The neuroscience behind how we visually identify details in the complexity of the world around us is fascinating stuff. Somehow our brains can and do make sense out of nonsense…or not. Ok. Maybe I’m a crazy person for spending way too much time trying to comprehend how this all works. None-the-less the mechanics and the specifics do matter.
The ability to quickly identify particulars on the screen by color plays a significant role in daily Civil 3D productivity. In Civil 3D terms…
Is that an Alignment?
What kind of alignment is it? What part of the alignment is that? Is it a design alignment or an existing condition? You can change the Civil 3D Feature named to anything you prefer.
The Framework for AutoCAD Civil 3D employs a Key-based and Pattern method for Layer Standards. We made significant improvements to that in Release 7. I’ve talked recently about our newly upgraded Layer Standards Spreadsheet Tools that add even more flexibility and robust adaptability.
Consistent Layer property assignments based on the classic Key System works to every Civil 3D user’s and their organization’s advantage. Better publishing and faster quality control are just a couple of obvious reasons to pay attention.
It should be of no surprise to anyone that this approach is based on accepted industry standards. We’re just innovative about how we apply it for civil engineers and surveyors inside of AutoCAD Civil 3D.
The Utility of Color
No identity politics is actually involved. Color diversity is a good thing. Color identification is one reason we’ve always been avid supporters of style based publishing – STB. In STB, color can be used for a lot more things than plot definitions. Yet somehow, we also manage to support an interchangeable version of CTB for those that demand old school. Color is truly liberated to always work for you in the Framework for Civil 3D.
The Search to Find the Blue Meanies
Someone again asked if we had a list of the standard colors employed for Utilities and other thematic uses inside the Framework. Obviously, the list is in the all the versions of the Layer Standards Tools and included in the on-line Members help. Site Members have access to this type of useful resource every day. Register for free.
The Magic of Color Beyond the Code
Get the Framework for Civil 3D
I don't know for some reason I think of color and the Yellow Submarine movie soundtrack starts playing in my head.
Here’s an out-take from our recently updated Identity and Color page. Since there are multiple tables, I included a short table of contents.
The following tables should copy over (be sucked up) into an Excel spreadsheet or Word doc and hence to PDF with little to no issue if you prefer those formats. Many Framework customers post them on their cubie walls.
The supplied AutoCAD ACI to RGB conversion table makes the biggest list and seems to be currently sought after.
Color Identity Resources
The following resources are supplied to help with color identification for users and
as an aid to customization in the Layer Standards Tools and Style Library.
- Utility Color Ranges
The table lists the color ranges employed for utilities. - AIA Utility Color Ranges
The table lists the color ranges employed for utilities in the classic AIA scheme. - Color Range Named Themes
The table lists basic named Themes and color ranges. - ACI to RGB Conversion Table
The table lists the default Autodesk ACI to RGB conversion values.
Utility Color Ranges
Utility colors agree with typical APWA and USA Markup color shades where possible.
See the Last Digit Rules and screen background conventions for swaps of color ranges.
|
ACI Range |
Utility |
Key |
Second Utility |
Key |
|
20-24 |
Electric |
UTEL |
Steam |
UTST |
|
30-34 |
Sanitary |
UTSS |
Street Lights |
STLT |
|
40-44 |
Fiber |
UTFB |
- |
- |
|
50-54 |
Gas |
UTNG |
Fuel Oil |
UTFO |
|
50-54 |
Traffic Signal |
TRSG |
- |
- |
|
60-64 |
Cable |
UTCA |
TV |
UTTV |
|
110-114 |
Storm |
UTSD |
- |
- |
|
120-124 |
Telephone |
UTPH |
Communication |
UTCO |
|
150-154 |
Water |
UTWR |
- |
- |
|
172-194 |
Irrigation Water |
UTIR |
- |
- |
|
200-204 |
Recycle Water |
UTRW |
- |
- |
|
210-214 |
Industrial Waste |
UTIW |
- |
- |
|
220-224 |
General Utilities |
UTIL |
- |
- |
Classic AIA Utility Color Ranges
Utility colors agree with typical APWA and USA Markup color shades where possible.
See the Last Digit Rules and screen background conventions for swaps of color ranges.
|
ACI Range |
Utility |
Key |
Second Utility |
Key |
|
20-24 |
Electric |
POWR |
Steam |
STEM |
|
30-34 |
Sanitary |
SSWR |
Street Lights |
STLT |
|
40-44 |
Fiber |
FIBR |
- |
- |
|
50-54 |
Gas |
NGAS |
Fuel Oil |
FUEL |
|
50-54 |
Traffic Signal |
TRSG |
- |
- |
|
60-64 |
Cable |
CATV |
TV |
CCTV |
|
110-114 |
Storm |
STRM |
- |
- |
|
120-124 |
Telephone |
PHON |
Communication |
COMM |
|
150-154 |
Water |
WATR |
- |
- |
|
172-194 |
Irrigation Water |
IRRG |
- |
- |
|
200-204 |
Recycle Water |
NPW~ |
- |
- |
|
210-214 |
Industrial Waste |
INDW |
- |
- |
|
220-224 |
General Utilities |
UTIL |
- |
- |
Color Range Named Themes
The table is provided to help identify typical color shade ranges by a set of typical theme names.
- Styles in Styles library collections may refer to the list named themes for convience.
- Even numbered ACI color ranges are named to keep the list of themes simple.
- Odd numbered ACI color ranges are or may be employed in the Layer System and Styles.
- Colors are applied by Keys in the Layer Standards Tools on the NewKeys sheet
Precedence values are employed to calculate resolved Layer colors and properties for combinations of Keys - See the Subassemblies Code Tool for forced colors in General Feature Line, Marker, Link, Shape Styles.
These and other Styles that employ forces colors are matched and relative to Layer Standards Key colors above. - See the Last Digit Rule in Layer Standards Tools documenation for lineweight, plot, and lineweight properties.
- ACI color ranges that are swapped by default for screen background differences are listed here
|
ACI Range |
Theme |
Swap ACI |
Swap Theme |
Comments |
|
1-9 |
AutoCAD |
- |
- |
Optional |
|
10-19 |
Reds |
- |
- |
Optional |
|
20-24 |
Browns |
- |
- |
- |
|
30-34 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
40-44 |
Yellows |
- |
- |
- |
|
50-54 |
- |
150-154 |
- |
Swapped |
|
60-64 |
Limes |
160-164 |
Blues |
Swapped |
|
70-74 |
- |
170-174 |
- |
Swapped |
|
80-84 |
Greens |
180-184 |
Purples |
Swapped |
|
90-94 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
100-104 |
PaleGreens |
- |
- |
- |
|
110-114 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
120-124 |
Cyans |
- |
- |
- |
|
130-134 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
140-144 |
PaleBlues |
- |
- |
- |
|
150-154 |
- |
50-54 |
- |
Swapped |
|
160-164 |
Blues |
60-64 |
Limes |
Swapped |
|
170-174 |
- |
70-74 |
- |
Swapped |
|
180-184 |
Purples |
80-84 |
Greens |
Swapped |
|
190-194 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
200-204 |
PalePurples |
- |
- |
- |
|
210-214 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
220-224 |
Pinks |
- |
- |
- |
|
230-234 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
240-249 |
Reserved |
- |
- |
% Screens |
|
250-255 |
Reserved |
- |
- |
50% Screens |
ACI to RGB Conversion Table
The following table lists AutoCAD ACI numbers to RGB True Color values.
The list complies with AutoCAD 2017+ release equivalents. Older releases and Update versions may vary.
See the provided lookup sheet reference in STB Layer Spreadsheet Tools for example color representations.
Note that there are duplicate RGB values in this table supplied from official Autodesk sources.
|
ACI |
R |
G |
B |
RGB |
|
1 |
255 |
0 |
0 |
255,0,0 |
|
2 |
255 |
255 |
0 |
255,255,0 |
|
3 |
0 |
255 |
0 |
0,255,0 |
|
4 |
0 |
255 |
255 |
0,255,255 |
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
255 |
0,0,255 |
|
6 |
255 |
0 |
255 |
255,0,255 |
|
7 |
255 |
255 |
255 |
255,255,255 |
|
8 |
128 |
128 |
128 |
128,128,128 |
|
9 |
192 |
192 |
192 |
192,192,192 |
|
10 |
255 |
0 |
0 |
255,0,0 |
|
11 |
255 |
127 |
127 |
255,127,127 |
|
12 |
165 |
0 |
0 |
165,0,0 |
|
13 |
165 |
82 |
82 |
165,82,82 |
|
14 |
127 |
0 |
0 |
127,0,0 |
|
15 |
127 |
63 |
63 |
127,63,63 |
|
16 |
76 |
0 |
0 |
76,0,0 |
|
17 |
76 |
38 |
38 |
76,38,38 |
|
18 |
38 |
0 |
0 |
38,0,0 |
|
19 |
38 |
19 |
19 |
38,19,19 |
|
20 |
255 |
63 |
0 |
255,63,0 |
|
21 |
255 |
159 |
127 |
255,159,127 |
|
22 |
165 |
41 |
0 |
165,41,0 |
|
23 |
165 |
103 |
82 |
165,103,82 |
|
24 |
127 |
31 |
0 |
127,31,0 |
|
25 |
127 |
79 |
63 |
127,79,63 |
|
26 |
76 |
19 |
0 |
76,19,0 |
|
27 |
76 |
47 |
38 |
76,47,38 |
|
28 |
38 |
9 |
0 |
38,9,0 |
|
29 |
38 |
28 |
19 |
38,28,19 |
|
30 |
255 |
127 |
0 |
255,127,0 |
|
31 |
255 |
191 |
127 |
255,191,127 |
|
32 |
165 |
82 |
0 |
165,82,0 |
|
33 |
165 |
124 |
82 |
165,124,82 |
|
34 |
127 |
63 |
0 |
127,63,0 |
|
35 |
127 |
95 |
63 |
127,95,63 |
|
36 |
76 |
38 |
0 |
76,38,0 |
|
37 |
76 |
57 |
38 |
76,57,38 |
|
38 |
38 |
19 |
0 |
38,19,0 |
|
39 |
38 |
28 |
19 |
38,28,19 |
|
40 |
255 |
191 |
0 |
255,191,0 |
|
41 |
255 |
223 |
127 |
255,223,127 |
|
42 |
165 |
124 |
0 |
165,124,0 |
|
43 |
165 |
145 |
82 |
165,145,82 |
|
44 |
127 |
95 |
0 |
127,95,0 |
|
45 |
127 |
111 |
63 |
127,111,63 |
|
46 |
76 |
57 |
0 |
76,57,0 |
|
47 |
76 |
66 |
38 |
76,66,38 |
|
48 |
38 |
28 |
0 |
38,28,0 |
|
49 |
38 |
33 |
19 |
38,33,19 |
|
50 |
255 |
255 |
0 |
255,255,0 |
|
51 |
255 |
255 |
127 |
255,255,127 |
|
52 |
165 |
165 |
0 |
165,165,0 |
|
53 |
165 |
165 |
82 |
165,165,82 |
|
54 |
127 |
127 |
0 |
127,127,0 |
|
55 |
127 |
127 |
63 |
127,127,63 |
|
56 |
76 |
76 |
0 |
76,76,0 |
|
57 |
76 |
76 |
38 |
76,76,38 |
|
58 |
38 |
38 |
0 |
38,38,0 |
|
59 |
38 |
38 |
19 |
38,38,19 |
|
60 |
191 |
255 |
0 |
191,255,0 |
|
61 |
223 |
255 |
127 |
223,255,127 |
|
62 |
124 |
165 |
0 |
124,165,0 |
|
63 |
145 |
165 |
82 |
145,165,82 |
|
64 |
95 |
127 |
0 |
95,127,0 |
|
65 |
111 |
127 |
63 |
111,127,63 |
|
66 |
57 |
76 |
0 |
57,76,0 |
|
67 |
66 |
76 |
38 |
66,76,38 |
|
68 |
28 |
38 |
0 |
28,38,0 |
|
69 |
33 |
38 |
19 |
33,38,19 |
|
70 |
127 |
255 |
0 |
127,255,0 |
|
71 |
191 |
255 |
127 |
191,255,127 |
|
72 |
82 |
165 |
0 |
82,165,0 |
|
73 |
124 |
165 |
82 |
124,165,82 |
|
74 |
63 |
127 |
0 |
63,127,0 |
|
75 |
95 |
127 |
63 |
95,127,63 |
|
76 |
38 |
76 |
0 |
38,76,0 |
|
77 |
57 |
76 |
38 |
57,76,38 |
|
78 |
19 |
38 |
0 |
19,38,0 |
|
79 |
28 |
38 |
19 |
28,38,19 |
|
80 |
63 |
255 |
0 |
63,255,0 |
|
81 |
159 |
255 |
127 |
159,255,127 |
|
82 |
41 |
165 |
0 |
41,165,0 |
|
83 |
103 |
165 |
82 |
103,165,82 |
|
84 |
31 |
127 |
0 |
31,127,0 |
|
85 |
79 |
127 |
63 |
79,127,63 |
|
86 |
19 |
76 |
0 |
19,76,0 |
|
87 |
47 |
76 |
38 |
47,76,38 |
|
88 |
9 |
38 |
0 |
9,38,0 |
|
89 |
23 |
38 |
19 |
23,38,19 |
|
90 |
0 |
255 |
0 |
0,255,0 |
|
91 |
125 |
255 |
127 |
125,255,127 |
|
92 |
0 |
165 |
0 |
0,165,0 |
|
93 |
82 |
165 |
82 |
82,165,82 |
|
94 |
0 |
127 |
0 |
0,127,0 |
|
95 |
63 |
127 |
63 |
63,127,63 |
|
96 |
0 |
76 |
0 |
0,76,0 |
|
97 |
38 |
76 |
38 |
38,76,38 |
|
98 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
0,38,0 |
|
99 |
19 |
38 |
19 |
19,38,19 |
|
100 |
0 |
255 |
63 |
0,255,63 |
|
101 |
127 |
255 |
159 |
127,255,159 |
|
102 |
0 |
165 |
41 |
0,165,41 |
|
103 |
82 |
165 |
103 |
82,165,103 |
|
104 |
0 |
127 |
31 |
0,127,31 |
|
105 |
63 |
127 |
79 |
63,127,79 |
|
106 |
0 |
76 |
19 |
0,76,19 |
|
107 |
38 |
76 |
47 |
38,76,47 |
|
108 |
0 |
38 |
9 |
0,38,9 |
|
109 |
19 |
88 |
23 |
19,88,23 |
|
110 |
0 |
255 |
127 |
0,255,127 |
|
111 |
127 |
255 |
191 |
127,255,191 |
|
112 |
0 |
165 |
82 |
0,165,82 |
|
113 |
82 |
165 |
124 |
82,165,124 |
|
114 |
0 |
127 |
63 |
0,127,63 |
|
115 |
63 |
127 |
95 |
63,127,95 |
|
116 |
0 |
76 |
38 |
0,76,38 |
|
117 |
38 |
76 |
57 |
38,76,57 |
|
118 |
0 |
38 |
19 |
0,38,19 |
|
119 |
19 |
88 |
28 |
19,88,28 |
|
120 |
0 |
255 |
191 |
0,255,191 |
|
121 |
127 |
255 |
223 |
127,255,223 |
|
122 |
0 |
165 |
124 |
0,165,124 |
|
123 |
82 |
165 |
145 |
82,165,145 |
|
124 |
0 |
127 |
95 |
0,127,95 |
|
125 |
63 |
127 |
111 |
63,127,111 |
|
126 |
0 |
76 |
57 |
0,76,57 |
|
127 |
38 |
76 |
66 |
38,76,66 |
|
128 |
0 |
38 |
28 |
0,38,28 |
|
129 |
19 |
88 |
88 |
19,88,88 |
|
130 |
0 |
255 |
255 |
0,255,255 |
|
131 |
127 |
255 |
255 |
127,255,255 |
|
132 |
0 |
165 |
165 |
0,165,165 |
|
133 |
82 |
165 |
165 |
82,165,165 |
|
134 |
0 |
127 |
127 |
0,127,127 |
|
135 |
63 |
127 |
127 |
63,127,127 |
|
136 |
0 |
76 |
76 |
0,76,76 |
|
137 |
38 |
76 |
76 |
38,76,76 |
|
138 |
0 |
38 |
38 |
0,38,38 |
|
139 |
19 |
88 |
88 |
19,88,88 |
|
140 |
0 |
191 |
255 |
0,191,255 |
|
141 |
127 |
223 |
255 |
127,223,255 |
|
142 |
0 |
124 |
165 |
0,124,165 |
|
143 |
82 |
145 |
165 |
82,145,165 |
|
144 |
0 |
95 |
127 |
0,95,127 |
|
145 |
63 |
111 |
217 |
63,111,217 |
|
146 |
0 |
57 |
76 |
0,57,76 |
|
147 |
38 |
66 |
126 |
38,66,126 |
|
148 |
0 |
28 |
38 |
0,28,38 |
|
149 |
19 |
88 |
88 |
19,88,88 |
|
150 |
0 |
127 |
255 |
0,127,255 |
|
151 |
127 |
191 |
255 |
127,191,255 |
|
152 |
0 |
82 |
165 |
0,82,165 |
|
153 |
82 |
124 |
165 |
82,124,165 |
|
154 |
0 |
63 |
127 |
0,63,127 |
|
155 |
63 |
95 |
127 |
63,95,127 |
|
156 |
0 |
38 |
76 |
0,38,76 |
|
157 |
38 |
57 |
126 |
38,57,126 |
|
158 |
0 |
19 |
38 |
0,19,38 |
|
159 |
19 |
28 |
88 |
19,28,88 |
|
160 |
0 |
63 |
255 |
0,63,255 |
|
161 |
127 |
159 |
255 |
127,159,255 |
|
162 |
0 |
41 |
165 |
0,41,165 |
|
163 |
82 |
103 |
165 |
82,103,165 |
|
164 |
0 |
31 |
127 |
0,31,127 |
|
165 |
63 |
79 |
127 |
63,79,127 |
|
166 |
0 |
19 |
76 |
0,19,76 |
|
167 |
38 |
47 |
126 |
38,47,126 |
|
168 |
0 |
9 |
38 |
0,9,38 |
|
169 |
19 |
23 |
88 |
19,23,88 |
|
170 |
0 |
0 |
255 |
0,0,255 |
|
171 |
127 |
127 |
255 |
127,127,255 |
|
172 |
0 |
0 |
165 |
0,0,165 |
|
173 |
82 |
82 |
165 |
82,82,165 |
|
174 |
0 |
0 |
127 |
0,0,127 |
|
175 |
63 |
63 |
127 |
63,63,127 |
|
176 |
0 |
0 |
76 |
0,0,76 |
|
177 |
38 |
38 |
126 |
38,38,126 |
|
178 |
0 |
0 |
38 |
0,0,38 |
|
179 |
19 |
19 |
88 |
19,19,88 |
|
180 |
63 |
0 |
255 |
63,0,255 |
|
181 |
159 |
127 |
255 |
159,127,255 |
|
182 |
41 |
0 |
165 |
41,0,165 |
|
183 |
103 |
82 |
165 |
103,82,165 |
|
184 |
31 |
0 |
127 |
31,0,127 |
|
185 |
79 |
63 |
127 |
79,63,127 |
|
186 |
19 |
0 |
76 |
19,0,76 |
|
187 |
47 |
38 |
126 |
47,38,126 |
|
188 |
9 |
0 |
38 |
9,0,38 |
|
189 |
23 |
19 |
88 |
23,19,88 |
|
190 |
127 |
0 |
255 |
127,0,255 |
|
191 |
191 |
127 |
255 |
191,127,255 |
|
192 |
165 |
0 |
82 |
165,0,82 |
|
193 |
124 |
82 |
165 |
124,82,165 |
|
194 |
63 |
0 |
127 |
63,0,127 |
|
195 |
95 |
63 |
127 |
95,63,127 |
|
196 |
38 |
0 |
76 |
38,0,76 |
|
197 |
57 |
38 |
126 |
57,38,126 |
|
198 |
19 |
0 |
38 |
19,0,38 |
|
199 |
28 |
19 |
88 |
28,19,88 |
|
200 |
191 |
0 |
255 |
191,0,255 |
|
201 |
223 |
127 |
255 |
223,127,255 |
|
202 |
124 |
0 |
165 |
124,0,165 |
|
203 |
142 |
82 |
165 |
142,82,165 |
|
204 |
95 |
0 |
127 |
95,0,127 |
|
205 |
111 |
63 |
127 |
111,63,127 |
|
206 |
57 |
0 |
76 |
57,0,76 |
|
207 |
66 |
38 |
76 |
66,38,76 |
|
208 |
28 |
0 |
38 |
28,0,38 |
|
209 |
88 |
19 |
88 |
88,19,88 |
|
210 |
255 |
0 |
255 |
255,0,255 |
|
211 |
255 |
127 |
255 |
255,127,255 |
|
212 |
165 |
0 |
165 |
165,0,165 |
|
213 |
165 |
82 |
165 |
165,82,165 |
|
214 |
127 |
0 |
127 |
127,0,127 |
|
215 |
127 |
63 |
127 |
127,63,127 |
|
216 |
76 |
0 |
76 |
76,0,76 |
|
217 |
76 |
38 |
76 |
76,38,76 |
|
218 |
38 |
0 |
38 |
38,0,38 |
|
219 |
88 |
19 |
88 |
88,19,88 |
|
220 |
255 |
0 |
191 |
255,0,191 |
|
221 |
255 |
127 |
223 |
255,127,223 |
|
222 |
165 |
0 |
124 |
165,0,124 |
|
223 |
165 |
82 |
145 |
165,82,145 |
|
224 |
127 |
0 |
95 |
127,0,95 |
|
225 |
127 |
63 |
111 |
127,63,111 |
|
226 |
76 |
0 |
57 |
76,0,57 |
|
227 |
76 |
38 |
66 |
76,38,66 |
|
228 |
38 |
0 |
28 |
38,0,28 |
|
229 |
88 |
19 |
88 |
88,19,88 |
|
230 |
255 |
0 |
127 |
255,0,127 |
|
231 |
255 |
127 |
191 |
255,127,191 |
|
232 |
165 |
0 |
82 |
165,0,82 |
|
233 |
165 |
82 |
124 |
165,82,124 |
|
234 |
127 |
0 |
63 |
127,0,63 |
|
235 |
127 |
63 |
95 |
127,63,95 |
|
236 |
76 |
0 |
38 |
76,0,38 |
|
237 |
76 |
38 |
57 |
76,38,57 |
|
238 |
38 |
0 |
19 |
38,0,19 |
|
239 |
88 |
19 |
28 |
88,19,28 |
|
240 |
255 |
0 |
63 |
255,0,63 |
|
241 |
255 |
127 |
159 |
255,127,159 |
|
242 |
165 |
0 |
41 |
165,0,41 |
|
243 |
165 |
82 |
103 |
165,82,103 |
|
244 |
127 |
0 |
31 |
127,0,31 |
|
245 |
127 |
63 |
79 |
127,63,79 |
|
246 |
76 |
0 |
19 |
76,0,19 |
|
247 |
76 |
38 |
47 |
76,38,47 |
|
248 |
38 |
0 |
9 |
38,0,9 |
|
249 |
88 |
19 |
23 |
88,19,23 |
|
250 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0,0,0 |
|
251 |
101 |
101 |
101 |
101,101,101 |
|
252 |
102 |
102 |
102 |
102,102,102 |
|
253 |
153 |
153 |
153 |
153,153,153 |
|
254 |
204 |
204 |
204 |
204,204,204 |
|
255 |
255 |
255 |
255 |
255,255,255 |