Pen Sets

[Emoke Csikos]

 NOTE: the available Pen Sets and their parameters can be different in every language version. In this case, this PEN SET theory doesn't apply to the U.S. version The Pens and Colors Settings Dialog is available in Options > Element Attributes > Pens & Colors.

The Pen Table is a system which allows the user to switch among various Pen Sets, in order to produce different representations - in terms of Pen weights and colors - of a single model view. These differences are:

• Different scale

• Distinction of functions within a drawing (furnishing, HVAC, structural Pens)

• Color printing (conceptual plans, signs in consultant’s plans)

• Monochrome printing (simulating lineweight with saturation)

• Distinction of elements’ on-screen appearance (On-screen lineweight and color preferences differ from those of the published output in almost all cases)The convertible Pen set system enables the user to achieve all of the above representation purposes without having to re-configure model elements.

The default settings assign a Pen index number to individual elements; each Pen index number has a distinct function definition. Switching Pen sets means that the index number assigned to each element remains the same, but – depending on the Pen Set –different color / weight / description values are assigned, to achieve a functionally consistent output.

How are the Pens grouped in the Pen Table

Regardless of whether factory settings or customized Pen Sets are used, well-defined pen functions and their consistent application to the project make it easy to create different displays by switching Pen Sets, without having to reconfigure the elements.

The first eight Pen sets (01 - 08) have 255 Pens which are arranged in 20 columns and 14 rows. The first 180 Pens have defined values in all default Pen sets, while Pens 180-255 are kept for further user functions. The last three Pen sets (09 - 11) have 255 Pens with pre-defined values.

Built-in Pen Sets

The following Pen Sets are shipped with the template:

01 Color Conceptual

Recommended for presentations and colored plotting. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,13 –0,18 –0,20–0,25 –0,35) are calibrated to 1:100 scale. Colors are set mostly monochrome grayscale, but in case of certain elements (zones, terrain, cabinets, furniture) they imitate realistic display.

02 Site 500

Pen set recommended for site plans. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,13–0,20) are calibrated to 1:500 scale. Pens assigned to industrial specialist functions are grayed to enable visual separation in case of visible layers.

03 Architectural 100 (default)

General architectural Pen set for approval plans and design. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,13 –0,18 –0,20–0,25 –0,35) are calibrated to 1:100 display scale. Colors are set to ease visual separation on the screen.

04 Building plans 50

Pen set optimized for construction plans. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,15 –0,18 –0,20–0,35 –0,5) are calibrated to 1:50 display scale. Colors are set to ease visual separation on the screen.

05 Detailing

Pen set recommended for construction plan detail drawings. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,15 –0,18 –0,20–0,4 –0,6) are calibrated to 1:20 display scale. Colors are set to ease visual separation on the screen, and Pens assigned to industrial specialist functions are grayed out.

06 Structural plans

Pen set recommended for structural plans and approval plans for structural engineers. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,13 –0,18 –0,20–0,25 –0,35) are calibrated to 1:100 display scale. Colors are set to ease visual separation on the screen and enable visual separation in case of visible layers.

07 Mechanical

Pen set recommended for approval plans for mechanical engineers. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,13 –0,18 –0,20–0,25 –0,35) are calibrated to 1:100 display scale. Structural element colors are black, mechanical element color codes are visually separated on the screen and in printing/plotting as well.

08 Electrical

Pen set recommended for approval plans for electrical engineers. Applied Pen weights ( 0–0,13 –0,18 –0,20–0,25 –0,35) are calibrated to 1:100 display scale. Structural element colors are black, mechanical element color codes are visually separated on the screen and in printing/plotting as well.

09 Color

Pen set recommended for coloring plans independently to scale and line weights. Pen colors are set to include all needed tones in the Pen table.

10 Grayscale

Pen set recommended for grayscale-colored plans independently of scale and line weights. Pen colors are set to include all needed tones in the Pen table.

11 Archicad 9

The old Pen table.

Columns in the Pen Table

To make it easy to distinguish among Pens and their functions, the Pen table’s columns are divided by color group; each group is assigned a general element function; and within each group, each Pen is assigned a more specific function.

For example, the third column of the „Architectural” Pen Set is the „Openings” group, consisting of 6 Pens, each a different shade of orange, and each assigned a specific function such as „Openings: Cut-Structural” or „Openings: Uncut-Overhead.” Generally each function corresponds to an Archicad Tool, whose default settings are configured to use these assigned Pens. However, some columns are dedicated to functions that cannot be assigned to a certain tool or element type.

Pen table Column Functions from 01-20:

01 General

Elements that cannot be categorized by function, or whose function cannot be determined when configured (e.g. complex profiles or composites that can be used for multiple element types)

02 2D elements

Lines, polylines, splines, etc...

03 Openings

Doors, windows, skylights

04 Furnishing and objects

Furnishings, and every element placed as an object

05 Graphic annotations

Graphics of Dimension lines, labels, titles, frames, zone stamps, S/E markers, detail markers

06 Text annotations

Text elements of the above

07 Walls

Elements with wall functions placed by the Wall tool or any other tool

08 Columns

Elements with column functions placed by the Column tool or any other tool

09 Slabs

Elements with slab functions placed by the Slab tool or any other tool

10 Beams

Elements with beam functions placed by the Beam tool or any other tool

11 Stairs and Railings

Elements with stair functions placed by the Stair tool or any other tool

12 Roofs and Shells

Elements with roof functions placed by the Roof tool or any other tool

13 Morphs and Meshes

Elements with mesh or terrain functions placed by the Mesh tool or any other tool

14 Zones

Zones

15 Mechanical

Structures, symbols and annotations displayed on architectural plans prepared for HVAC consultants

16 Structural

Structures, symbols and annotations displayed on architectural and structural plans prepared for structural engineer consultants

17 Electrical

Structures, objects, symbols and annotations displayed on architectural and electrical plans prepared for electrical engineer consultants

18 Fills

Fills or patterns that cannot be categorized by element type

19 Backgrounds

Backgrounds of fills or patterns that can not be categorized by element type

20 Graphic symbols and screen only colors

Hotspots, markup colors, selection highlight, and guidelines

Rows in the Pen Table

While the Pen’s column determines the element’s function (e.g. Pens in Column 3 are applied to elements that function as an „Opening”), the Pen’s row determines its attribute (e.g. Pens in Row 6 are used for „Symbol and Separator” elements). Pens that generally have thicker lineweight are set to brighter (higher saturated) colors.

In any given column, Pens are listed in descending order of their saturation value and line weight. The first row is an exception: each Pen is assigned the most frequently used lineweight using an easily distinguishable color. To remain compatible with patterns of use from older ARCHICAD versions (up to ARCHICAD 9), the first row’s Pen weights and colors are set to allow full functionality even if using only the first 7 Pens.

Index numbers from 1 to 180:

01 - 20

General Pens, library part Pens

21 - 40

Structural elements cut lines, and 25 markers; 26 text titles; 35 hot water; 37 power grid; 38- additional colors, graphic symbols

41 - 60

Non-structural elements cut lines, and 45 arrowheads; 46 bold text; 55 cold water; 57 switchboards; 58– additional colors, graphic symbols

61 - 80

Symbols and separator lines, and 65 frames; 66 text body; 75 plumbing; 76 structural plan annotations; 77 lighting; 78– additional colors, graphic symbols

81 - 100

Uncut lines, contour lines, construction lines, cover fills, and 85 dimension lines; 86 annotation texts; 96 structural outlines; 97 IT networks; 98 fill color, graphic symbols

101 - 120

Cut fills, and 105 secondary annotations; 106 annotation text: proof; 115 mechanical equipment; 117 electrical equipment; 118 fill color, graphic symbols

121 - 140

Background colors

141 - 160

Colors for cut lines

161 - 180

Colors for cut fills and finishes

The default Pen settings for Archicad construction elements and library parts are configured to use the relevant Pens according to the logic presented here. However, please note that the Pen sorting method summarized here is only a suggestion, and the user can reconfigure the Pen table based on a different preferred logic or office standards.

The „Description” field of the Pen table contains descriptive information about the Pen usage, which is fully editable by the user. This description, in turn, is visible in the Settings dialogs where the user assigns Pens to elements, making it easier to select the right Pen.

Since the Pens are arranged within the Pen set according to function/thickness, the user can easily navigate within the Pen table and select the Pen or Pen set corresponding to his/her current needs.

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How ARCHICAD Stores Color Values of Pens

When one wants to set and store colors in Pen sets by using CMYK values then at a next checking of the Pens these values sometimes look as if they changed in comparison to the entered values. The cause of this is: ARCHICAD (and almost all other programs) converts the CMYK to RGB before storing it. If you edit a CMYK color, this will be translated automatically to RGB, and the next time you open it, it will be reconverted from RGB to CYMK. That is caused by the different concept of the color spaces defined by the two color models. This only means that for the same RGB values there are more valid CMYK values.

[bimdo]

Thank you for this great explanation. In one of our projects we will need an individual pen-set, is there a list of pen-numbers, which we shouldn't change?

In the swiss version I knwo the numbers 1, 19, 91, 255 and I saw in the international version the numbers 3 & 4... Am I'm write or are there more pen's with a function in Archicad (we ignore graphical overrides and renovation-tool, mvd)?