One of the very useful things that AutoCAD utilizes is the layers system. Layers allow you to categorize parts of the drawing, so that you can add or remove them all at once. This lets you see your plans with or without dimensions, notes, or even parts of the product.

Layers are also useful because each layer can have different attributes, allowing you to draw lines without editing each line afterward. For instance, if you want your dimensions to have a thinner line then the rest of your drawing, you can set that in layers, as well as the line type itself.

To set up your layers, go to the layers toolbar (if you don’t have it, right-clicko n any toolbar and click layers). The layers toolbar has several icons with a depiction of three layers on top of each other, and a drop down menu allowing you to edit the separate layers.

Click on the “Layer Properties Manager” at the far left of the Layers toolbar. This will open a tool window that you can drag to the side, if you want it permanently, or close after you are done. By default, AutoCAD usually starts you out with one or two layers. Yo make your drawing meaningful, it is usual to have many more.

To create a new layer, click on the “New Layer” button, which is a blue layer image with a gold start next to it, just above the list of current layers. Type in the name (the text is already selected for you), and hit enter to establish a new layer. 

To set the layer attributes, click on any of the icons to the right of your new layer’s name in the list of layers. The icons change the layer properties as follows:

On/Off: This determines if you can see the layer while you draw.

Freeze/Thaw: Freezing essentially does the same as the On/Off option, although when you Freeze a layer, the zoom function doesn’t take that layer into consideration anymore, making zooming easier and faster if the layer was large.

Lock: If you lock a layer, you cannot change that layer while editing, thereby reducing the chance that you might delete or modify part of that layer by mistake.

Color: Determines the color of every line in the layer. You can pick from a full gradient-style color chooser, so you’ll have plenty of options.

Linetype: The Linetype option lets you set a layer to have dotted, dashed or ghosted lines. To do this, click on the linetype. A window will pop up with a few types, but there are more. Go to the “Load” button, and another window will open, allowing you to choose from a large array of option. Once you’ve loaded a line, it is available in the first window for the rest of the layers as well.

Lineweight: This will let you choose the thickness of the line, from 0 to 2.11mm.

The first three options are also available in the layers toolbar. The last three, as they are usually set and forgot, are only available in the Layers Property Manager.

To create a good drawing, you’ll need to have a layer for notes, dimensions, the part, and one for section lines as well. Now that you know how to create layers, you can use them for all your plans, and you’ll be much better off for it!