topic Re: Fill global scale? in Modeling

Fill global scale?

proto — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:32:36 GMT

Fill global scale? [Why 3'-3 3/8"???]

[context: I'm in US using imperial dimensions]

Is there a global setting that establishes the base size of any given fill?

When I use the Fill tool, I find I need to constantly select the Custom Distortion option in order to scale a variety of fill patterns.

And, when I first click on the fill to start that adjustment process, the dimension of both x & y are set to 3'-3 3/8", which is an exceptionally weird number. I guess it's anchored to 1 meter, despite the US units of the template.

Can this starting scale for the fill be modified? Where do I find that setting?

[Or, are we limited to modifying Fills by their individual scales in the Fills dialog?]

Thanks!

Re: Fill global scale?

cuba — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:57:44 GMT

Under options/element attributes/fills you'll find the fill settings

You can set the starting scale = pattern unit size

You can also use a fixed or scalable fill by the setting 'scale with plan' or 'scale independent' (model size or paper size)

Re: Fill global scale?

proto — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 20:33:17 GMT

cuba, would you mind showing a screenshot of a fill immediately after selecting the Custom Distortion option with the dimensional default showing?

like this:

This is what I see as the default "size" of any Fill when I select the Custom Distortion option.

My irritations are twofold:

1) it's a very large dimension for zooming out of a small detail drawing to access the click points

2) it's just a weird number that isn't useful in any way. A "whole number" like 1'-0" could be used as an easy base to scale to different sizes more intuitively.

If I can change this initial size, I'd be exceptionally excited to do so.

Thanks for your reply!

Re: Fill global scale?

cuba — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 16:31:29 GMT

3'-3 3/8" = 1 meter

I think your base template, including the fills, was originally set up using the metric system. This depends on which template you use (as provided by your distributor). Graphisoft works with local distributors in each country, who usually supply a template that best matches local standards. You can also create your own template or look for an alternative one.

Preference set to meter (object/project preferences/working units)

Preference set to feet

You can set the 'base' value to 3" or whatever you want. It is the size of the yellow square in the fill settings. (Options/Attribute elements/Fills)

Hopefully this was helpful. I wish you a pleasant Christmas. 🎄

Re: Fill global scale?

proto — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 20:18:15 GMT

I will check that out, thank you, cuba

Re: Fill global scale?

proto — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:04:47 GMT

I cannot reproduce that.

When I use the Graphisoft USA default template and create a parallel line fill, even one that is defined by a real world size (4" horizontal, for instance). Then I click on the Custom Distortion. That pair of xy points start at 3'-3 3/8".

yellow box at 4"Distortion starts at 1 meter

Re: Fill global scale?

proto — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:11:01 GMT

I change that scale to 1" and the Fill changes but the distortion scale is still 1 meter

Does every fill have to be redefined from scratch? Or because Archicad is metric at its heart, this is never going to change?

Re: Fill global scale?

Barry Kelly — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 02:33:55 GMT

You define the fill to be what ever size you want it to be and then set it to scale with plan or be scale independent - depends if you want it to scale with your plans or always be the same size no matter the scale.

Those handles will always be 1 meter long (or the imperial equivalent).

Stretch one to twice the length and the size of that scale will increase to twice what the original was.

I am not sure how it works with the imperial size ... 3'-3 3/8" ... as I work in metric system.

Seems awkward o me that you would have to type 6'-6 6/8" in the tracker to make it twice as big.

I think it is more just a visual distortion rather than an accurate scaling (although you can scale it accurately with those handles).

I would create a fill for each size you want and not scale them.

Barry.

Re: Fill global scale?

cuba — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:30:30 GMT

You can also type in '2*' to make ie twice as big. I rarely use the handles...

Re: Fill global scale?

proto — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 21:46:40 GMT

cuba, I didn’t know that key command, that’s helpful, thanks!

barry, thank you for confirming, even if it’s not my preferred result. [yes, it’s dumb, but hey, that’s imperial, right? 🙂 I have been just using the nearest whole numbers and factoring from there]

we’ll make adjustments to our template fills to minimize this irritating baked in feature

thank you both!