Tips & Tricks: Cloud Command

One of the requests for enhancement often mentioned by users, is the ability to create a “revision cloud”, i.e. create a cloud shape geometry in order to signal/mark a specific area of a drawing, or a particular group of entities, for later revision or as revised/edited by the user.

Perhaps has gone unnoticed, but this feature is available in DraftSight as the Cloud command.

The Cloud command enables you to create rectangular, elliptical and freehand Clouds to accentuate drawing areas. You can also adjust the radius of the sequential arcs of Clouds, or use the Properties palette to modify the Cloud sequential arc segment radius, Layer, LineColor, LineStyle, LineWeight, position, and scale.

To construct rectangular Clouds:

1. Click Draw > Cloud (or type Cloud).

2. Specify the Rectangle option.

3. In the graphics area, specify the start corner of the rectangular shape.

4. Specify the opposite corner of the rectangular shape.

To construct elliptical Clouds:

1. Click Draw > Cloud (or type Cloud).

2. Specify the Elliptical option.

3. In the graphics area, specify the start point of the first axis of the elliptical shape.

4. Specify the end point of the first axis of the elliptical shape.

5. Specify the end point of the other axis.

To construct freehand Clouds:

1. Click Draw > Cloud (or type Cloud).

2. Specify the Freehand option.

3. In the graphics area, specify the start point of the freehand shape.

4. Specify the next point of the freehand shape.

   - or -

Press Enter to go back to restart with specifying a new start point.

   5. Continue to specify additional vertices of the freehand shape or specify an option:

Undo: Undoes a previous segment.

Close: Closes the contour and ends the command.

   6. Press Enter. (The contours close automatically)

To set the radius for Cloud creation:

1. Click Draw > Cloud (or type Cloud).

2. Specify the Radius option.

3. Specify the radius for the Cloud's sequential arc segments.

4. Press Enter.

To set preferences for Cloud creation:

1. Click Draw > Cloud (or type Cloud).

2. Specify the Settings option.

3. In the dialog box, set preferences:

   • Shape options: Sets the shape type: Rectangular , Elliptical , or Freehand .
   • Radius: Sets the radius for sequential arc segments of Clouds.
   • Layer: Sets the Layer on which you place Clouds.
   • LineColor: Sets the Cloud LineColor.
   • LineStyle: Sets the Cloud LineStyle.
   • LineWeight: Sets the Cloud LineWeight.
    

Access

Command Line: Cloud

Menu: Draw > Cloud