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When you are working a 3D environment, it is helpful to be able to look at your drawn objects as 3D objects instead of simple wireframe outlines… Even though view your drawing in “2D Wireframe” is a common practice and may improve your computer’s performance, I personally can’t stand working in 3D and getting lost in a maze of wires.

Here is how to change your active visual style:

From the View tab of the ribbon, select the Visual Styles dropdown list that is located in the “Visual Styles” panel.

Introduced in AutoCAD 2012 is the new “In-canvas” controls that are familiar to 3DS Max users.

Shown below is an object with various visual styles:

One tip to keep in mind if you switch back and forth from working in 2D & 3D:

Selected objects have a feature that shows up depending on the visual style. Something called the “Gizmo” appears when you are in a visual style other than “2D Wireframe.” This “gizmo” will be covered in another post so in the mean time, just be aware that the gizmo looks like a colorful UCS icon with arrows on the ends.

This gizmo appears at the center of selected objects.

Below shows a single selected object in “2D Wireframe” compared to a 3D visual style:

When multiple objects are selected, the gizmo will appear at the center of the selection set (shown below).