Archicad Hatch

Also found in the pet palette. This allows you to make the pattern larger or smaller graphically.

Archicad distinguishes between two main types of hatches, which is crucial for performance and BIM standards:

The Archicad Hatch system is robust. While it acts as a simple 2D drawing tool (Fills), its true power lies in the Attributes system. By correctly defining Vectorial Hatches within Building Materials and Surfaces, you ensure that your sections and plans automatically generate the correct graphical representation of your design.

In Archicad, "hatch" patterns are officially known as Fills. These 2D geometric patterns are essential for distinguishing materials, decorating project elements, and creating professional architectural documentation. Core Fill Types

Archicad offers five distinct fill types to handle various graphic and technical needs: archicad hatch

Solid Fills: Basic single-color fills (Foreground or Background) with adjustable opacity.

Vectorial Fills: Standard hatching patterns used to represent cut surfaces or top covers. They can also be assigned to surfaces for display in the 3D window.

Symbol Fills: Custom repetitive patterns created from 2D lines, arcs, or solid fills. These are ideal for complex textures like pavers or shingles.

Gradient Fills: Purely graphic transitions between two colors (linear or radial), used exclusively as drafting fills to enhance 2D graphics. Also found in the pet palette

Image Fills: Utilizes JPG or PNG images as the foreground pattern, allowing for realistic textures like actual flooring materials in floor plans. Understanding Fill Categories

Fills are grouped into categories that define where they can be used within a project:

Drafting Fills: Freehand 2D fills drawn with the Fill Tool. They are used for annotations and details and do not represent physical construction elements.

Cover Fills: Applied to the top surfaces of elements like Slabs, Roofs, or Zones in floor plan views to represent finishes. The Archicad Hatch system is robust

Cut Fills: Used in Sections or Elevations to show the internal structure of elements (Walls, Columns, Beams) based on their assigned Building Material. How to Create and Manage Fills

You can define or edit all fill attributes by navigating to Options > Element Attributes > Fill Types. Creating a Custom Symbol Fill Create/Edit Symbol Fill - Graphisoft

Options > Element Attributes > Hatches

The default Archicad library is good, but your local building codes or office standards require specific hatches (e.g., a specific CMU block pattern or a unique stone hatch). You have two ways to create custom Archicad hatches.

In ArchiCAD, hatches (often referred to as "Fills") are more than just cosmetic patterns; they are semantic tools that communicate materiality, construction phases, and spatial data. Whether you are creating a 2D detail or cutting a section through a complex BIM model, understanding how to manage and customize hatches is essential for professional documentation.