Dimension Background Mask

[kennyjohnson1]

There are similar posts to this one, but they have several issues (text, hatch, dimensions, etc.) and they are not getting much support I think because of this.

So to be clear: Inventor needs a way to make the background of Dimension Text able to mask what is behind the dimension. This should be a toggle on/off option within the dimension edit box.

Designers and drafters are using shaded views more often these days, so what used to be simple lines are now a shaded part limiting available white space. W

hen a dimension crosses these shaded areas there needs to be an option to hide what is behind the dimension. I am not looking for a work around; I am familiar with using the symbol clipping, hatch clipping, dimension text color change, etc. I should not have to create a sketch every time I need to hide a dimension background or make individual dimensions unique colors to be able to read them.

Please also support: "Background Mask" and "Drawing Dimensions".

Thank you, Kenny

[esimers]

Dimensioning a model is bad drafting practice? What does that even mean?

[Bill_Bogan1]

Here's a thought...

Perhaps it was just a poor choice of words.

It could have been "not recommended" or "not best practice" - which would allow for conditions where there is a reason to use it that way. 

I suspect that is more of what was intended, at least, that's how I take the comment.

[CamPhoenix]

This definitely needs to be a standard feature and is well overdue. There are many applications this comes in handy and some drawings like skid packages have tight geometry that gets in the way due to nature of design. (see sample)

I would like to at least be able to create a custom sketch symbol that enables this ability if it cant be built in to the standard balloon symbol annotations.

It needs to be possible all across all annotations of any type for example text, dimensions, and balloons. If AutoCAD can do this why cant inventor? Does not make any sense not to carry over this drafting feature. Its a drafting practice used by many designers.

Below is sample screenshot of a skid I am trying to place balloons to identify other support features but geometry does not clip around symbol instead intersects. In Autocad I could incorporate a hatch to a blocked custom balloon but not in inventor. Unless I am missing something I am not aware of in 2024?

[Yijiang.Cai]

This idea has been implemented within Autodesk Inventor 2025. Please review the Inventor 2025 What's New article here. For more information regarding how you may leverage the feature, and please review this page. Special thanks to everyone who cast a vote for it.

[AnthonyHarris90842]

Autodesk please give us this feature.

It is such a simple request and we have been asking for this for a long time.

[gsmithsonPPSHA]

I would like to see the background mask implemented.  It should be as simple as selecting "mask" or "unmask".  Would be nice for this option to be available for dimensions, any form of text, symbols or annotations.