Learn AutoCAD with our Free Tutorials
Welcome to CADTutor
CADTutor provides the best free tutorials and articles for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and associated applications along with a friendly community forum. If you need to learn AutoCAD, or you want to be more productive, you're in the right place. See our tip of the day to start learning right now!
Free Tutorials and More…
The Tutorials section provides over 100 original tutorials for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and other design applications. Michael’s Corner is an archive of productivity articles that brings you the best AutoCAD tips and tricks. Our Forum is a lively community where AutoCAD users can ask questions and get answers. The Downloads area provides free AutoCAD blocks, free AutoLISP routines and free images.
Tutorials of the Moment
Recently viewed tutorials
-
All About Shadows
This tutorial considers the various options for creating shadows when rendering 3D models. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: less than one minute ago
-
Entering Survey Data using AutoCAD
These techniques apply to basic CAD programs such as AutoCAD, IntelliCAD, etc. If you have a civil/survey program or add-on, such as Land Desktop, SurvCADD, Eagle Point, etc., then there are built-in tools for entering lines and curves. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: less than one minute ago
-
AutoCAD 2010: Joining Lines, Polylines and Arcs
This video tutorial demonstrates how to join lines, polylines and arcs using the Join command and the Edit Polyline command. Running time: 6min 49sec Format: Video
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
ISO Paper Sizes
There has alwas been some confusion over the size of standard ISO drawing sheets with AutoCAD.The stated sizes in the plot dialogue box are not the true ISO sizes. This tutorial explains why and how to plot to scale from Model Space. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
AutoCAD 2010: Ribbon Basics
This video tutorial introduces you to the AutoCAD 2010 ribbon and demonstrates the various options you have when working with it. Running time: 5min 49sec Format: Video
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
Uploading Files with WS_FTP
This tutorial guides you through the process of uploading your website files to a web server using the WS_FTP client. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
CADTutor Tutorials
Our tutorials are comprehensive but straightforward introductions to AutoCAD and related software. They are designed to help beginners get to grips with design workflows as quickly as possible. There are over 100 to choose from, some text/image based and others in video format. Whatever stage you are at in your learning, you should find a tutorial to help.
Forum Latest
Currently Active Topics
MAKE NOT VIZIBLE/ERASE THE FIRST OR LAST OBJECT FROM AN ARRAYPATH
by socacidan
12 replies
Last post: 30 minutes ago
Performance helps for Large-Scale Z-Flattening (Z0) AutoLISP Routine?
by p7q
11 replies
Last post: 8 hours ago
Keep Only the Longest Overlapping Line/Polyline
by p7q
7 replies
Last post: 17 hours ago
CUI Input Text Field?
by CivilTechSource
4 replies
Last post: 28 hours ago
Structural drafting tools
by masterfal
2 replies
Last post: 28 hours ago
Extract vertices from a 3DSolid using ACIS data.
by dexus
6 replies
Last post: 39 hours ago
This Week's Hot Topics
Performance helps for Large-Scale Z-Flattening (Z0) AutoLISP Routine?
by p7q
11 replies
Viewed: 150 times
Keep Only the Longest Overlapping Line/Polyline
by p7q
7 replies
Viewed: 515 times
Structural drafting tools
by masterfal
2 replies
Viewed: 299 times
AutoCad 2007 finally bit the dust?
by Berzerker
2 replies
Viewed: 203 times
CADTutor Forums
Our forum is a vibrant community of experts and beginners. The main focus is helping beginners get to grips with AutoCAD and to help more advanced users become more productive. The AutoLISP forum is one of the busiest out there, providing expert advice for busy professionals.
AutoCAD Productivity
Text Frame on Mtext
From: AutoCAD Productivity Articles #148
Originally published: October 2016
Yes, you can Enclose Text in Objects from Express Tools — See Michael's Corner, June 2004 — but when using the Text Frame property on Mtext, the frame adjusts when you size the Mtext or change the text content!
Just select your Mtext, open Properties [Ctrl 1], then set Text Frame to <Yes>.
To test it, change the size of your Mtext or edit the content and the frame automatically adjusts!
See all the articles published in October 2016
Michael's Corner
Between 2003 and 2016, Michael Beall (and one or two guests) wrote almost 600 articles for CADTutor. The focus of these articles is AutoCAD productivity, and although some of them are now more than a few years old, most remain relevant to current versions of AutoCAD. The article above is just one example. Check out Michael's Corner for a full listing.
Image of the Week
-
18th – 24th August 2025
This week's image is by Lazarus
Software used: AutoCAD 2009
-
Last Week's Image
Last week's image is by Cad64
Software used: AutoCAD 2008 and 3ds Max 9
-
Two Weeks Ago
This image is by Steven Leech
Software used: AutoCAD 2009
-
Three Weeks Ago
This image is by Opc 12
Software used: Inventor
Gallery of Work
Over the years, our forum members have contributed hundreds of images, showcasing their amazing work. The images above are just a small selection that demonstrate the wide range of project types our community is involved with. Take a look at our gallery to see all the images published in the last 12 months.
Tip of the Day
Do you want to turn it into one? <Y>
When using PEDIT and selecting an object which is not a polyline you will get a message asking if you want to turn it into a polyline. This can be quite annoying if you're having to create closed polylines from a bunch of lines. To stop getting this message, type PEDITACCEPT and press Enter. Then type 1 and press Enter. This will automatically answer "yes" to the question in future.
Missed a Tip?
Did you miss yesterday's tip? Maybe you forgot to drop by or maybe you don't visit over the weekend. If so, you can now see all the tips published during the past week. Also, if you have a tip you'd like to share with us, you can post it on our forum and if we like it, we'll publish it here.