• Pen Sets

This article is about the new Pen Set system introduced in Archicad 10 (International Version).

Note for US version:

The following article does not pertain to the US version, which also introduced a new pen table for Archicad 10. The US pen table is compatible with libraries from Archicad 9 and earlier. Accordingly, the US version of the "ArchiCAD library 10" uses pen defaults consistent with earlier versions and 3rd party libraries. (i.e. pen 91 is still white, door swings are still pen 6, etc.)

I. Functional Requirements

The main requirement for the new pen table was to create a system which allows the user to switch among various pensets, in order to produce different representations - in terms of penweights and colors - of a single model view.

This functionality was available with PlotMaker and used by many customers. Therefore, we are retaining it even after the integration of PlotMaker with Archicad.

Different representations of drawings may require differing penweights and colors for the following reasons:

• Different scale
• For distinguishing functions within a drawing (furnishing, HVAC, structural pens)
• Color printing (conceptual plans, signs in consultant’s plans)
• Monochrome printing (simulating lineweight with saturation)
• For distinguishing 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 penset –different color/weight/description values are assigned, to achieve a functionally consistent output.

II. The Pre-10 Pentable

Due to the high number of new attributes introduced in Archicad 10, and the limitations imposed by former updates and by widespread use patterns, the existing Archicad pen system was not suitable for implementing this function in Archicad 10. Archicad’s former, single pen table dedicated particular segments of the pen table to particular uses. This logic began to fall apart as the program introduced a larger pen table and new elements, attributes and library parts. The original pens retained their original values for compatibility reasons, while the new elements were assigned pens from less frequently used segments of the pen table.

The classic pen table is also problematic because it was based solely on the legacy of earlier versions, which might have been familiar to power users, but the lack of any consistency among saturation values, penweights or color sequence made it difficult to achieve any „mapping” logic.

In revising the pen table to meet the requirements of swappable pensets, we aimed to make it easier to visually identify pens and their functions within the table, using logical sequences and the new pen description field.

III. Functional Matrix within the Penset

255 pens are arranged in 20 columns and 14 rows. The first 140 pens have defined values in all default pensets, while pens 140-256 are kept for further user functions.

Columns 1-20

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” penset 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 speaking, 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 left to right):

001 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)

002 2D elements

• Lines, polylines, splines, etc...

003 Openings

• Doors, windows, skylights

004 Furnishing and objects

• Furnishings, and every element placed as an object

005 Graphic annotations

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

006 Text annotations

• Text elements of the above

007 Walls

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

008 Columns

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

009 Slabs

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

010 Beams

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

011 Stairs

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

012 Roof structures

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

013 Mesh and terrain

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

014 Interior

• Zones, fittings

015 HVAC

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

016 Structural plans

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

017 Electrical

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

018 Graphic Fills

• Fills or patterns that cannot be categorized by element type

019 Graphic Background Colors

• Backgrounds of fills or patterns that cannot be categorized by element type

020 Graphic symbols and screen only colors

• Hotspots, markup colors, selection highlight, and guidelines

Rows 1-7

Generally speaking: while the pen’s column determines the element’s function (e.g. pens in Column 4 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 lines (greater 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, the first row’s pen weights and colors are set to allow full functionality even if using only the first 7 pens.

Index:

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 ducting
  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 gas-mains
  97 IT networks
  98- additional colors, graphic symbols
  

101–120 cut fills, and

• 105 secondary annotations
  106 annotation text: proof
  115 mechanical equipment
  117 electrical equipment
  118- additional colors, graphic symbols
  

121–140 fill background colors

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.

IV. Pen Sets

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.

Based on the functionality requirements reviewed in Section I, the following pen sets are shipped:

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.

CategorySetup