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Tutorials

CADTutor tutorials are all original and specifically designed to get you working with AutoCAD and other applications as knowledgeably as possible. We don't believe in providing only quick step-by-step tutorials like other sites. Our tutorials are comprehensive and aim to give you a deeper understanding and a better learning experience. See the AutoCAD tutorials page for more information.

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Tutorials of the Moment

The most recently viewed tutorials

Cameras

Cameras | 3ds MaxCameras are the main viewing tools in 3D visualisation. This tutorial demonstartes how to create and control cameras.

 

Multi/Sub-Object materials

Multi/Sub-Object materials | 3ds MaxA Multi/Sub-Object material is a container for a number of sub-materials. This type of material is used when you need to assign different materials to different parts of an object and is used in infrastructure and environment projects mainly for objects such as benches, tables, lamposts, buildings etc. This tutorial works through a number of examples.

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Object Snap

Object Snap | AutoCADA tutorial giving an overview of all the AutoCAD object snaps (osnaps) with some worked examples. The tutorial also covers the use of temporary tracking points and object snap tracking.

 

Animating Materials: Water

Animating Materials: Water | BryceJust about everything in the Brycean world can be animated, including materials. This tutorial shows you how to simulate ripples on the surface of a standard Bryce water material by modifying the offset and rotation of the texture component of the material.

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Featured Tutorials

Tutorials we think you'll like

AutoCAD 2010: Starting a Command

AutoCAD  2010: Starting a Command | AutoCADThis video tutorial demonstrates some of the methods for starting a command in AutoCAD. Running time: 2min 42sec

 

AutoCAD 2010: Ribbon Basics

AutoCAD 2010: Ribbon Basics | AutoCADThis video tutorial introduces you to the AutoCAD 2010 ribbon and demonstrates the various options you have when working with it. Running time: 5min 49sec

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AutoCAD 2010: The User Interface - Part 1

AutoCAD 2010: The User Interface - Part 1 | AutoCADThis video tutorial takes you on a guided tour of the AutoCAD 2010 user interface. This is the best place to start for beginners. Running time: 3min 56sec

 

AutoCAD 2010: Getting Ready for 3D

AutoCAD 2010: Getting Ready for 3D | AutoCADThis video tutorial describes how to prepare the AutoCAD 2010 user interface (UI) ready for a 3D drawing project. Running time: 2min 23sec

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Tip of the Day

AutoCAD 2007 - Where's my old XREF Manager?

CUI Dialogue BoxA lot of people using AutoCAD 2007 and above don't like the new XREF Manager, so here's a simple way to get the old one back.

AutoCAD 2007 introduced a new way to manage XREFs and to bring up the "old" XREF Manager, you have to type CLASSICXREF at the command line. Well, if you want things back the way they were and use the classic XREF Manager as the default from the keyboard and from the menu, a few adjustments will get you there…

First, go to ToolsCustomizeEdit Program Parameters (acad.pgp). This command opens the ACAD.PGP file in Notepad. This is where all the keyboard shortcuts are defined.

Next, scroll down until you see XR (or use EditFind…), change the value from *XREF to *CLASSICXREF and save (FileSave). Close Notepad and return to AutoCAD. Enter the command REINIT, check the "PGP File" checkbox and click "OK". That fixes the keyboard so that next time you type XR, you'll see the old manager and not the new one.

To change your Menu, type CUI at the command line. In the "Customizations in All CUI Files" pane of the "Custom User Interface" dialogue, go to MenusInsertExternal References… and click on it once to highlight it.

Now, in the "Properties" pane, change the "Macro" setting from ^C^C_externalreferences to ^C^C_classicxref, click "OK" to save the changes and you're done.

Today's tip is by StykFacE

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Featured Tutorial

AutoCAD 2010: Ground Shadows

AutoCAD 2010: Ground Shadows | AutoCAD

This tutorial explains how to turn ground shadows on and how they help in defining the relationship between 3D objects and the ground plane. Running time: 1min 55sec

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