AutoCAD - Masking Text #4 - Masking Without Colour Fill

By Martin Phelps

Although my last three blogs showed how to “Mask”, “Multiline” text with a “Colour Fill”, it may not be the required presentation style.

A more suitable option maybe to “Mask” the “Multiline Text”, but without a coloured background, this can also be achieved.

Check the box, “Use Drawing Background Colour” as shown in Figure 1.

This will disable the colour selection option, the “Mask” now takes on the colour of the drawing background, as shown in Figure 2.

Note: - In the example above, there is no “Frame” around the text, to add the “Frame”, select the text.

In the “Properties” pallet set the “Text Frame” option to “Yes”, or follow the link below to check out the blog.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/205205002-AutoCAD-2016-Placing-a-box-around-text?page=5

If the text does not appear to “Mask” the geometry, after the “Use Drawing Background Colour” has been set, this is likely to be down to the “Draw Order” of the text.

To rectify this, select the “Multiline Text “object, right click and from the displayed menu, select “Draw Order”.

From the displayed sub commands, select “Bring to Front”.

Figure 3 shows the end result, including setting the “Text Frame” and “Draw Order”.

The amount or distance of the “Text Frame” from the “Multiline Text” can be controlled by either the “Border Offset Factor” or by dragging the “Grips”.

Note: - Care should be taken when dragging the “Grips” as this may create undesired effects.