Mastering the Art of the ArchiCAD Hatch: From Basics to Pro-Level Detailing If you’ve spent any time inside Graphisoft ArchiCAD (now known as Archicad ), you know that a project isn’t just about the walls and windows. It’s about the surface . It’s about the cut pattern of a brick wall, the stippling of a concrete floor, or the diagonal lines of a metal deck. This magic is made possible by the humble ArchiCAD Hatch . While it seems simple on the surface (pun intended), understanding how to control, create, and troubleshoot Hatches is a game-changer for producing clean, professional construction documents. Let’s break down everything you need to know. The Two Types: Surfacing vs. Cut Fills First, a critical distinction. ArchiCAD doesn't treat all patterns equally. You need to know the difference between Surfaces and Building Material Hatches :
Surfaces (Texture): These are for 3D views and renderings. Think of a wood grain texture on a table or the rough pattern of siding. They are visual, not technical. Building Material Hatches (Cut Fill): This is what prints on your sections and floor plans. When you cut a wall (Section/Elevation), the black or gray pattern you see is the Cut Fill Hatch assigned to that Building Material.
Pro Tip: Don't confuse the two. A beautiful 3D texture does not guarantee a correct-looking construction document. You must assign a specific "Cut Fill" Hatch to every Building Material. Where to Find Hatch Settings You can manage hatches in three main areas:
Options > Element Attributes > Hatches: This is your library. Here you can see all existing hatches, load new ones, or delete unused ones. Building Material Settings: This is the most important spot. When you double-click a Building Material (e.g., "Concrete - Cast-in-Place"), find the "Cut Fill" tab. Here you assign which hatch appears when that material is cut in a Section or Plan view. Override by View (Graphic Overrides): This is for last-minute corrections. You can tell a specific view: "Ignore the default concrete hatch and show this as solid black." archicad hatch
The Great Debate: Vector vs. Symbol Hatches When you open the Hatch Manager, you face a choice. Which one should you use? Vectorial Hatches
What they are: Made of simple geometric lines (lines, arcs, dots). Pros: They print perfectly crisp at any scale. They scale automatically. They are the standard for 95% of architectural drawings (Brick, CMU, Steel, Earth). Cons: Less visually "organic."
Symbol Hatches
What they are: Made of a repeating bitmap image (like a JPEG grid). Pros: They can replicate complex textures (carpet tiles, random stone, gravel). Cons: Use with caution. They slow down redraws. They look pixelated if you zoom in too far. They don't rotate well.
Rule of thumb: Use Vectorial for construction documents. Use Symbol only for huge-scale presentation renderings or site terrain.
How to Create a Custom ArchiCAD Hatch Can’t find that specific 45-degree honeycomb pattern your firm requires? Make your own. Mastering the Art of the ArchiCAD Hatch: From
Go to Options > Element Attributes > Hatches . Click New . Choose Vectorial Hatch . Give it a name (e.g., "MyFirm_FloorTile_300x300"). You have two ways to input:
Grid Method: Define the X/Y spacing and angle. Add line families (Direction, Offset, Line Type). Copy from GDL: If you have a text file with hatch definitions ( .pat or .gdl ), paste it here.