Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By : Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By: Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry

Overview of this book

AutoCAD is one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on 2nd edition guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, from a simple tour of the user interface to using advanced tools. Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You’ll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups, and discover how to add annotations and plots like a professional. As you progress, the book will show you how to convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. You’ll also discover advanced features, such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs. Finally, you’ll focus on rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD. By the end of this book, you’ll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D creations.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction and 2D Drafting
6
Part 2: Customization, Collaboration, and Using Reusable Content
12
Part 3: 3D Modeling

Summary

In this chapter, the preparation of a scene and producing rendered output images were discussed in detail. The scene preparation discussion started with the addition and modification of the settings of light sources. The different light sources available in AutoCAD were covered in detail, with the key differences between them shown, followed by the different settings for displaying shadows.

After that, materials were discussed. The discussion included the application of materials on the model bodies, the creation of new materials, and different related settings, such as material mapping.

The final step in setting the scene is to create the view cameras. The creation of cameras and different related settings were discussed in detail, followed finally by the actual rendering process.

After finishing this chapter, you can now make custom materials, set the lights and the scene, and render your 3D drawings with great results. This chapter also helped you bring to life...