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.

Mastering the Archicad Hatch: A Comprehensive Guide to Fills and Patterns

In the world of architectural design, a "hatch"—referred to in Archicad as a Fill—is more than just a decorative pattern. It is a critical communication tool used to designate materials, show surface qualities, and add a layer of realism to technical drawings. Whether you are a student or a seasoned professional using Graphisoft Archicad, understanding how to manipulate these patterns is essential for creating high-quality Building Information Modeling (BIM) documentation. What is an Archicad Hatch?

While legacy CAD software often uses the term "hatch," Archicad uses Fills. These are 2D geometric patterns or solid colors applied to elements to represent construction materials, such as concrete, brick, or timber. Fills in Archicad are intelligent; they can be linked to physical building materials, ensuring that when you cut a section through a wall, the correct pattern appears automatically. Key Types of Fills in Archicad

Archicad categorizes fills based on their purpose within the BIM environment:

Drafting Fills: Used for manual 2D drawing. These are not linked to 3D elements and are typically used for annotations or simple site plans.

Cover Fills: Applied to the top surfaces of 3D elements (like slabs or roofs) in floor plans. These often represent floor finishes like tiles or hardwood.

Cut Fills: These appear when a 3D element is "cut" by a Section or Floor Plan Cut Plane. They represent the internal material of an object. Advanced Controls: Scale and Rotation

One of the most powerful features of an Archicad hatch is the ability to control its scale and rotation. Unlike static images, Archicad fills can be set to:

Project Origin: The pattern aligns with the global zero point of your project.

Fill Origin: You can manually place a "handle" to rotate the pattern or shift its starting point—ideal for aligning floor tiles with a specific wall.

Distorted Fill: This allows you to stretch or warp a pattern to simulate perspective or custom gradients. Creating Custom Hatch Patterns

If the standard library doesn't suffice, Archicad allows for the creation of custom Vectorial Fills. By drawing a small segment of a pattern with 2D lines and copying it into the Fill Types dialog, you can create bespoke textures that scale perfectly with your drawings. Why Fills Matter in Professional Practice

As drawings move from conceptual sketches to detailed Building Regulations sets, solid gray hatches are often swapped for complex patterns to reflect specific materials. This transition is seamless in Archicad's integrated environment, where a single change to a "Building Material" can update every hatch across your entire drawing set.

While programs like AutoCAD are often cited for their general-purpose ease of use, Archicad’s specialized architectural tools offer more advanced control for professionals who need precision in their material representation.

Are you looking to create a specific custom pattern or do you need help managing fill visibility across different scales?

Graphisoft Archicad | BIM Software for Architects | United States

Yes — but only for drafting and temporary marks. Examples:

Never rely on fills for final material representation. That’s what surface hatches are for.

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.

If your project file is running slowly, your hatches might be the culprit.

Sometimes the hatch needs to align with the roof pitch or wall angle.