Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture Desktop Napkin Freehand Sketch

Architecture Desktop has this unique feature called “Napkin”, now forget about SketchUp and other computer software that promise you the freehand feeling. It gives the user the ability to produce a sketch version of the drawing, loosing the “cast in stone” look.

The Napkin Sketch feature works by tracing the selected object with multiple lines and then combining it into a block. It is best use on 2D elevation or simple objects. To begin, type in the command “NAPKIN” into the dialog box, and then select the desire layers or lines.

It is best to leave the settings default, unless you know what you are doing. I’ve found it is fairly successful if you:

• Create the spaces in constructs as normal
• Create a view containing the space constructs. I use a division “space” to make this selection easy. The view can be single or multiple levels.
• Open the View and use the Napkin Sketch Tool selecting the space xrefs as the objects to be sketched.

p.s. The Napkin feature only exist in Architecture Desktop and not in AutoCAD.