Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Editing black texts in Layout Book

Electric Flute
Booster
How do you guys edit black color texts in layouts?

I just can't see my texts when editing them because of the also AC black editing box... I can't find a way to change the black color of the box to white or something else.
Thanks,

WinXP AC10

AC26 > AC5 - Win10
23 REPLIES 23
Dwight
Newcomer
In my world, the background of the text entry box is the same as the drawing background. Do you use a black background?
Dwight Atkinson
Electric Flute
Booster
Yes you are right, I use black background like AutoCAD.
It should be an option to also change just the layoutbook background.

Is just me using black background in AC? If anyone is also using, what do you deal with this?
AC26 > AC5 - Win10
Stress Co_
Advisor
Dedicate a pen (for text) in a contrasting color to view and edit in your "modeling pen set".

Set that pen's color in to black in your "publishing pen set". ... so you can see it when you print.
Marc Corney, Architect
Red Canoe Architecture, P. A.

Mac OS 10.15.7 (Catalina) //// Mac OS 14.5 (Sonoma)
Processor: 3.6 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 //// Apple M2 Max
Memory: 48 GB 2667 MHz DDR4 //// 32 GB
Graphics: Radeon Pro 580X 8GB //// 12C CPU, 30C GPU
ArchiCAD 25 (5010 USA Full) //// ArchiCAD 27 (4030 USA Full)
Da3dalus
Enthusiast
I agree this is a problem. I typically change my text color temporarily to edit it, then switch it back to black. For this reason, among others, you want to make sure your plotting set has some colors in it, even if you typically don't use color plotting.

Yes, me and everyone in my office have developed the bad habit of modelling in a black background. I know we should switch, and you're welcome to come try to tell my office that. They're likely to become a violent mob.

You can't just use a different pen set (conveniently). It's your layout that's being edited, so you should have it set on your plotting set, in which the text is black.

Good luck!
Chuck Kottka
Orcutt Winslow
Phoenix, Arizona, USA

ArchiCAD 25 (since 4.5)
Macbook Pro 15" Touchbar OSX 10.15 Core i7 2.9GHz/16GB RAM/Radeon Pro560 4GB
Djordje
Virtuoso
Although using black as a background for the modleing is wrong and painful, that can be understood - you don't dispute the taste. But, for the layout, even the BlackBackgroundCAD does have the white background ...

"It is like that" is not a good reason ...
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Electric Flute
Booster
Djordje wrote:
Although using black as a background for the modleing is wrong and painful, that can be understood - you don't dispute the taste.
Why it is "wrong and painful"?
Sorry, but if it isn't the best for you, it doesn't mean it is wrong and painful. Alias I changed to black BG to be less "painful" to my eyes.
But, for the layout, even the BlackBackgroundCAD does have the white background ...
Sorry, I don't get you here. Could you please elaborate it?
AC26 > AC5 - Win10
Anonymous
Not applicable
Electric wrote:
Djordje wrote:
Although using black as a background for the modleing is wrong and painful, that can be understood - you don't dispute the taste.
Why it is "wrong and painful"?
Sorry, but if it isn't the best for you, it doesn't mean it is wrong and painful. Alias I changed to black BG to be less "painful" to my eyes.
Everyone I know who has tried it both ways prefers the white (or off-white) background, but I have also known a few who don't want to change from black and that's fine too. There are definite disadvantages though.
But, for the layout, even the BlackBackgroundCAD does have the white background ...
Sorry, I don't get you here. Could you please elaborate it?
I believe Djordje means that AutoCAD typically has a white background in paperspace.

I thought there was a separate setting for the layout background color, but since I never use black I haven't had occasion to test it.
Djordje
Virtuoso
Electric wrote:
Why it is "wrong and painful"?
The black background is from the times when computers could not run more than 4 or 8 colours. The pen weight by colour is a relict from the same times - just mix in a real pen plotter.

If your eyes hurt on white background, check your monitor settings, your lighting, and your eyes - because everyone that I have seen using Archicad withthe black background did so for one reason only: habit. Ergonomically, the black background is the worst you can do for your eyes.

The default Archicad colours and the set-up are wysiwyg. Which the black background is not, except if you always do coloured pens on a black sheet?

Yes, Matthew, I did think that even AutoCAD has white background in the paper space ... with the yellows visible almost as the default ghost storey colour in Archicad 😉

But, if it works for you ... hey, who am I to complain? Just don't squeal if something does not work out of the box in the circumstances exactly opposite to the presumed default ones ... it is not the problem of the software, it is you who insists on something, so it is up to you to make it work.
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Electric Flute
Booster
Sorry Djordje but I didn't "squeal".
It was just a wish. A polite wish.
AC26 > AC5 - Win10