SOLIDWORKS How-To: Change a Component Color in a Drawing View

Using Layers to Change Component Line Colors

How do I change the color of a specific component line in a drawing view? Assembly components can be shown in various colors using layers in a SOLIDWORKS drawing view.

For example, if you want to show one of the components in an assembly drawing view in red and all the others as the default black, you can easily accomplish this using layers.

Line Format toolbar or the Layer toolbar

Click create a new layer in the dialog box and specify layer name, color, and style.  In this example, we will set the layer color to red. Click OK when finished.

Dialog box with line color options

Right-click on the component you want to display in red and select “Change Layer” from the pop-up menu. Next, choose the name of the red layer.

Select the component you want to change and choose “Change Layer” from the pop-up menu

Method #2

Or, you can click on the component you want to display in the red color and click the “Change Layer” button on the Line Format toolbar. Then select the name of the red layer.

“Change Layer” button on the Line Format toolbar

Method #3

You can also click on the component you want to display in the red color and click the layer name dropdown on the Layer toolbar. Then select the name of the red layer.

Name dropdown on the Layer toolbar

All of these methods make it simple to change the color of a component in an assembly drawing.

Drawing view with multiple parts in red and black line components

Changing Component Color in One View

What if you only want to change the color of a component in one view and not all views?

Within the selected view, right-click the component you want to change. From the pop-up menu, select Component Line Font.

Pop-up menu with Component Line Font

In the dialog box that appears, clear “Use document defaults.”

At the bottom of the box, there is a place to select what layer you want the component to use. Select the newly created layer.

Select the option “From Selection” to make the change apply only to the selected view. Click OK when finished.

Option "From Selection" Selected

Now you have one drawing view with one red part.

Component line color. One drawing with one red part

We hope you found this how-to helpful! Now you have a few go-to options when changing component colors.


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Meet the Author

John Setzer

John discovered his love of teaching early in life. He worked his way through college as a youth coach, umpire, and referee before earning his bachelor’s degree in Education. As Training Product Manager at GSC, he has been sharing his SOLIDWORKS wisdom with GSC customers ever since – over 20 years! As the only CSWE with a state certification in teaching, John is well-versed is teaching all types of learning styles.

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