Rachid khouriGeometry
Learn to draw basic shapes like lines, circles, and filled areas in AutoCAD.
AutoCAD can create many kinds of shapes, but for most 2D work, you only need to know a few key ones.
Tip: If your screen feels too crowded while drawing, press F12 to turn off the moving hints (dynamic input).
Lines
Lines are the most basic and commonly used elements in AutoCAD.
- To draw a line, click the Line tool,
- Or, Type LINE or just L in the command line, then press Enter or Spacebar
AutoCAD will ask you to pick a starting point.
For example, type 0,0 to begin at the origin (the bottom-left corner of your drawing area). Then click or type the next points to continue drawing the line.
The LINE command keeps going, letting you add more points. Press Enter or Spacebar when you’re done.
Grid Display
Some people like having a grid as a reference, while others prefer a blank screen.
- Press F7 to turn the grid on or off.
- Press F9 to make your mouse snap to grid points, even if the grid isn’t visible.
Using Lines as Guides
Lines aren’t just for drawing shapes. You can use them as construction guides, such as:
- Property boundary lines
- Center lines for symmetry
- Clearance zones for parts
- Paths or directions
Circles
By default, AutoCAD draws circles by picking a center point and a radius.
- Click the Circle tool,
- or, Type CIRCLE or just C, then press Enter
You can then either click on the screen or choose a different method from the options shown.
Circles can be great reference tools. For example, you can check if two doors might bump into each other by drawing circular paths for them.
Polylines and Rectangles
A polyline is a set of lines or arcs joined together into one object. Use the PLINE command to create them.
Polylines are useful for:
- Shapes with fixed line widths
- Long paths where you want to know the total length
- Contour maps or elevation lines
- Wiring diagrams
- Pipes and flowcharts
Polylines can have one constant width or different start and end widths.
While creating them, you can use the Width option to control how thick the line is.
For example, printed circuit boards use wide polylines for the electric paths (traces). The DONUT command helps create the small round pads.
To draw a quick rectangle, use the RECTANG command (or just type REC).
Click two opposite corners to create it.
If you want more precision, turn on Grid Snap by pressing F9.
User Coordinate System (Optional)
The UCS icon shows you the direction of the X and Y axes in your drawing.
You can move the UCS to change where your coordinates start from or how your shapes align. For example, reorienting the UCS lets you draw a rectangle that lines up with a new angle.
To reset it back to normal, type UCS, press Enter, then choose (the default World option) .
Hatches and Fills
A hatch fills an enclosed area with a pattern, solid color, or gradient.
When you start the HATCH command, the ribbon changes to give you hatch options.
Just pick a pattern and scale, then click inside any closed area. AutoCAD fills it with your chosen style.
You can:
- Adjust the pattern’s size with the scale
- Move or delete the boundary lines, and the hatch updates automatically
- Use solid fill or gradient fill, and even add transparency for layered effects
Tip: Use the Set Origin option if you need to align the pattern precisely.
Managing Overlapping Elements with Draw Order
When elements overlap (like fills, wide polylines, and text), use the DRAWORDER command to control what appears on top.
For example, you might want a yellow highway to appear over a blue river, not the other way around.
To change the draw order:
- Go to the Modify panel on the ribbon
- Click the down arrow to see draw order options
- Choose what you want to move forward or backward in the stack