Chapter 4

Drafting Media and Reproduction Methods

Introduction• Manual drawings

– Prepared on precut drafting sheets• Contain printed graphic designs for company logo

and information, borders, and title blocks

• Computer-aided drawings – Created using a template

• Contains a border, title block, and graphic designs for the company

• Stored in files and reproduced on media

Paper and Films• Factors influencing choice and use of

manual drafting media:– Durability– Smoothness– Erasability– Dimensional stability– Transparency– Cost

Paper and Films (cont’d.)• Vellum

– Drafting paper specially designed to accept pencil or ink

• Lead on vellum is the most common combination

– Least expensive– Good smoothness and durability

• Not as durable or stable as some materials

Paper and Films (cont’d.)• Polyester film (trade name Mylar)

– Plastic manual drafting material– More expensive than vellum– Excellent durability, erasability, dimensional

stability, and transparency– Drawing is best accomplished using ink or

special polyester leads

Paper and Films (cont’d.)• Polyester film (cont’d.)

– Single- or double-matte surface• Matte is a surface texture that is not glossy• Manual drafting is done on a matte surface• Double-matte has texture on both sides• Single-matte has a matte surface on one side and a

slick surface on the other

Manual Drawing Reproduction• Reproduction

– Most important factor in media selection– Combination achieving best reproduction:

• The blackest, most opaque lines or images on the most transparent base or material

– Especially important with sepias• Second- or third-generation originals

Manual Drawing Reproduction (cont’d.)

Sheet Sizes, Sheet Format, Title Blocks, and Borders

• Sheet sizes– Drafting materials come in standard sizes

• Determined by manufacturers’ specifications and based on national standards

Sheet Sizes, Sheet Format, Title Blocks, and Borders (cont’d.)

• Zoning– System of numbers along top and bottom

margins, letters along left and right margins• Allows a drawing to be read like a road map

Sheet Sizes, Sheet Format, Title Blocks, and Borders (cont’d.)

• Architectural drafting title blocks– Normally preprinted

• Generally placed along the right side of the sheet• Some companies place them across the bottom

• Drawing borders– Thick lines that go around entire sheet

Sheet Sizes, Sheet Format, Title Blocks, and Borders (cont’d.)

• Information found in almost all blocks:– Drawing number– Company name, address, and phone number– Drawing name– Scale– Drawing or sheet identification– Date

Sheet Sizes, Sheet Format, Title Blocks, and Borders (cont’d.)

• Information found in almost all blocks (cont’d.):– Drawn by– Checked by– Architect or designer– Revisions

Sheet Sizes, Sheet Format, Title Blocks, and Borders (cont’d.)

How to Fold Prints

Diazo Reproduction• Also known as blue-line prints

– Historically one of the most common methods for reproducing original manual drawings

• Refer to the Student CD: DIAZO REPRODUCTION, for more information

Photocopy Reproduction• Photographic reproduction of printed or

graphic material– Architectural drawing photocopies

• Commonly made on large-size engineering copy machines

• Prints can be made on bond paper, vellum, polyester film, colored paper, or other translucent materials

Photocopy Reproduction (cont’d.)• Features:

– Almost any large original can be converted into a smaller-sized reproducible print

– Mixed-scale drawings can be enlarged or reduced and converted to a standard scale

– Halftone illustrations, photographs, and solid or fine line work have excellent resolution and density

Microfilm• Film containing a reduced image of a

drawing or other printed material – Used for compact storage and future access,

viewing, and reproduction• Refer to the Student CD: MICROFILM, for more

information