How to make a mirror copy of your drawing in BricsCAD?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, the standard way to make a mirror copy of your drawing geometry is with the MIRROR command. Select the objects, define the mirror line with two points, then choose whether to erase the source objects. This works fast for most 2D and 3D drafting tasks, but text orientation may need checking afterward.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: Mirroring annotation, attributes, or asymmetric blocks can produce unreadable or visually incorrect results if text mirroring behavior is not controlled. Also, objects on locked layers cannot be modified, which can make part of the mirror operation fail unexpectedly.

How to Make a Mirror Copy in BricsCAD

  • Command: MIRROR

  • Shortcut: MI

  • Quick Steps:

    1. On the Ribbon, go to Home > Modify and click Mirror, or type MI and press Enter.
    2. Select the objects you want to mirror, then press Enter.
    3. Specify the first and second points of the mirror line, then at Erase source objects? [Yes/No] choose No to create a mirror copy and keep the original.

Variables & Settings

  • System Variable: mirrtext (Default: 0)

  • Expert Setting: When MIRRTEXT=0, mirrored text keeps its readable orientation, which is usually best for production drawings. When MIRRTEXT=1, text is mirrored exactly, which can make notes, dimensions, or attributes appear backward.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The mirror axis is picked incorrectly, so the copied objects end up in the wrong location or flipped to the wrong side.
  • Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): Some selected objects are on locked layers, preventing them from being altered or included correctly in the result.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): You answer Yes to Erase source objects, which mirrors the objects but removes the original instead of creating a copy.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Run MIRROR again and set Erase source objects to No; if text looks backward, set MIRRTEXT to 0.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use MIRROR for symmetric drafting, reflected details, and layout cleanup because it is the fastest standard workflow. Avoid it for annotation-heavy content unless you verify text, attributes, and block orientation immediately after.

FAQ

Can I mirror an entire drawing in BricsCAD?
Yes, you can select all visible objects and use MIRROR with a defined mirror axis.

Does MIRROR work on blocks in BricsCAD?
Yes, but block attributes and asymmetric geometry should be checked after mirroring.

Why is my text backward after mirroring?
Because the MIRRTEXT variable is set to 1, which mirrors text geometry instead of keeping it readable.

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