How to create gradient fills in ArchiCAD

This tip is an example of using ArchiCAD's known capabilities in a different way in order to create a gradient fill effect on the floor plan. It is possible by using the 2D marquee in the 3D window, here are the steps to follow:

1. First, choose the wall tool, and select a material (under 'Model') that has an appropriate hatching. In our example we used 'Paving Brick'. The dialog shows that the material has a 3D hatching assigned with a bitmap preview of the hatching itself beside the material's name (marked with a red rectangle in the image below).

   

2. Now draw an arched wall on your floor plan using these settings.
3. Open the 3D window and choose axonometric view, then use the 'Look to' button (again marked with a red rectangle)

   

   to see the arched wall from its side (see image below):

   

4. Now in the 3D window select the Marquee Tool, and choose the 2D marquee:

   

5. Select as much of the image as you would like to show in the fill on the floor plan with the marquee, and copy it to the Clipboard (Cmd + C on the Macintosh, Ctrl + C on Windows).
6. A dialog will pop up allowing you to choose what to copy to the Clipboard. Use the settings as on the image below (Construction Elements: Edges; 3D Hatching: Hatching lines):

   

7. Now open the Options/Fill types... dialog, and create a new Symbol fill or duplicate an existing one. Name i.e. 'Gradient Fill 1'.
8. Now click on the Paste button in this dialog, and the copied pattern will appear in the Vectorial Pattern window. Set the other settings as desired, there are many options to try. Below in the image are the settings used in our example; what is really useful is to create a bitmapped pattern for the new fill that looks similar to the vectorial pattern. You can draw on the Bitmapped pattern area with the cursor using the left mouse button. This will help you later to faster identify your new fill in the dialogs.

   

9. Click OK and start to draw with the new fill on the floor plan. Enjoy J!
10. Of course, you have to adjust the Options/Display Options... in order to see&print the new fill on the floor plan: choose Construction Fills and Polygon Fills to be displayed as Vectorial Fills.

Hint: by exploring the other options available in the FillTypes dialog or by copying different parts of the 3D view to the Clipboard you can create other exciting gradient fills for your own use...(see some in the example below)

More info : http://www.graphisoft.com