Hatch Patterns for VectorWorks
installation and use
Step 1: Install the “PAT import” Plugin
Open the Help menu in Vectorworks.
Select Install Partner Products.
The window Install Partner Products will pop-up.
Click on Search bar and type “PAT IMPORT”.
Search for PAT Import and install the plugin into your Vectorworks workspace.
Click on the plugin “PAT import” and then Install.
After installing the plugin, Vectorworks need to be re-launched.
Step 2: Download the .PAT files for Vectorworks Projects
Go to Stone Designer.
Click on the Stone Pattern thumbnail to choose the Stone Pattern.
Select your preferred stone pattern (ie. Veneer – Rounds Consistent Small – DP031, Veneer – Ledgestone – DP122, etc.).
You can see this Stone Designer interface on the web browser.
Click on the Save button.
Click the file format dropdown menu and select AutoCAD Hatch (Vectorworks and AutoCAD use the same PAT format).
After selecting AutoCAD Hatch, the preview will display as a hatch pattern instead of a texture image, as shown in the image.
To achieve a cleaner and more readable hatch pattern in Vectorworks, the joint spacing must be adjusted before downloading the .PAT file.
Due to line limitations within the .PAT format, very small joints may generate overly dense or unclear hatch patterns. Increasing the joint spacing helps improve hatch clarity and overall performance inside Vectorworks.
Locate the Joints section in the Stone Designer and adjust the joint spacing as required (for example: 0.25″).
Click Download to generate the hatch pattern file.
Save the downloaded .PAT file to your preferred folder location.
Step 3: Load Hatches into Vectorworks Project file
To demonstrate, we are using a sample project to apply Hatch Pattern to the selected Terrace Floor.
Navigate to the Tools menu on the upper ribbon.
Click on Third-Party option.
Select the Option PAT import.
Click on Import Pat.
Select the .PAT file you previously downloaded.
Click Open to import the hatch pattern into your VectorWorks project file.
The hatch will be automatically on your resource manager (cmd+R on Mac | ctrl+R on PC), on the hatches section.
To apply the hatch on the surfaces, go to your Attributes Palette, click on Fill section and Select the Hatch option.
Select Stone Curators hatch you downloaded.
To modify the applied hatch pattern, click the three dots button in the hatch settings.
Adjust the Length value to increase or decrease the hatch scale as desired, then press Enter to apply the changes.
Give our natural stone hatch patterns a try and let us know what you think.