A four-color, task-based guide to AutoCAD This Autodesk Official Training Guide thoroughly covers the fundamentals of AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013 and teaches you everything you need to become quickly productive with the software. Learn to draw in 2D, shape complex curves, manage objects with layers, organize with blocks and groups, add dimensions and annotation, work with layouts, model in 3D, create realistic renderings, and more. Whether you're an aspiring CAD/CAM professional, preparing for certification, or updating your skills, this is the fast, thorough grounding you need in AutoCAD. * The perfect guide for AutoCAD beginners, this Autodesk Official Training Guide uses approachable real-world exercises to explain AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT * Takes a workflow-based approach and presents AutoCAD tasks, tools, and core functionality in the context of designing a house * Features hands-on tutorials illustrated with full-color screenshots * Covers basic 2D drawing skills, editing entities, working with splines and polylines, using layers and objects, organizing objects with groups and blocks, and using hatch patterns and gradients * Examines working with blocks and cross-references, creating and editing text, dimensioning, using constraints and layouts, printing, editing and importing data, modeling in 3D, and presenting the design AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Essentials helps AutoCAD newcomers understand the software and gain confidence in their skills.

Scott Onstott is a consultant, lecturer, author, and independent video producer who has 14 years of experience teaching and writing about architectural and design visualization software. He is the author of Enhancing Architectural Drawings and Models with Photoshop as well as AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 Essentials, and coauthor of AutoCAD: Professional Tips and Techniques.

Learn AutoCAD Quickly and Easily

This Autodesk Official Training Guide thoroughly covers the fundamentals of AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013 and teaches you everything you need to become quickly productive with the software. Learn to draw in 2D, shape complex curves, manage objects with layers, organize with blocks and groups, add dimensions and annotation, work with layouts, model in 3D, create realistic renderings, and more. Whether you're an aspiring CAD/CAM professional, preparing for certification, or updating your skills, this is the fast, thorough grounding you need in AutoCAD.

Learn these AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT essentialsand more:

• Drawing lines, circles, arcsand other 2D drawing basics

• Editing entities and shaping curves

• Making hatches transparent and adding gradient fills

• Organizing objects with blocks, groups, and Xrefs

• Understanding and creating dimension styles

• Adding geometric constraints and editing constrained objects

• Modeling in 3D and navigating 3D models

• Creating photorealistic renderings and animated walkthroughs

Learn how to draw and manipulate objects, blocks, and arrays

Create beautiful photorealistic renderings of 3D models

This striking Essentials book features:

• Chapter-opening learning objectives

• Step-by-step tutorials

• Four-color screenshots and illustrations

• Concise chapter summaries and suggested practice exercises

• Downloadable exercise files

A four-color, task-based guide to AutoCAD

This Autodesk Official Training Guide thoroughly covers the fundamentals of AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013 and teaches you everything you need to become quickly productive with the software. Learn to draw in 2D, shape complex curves, manage objects with layers, organize with blocks and groups, add dimensions and annotation, work with layouts, model in 3D, create realistic renderings, and more. Whether you're an aspiring CAD/CAM professional, preparing for certification, or updating your skills, this is the fast, thorough grounding you need in AutoCAD.

• The perfect guide for AutoCAD beginners, this Autodesk Official Training Guide uses approachable real-world exercises to explain AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
• Takes a workflow-based approach and presents AutoCAD tasks, tools, and core functionality in the context of designing a house
• Features hands-on tutorials illustrated with full-color screenshots
• Covers basic 2D drawing skills, editing entities, working with splines and polylines, using layers and objects, organizing objects with groups and blocks, and using hatch patterns and gradients
• Examines working with blocks and cross-references, creating and editing text, dimensioning, using constraints and layouts, printing, editing and importing data, modeling in 3D, and presenting the design

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Essentials helps AutoCAD newcomers understand the software and gain confidence in their skills.

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Getting Started 1

Chapter 2 Basic Drawing Skills 15

Chapter 3 Using Drawing Aids 39

Chapter 4 Editing Entities 53

Chapter 5 Shaping Curves 79

Chapter 6 Controlling Object Visibility and Appearance 97

Chapter 7 Organizing Objects 121

Chapter 8 Hatching and Gradients 145

Chapter 9 Working with Blocks and Xrefs 163

Chapter 10 Creating and Editing Text 183

Chapter 11 Dimensioning 197

Chapter 12 Keeping In Control with Constraints 217

Chapter 13 Working with Layouts and Annotative Objects 231

Chapter 14 Printing and Plot ting 253

Chapter 15 Storing, Presenting, and Extracting Data 277

Chapter 16 Navigating 3D Models 299

Chapter 17 Modeling in 3D 317

Chapter 18 Presenting and Documenting 3D Design 345

Appendix Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Cer tif ication 369

Index 375