« Graphics | gEDA gschem User Guide | Attributes »

## Colors and Styles

You can control the appearance of graphical elements in schematics and symbols in a number of ways.

### Object color

Colors of objects in a schematic or symbol are set using a limited color palette, with the various colors having particular meanings. To change which color an object is drawn in, select it and select Edit→Color. This will display the “Color Edit” window, where you can choose the color to use from a drop down menu which shows a preview of each color and color name.

Remember that other users may view your schematics and symbols using a different color map to the one you used to create them, so they may not appear in the same way that they do to you. See also Viewing schematics.

### Line width and dashing

Lines, arcs and the outlines of boxes, circles and polygons have an adjustable line width and dash pattern. Select the items to be modified, and use Edit→Line Width & Type to show the “Edit Line Width & Type” window. There are several supported dashing patterns:

- “Solid”. Continuous solid line (this is the default).
- “Dotted”. In this case, the line is drawn with a series of dots spaced by the “Dash Space”, and the diameter of the dots is controlled by the line width.
- “Dashed”. The line is drawn with a series of dashes; the length of the dashes is controlled by the “Dash Length”, and the space between dashes by the “Dash Space”.
- “Center”. The line is drawn with alternating dashes (of length “Dash Length”) and dots. The spacing between the dashes and dots is the “Dash Space”.
- “Phantom”. The same as “Center”, except with two dots between each pair of dashes (i.e. “dash-dot-dot-dash” instead of “dash-dot-dash”).

### Fill patterns for shapes

Boxes, circles and polygons can have their interiors filled with a variety of patterns. Use Edit→Fill Type… to show the “Edit Fill Type” window. The available patterns are:

- “Hollow”. The shape is unfilled (this is the default).
- “Filled”. Fill the shape with a solid color.
- “Hatch”. Fill the shape with hatching. You must specify the angle for the hatching lines (“Angle 1”) and the spacing between them (“Pitch 1”).
- “Mesh”. Fill the shape with hatching in two directions. Like “Hatch”, you must specify angle and spacing, but once for each hatching direction.

For both the “Hatch” and “Mesh” fill patterns, you must provide the “Line Width” for the hatching lines.