W.C. Casey sends us a neat trick to make hatch patterns look more authentic in a 2D elevation view.

"Elevation views are a standard part of any architectural drawing set, and hatch patterns — roof shingles, for instance — are a quick way to add some realism. But flat roof shingle hatch patterns look wrong when applied to a pitched roof surface in an elevation view. And what if your building includes a wing that branches off at an angle other than 90 degrees? Here's how to rotate the hatch to match the angle of your roof surface:

1. In model space, draw a rectangle larger than your roof plane
2. Fill it with the hatch pattern you want to use, then erase the rectangle
3. Use the Modify > 3D Operation > Rotate 3D command to rotate the hatch in the x axis to match your roof pitch
4. Use the same command to rotate the hatch in the y axis, if necessary, to match the floor plan angle of the building element
5. Explode the hatch
6. Use the Flatten command to convert the exploded 3D hatch to 2D
7. Copy and Paste the pattern into your elevation
8. Trim or erase the excess.

This same technique can be used on blocks such as windows and doors, or on a whole 2D building face."

 
Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: Making our drawings look their best is part of the game we play. It took me a few tries to get the hang of this trick, but it did work. I would also suggest designing your model in 3D and using the Section command to instantly draw a section view (or elevation, in this case) of your model.