series, we’re sharing four quick exercises to help get you started learning the basics of 2D objects. For the full tutorial on how to create 2D objects, you can check out the AutoCAD Foundations article.

2D Objects Exercise #1: Create a Line in AutoCAD

Let’s start at the very beginning. A line is the most common 2D object in a drawing.

Draw a Line

In this exercise, you’ll try out multiple ways to start the LINE command and draw a line.

From the ribbon, click Home tab > Draw panel > Line.

Or enter LINE at the Command prompt and press Enter.

When prompted for the first point, you can type in a coordinate or click in the drawing area where you’d like to begin the line. Once you specify your first point, the Command prompt will ask where you’d like to end the line. Here, you can type in a coordinate or click in the drawing area.

The LINE command continues to prompt you for additional points. Press Enter or the Spacebar to end the command.

2D Objects Exercise #2: How to Create a Polyline in AutoCAD

Now that you have the line down, let’s move on to a polyline. A polyline is a connected series of line or arc segments that is created as a single object. They are useful for irregular shapes; borders; contour lines; roads and rivers in maps; and more.

Polylines can be open or closed and have different starting and ending widths for each segment.

Draw a Basic Polyline

In this exercise, you’ll draw a polyline.

From the ribbon, click Home tab > Draw panel > Polyline.

Or enter PLINE at the Command prompt and press Enter.

After you specify the first point of the polyline, you can use the Width option to specify the width of all subsequent segments. You can change the width value at any time, even as you create new segments. Continue specifying additional points to define the polyline. Press Enter or the Spacebar to end the command.

2D Objects Exercise #3: How to Create a Rectangle in AutoCAD

Now, let’s move on to see how to draw closed objects such as rectangles and polygons.

Draw a Rectangle

In this exercise, you’ll draw a rectangle.

1. Do one of the following:

• From the ribbon, click Home Tab > Draw Panel > Rectangle/Polygon drop-down menu > Rectangle
• Or enter RECTANG at the Command prompt and press Enter

2. Specify the first and then second corner of the rectangle

2D Objects Exercise #4: How to Draw a Polygon in AutoCAD

Once you’ve mastered the rectangle, you can move on to a polygon.

Draw a Polygon

In this exercise, you’ll create a polygon.

1. Do one of the following:

• From the ribbon, click Home tab > Draw panel > Rectangle/Polygon drop-down menu > Polygon

• Or, enter POLYGON at the Command prompt and press Enter

2. Enter the number of sides for the polygon.

3. Specify the center of the polygon.

4. Enter c to specify a polygon circumscribed about a circle.

5. Specify the radius of the circle, either by moving the cursor and clicking in the drawing area or by entering a distance.

Learn More: How to Create 2D Objects

Ready to move on to arcs, circles, polyline arcs, donuts, ellipses, and splines? Be sure to check out the entire AutoCAD Foundations article for even more in-depth tutorials on creating these 2D objects. And stay tuned for our entire series here on the blog (or catch up on past articles!) as we highlight even more great tips for getting started with AutoCAD.

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