Mechanical drawing can be done by hand or with a computer

1. Mechanical drawing can be done by hand or with a computer No matter which method is used, the objects are “drawn to scale” Mechanical drawings, when accompanied by “specifications”, provide a complete visual and verbal description of the object Mechanical drawings and the ability to produce them are extremely important in technical theatre Drawn to scale— to produce a likeness that is a proportional reduction of an object Specifications—clarifying notes that explain the building materials, textures, or special effects to be used in a design

2. Drafting Materials and Instruments Drafting Board The board should be large enough to accept the dimensions of the stage drawn to a scale of ½ inch to 1 foot The board is usually made of white pine, covered with a plastic laminate, and the ends covered with a metal or plastic cap strip

3. Drafting Materials and Instruments T Square Horizontal lines are made by placing the head of the T square snuggly against the edge of the drawing board and guiding the pencil along the upper edge of the leg Vertical lines are drawn by placing the base of the triangle against the leg or shaft of the T square and guiding the pencil along the vertical edge of the triangle

4. Drafting Materials and Instruments Triangles Triangles can be purchased in many different sizes The set square is an adjustable triangle with two parts joined by a plastic protractor and locked into position by a thumbscrew and threaded bolt

5. Drafting Materials and Instruments Compass and Circle Template A medium-quality compass is needed for drawing circles and arcs A preferable substitute is a circle template

6. Drafting Materials and Instruments Architect’s Scale Rule The scales found on the rule make the process of allowing a fraction of a foot to represent a full foot practically painless The architect’s rule is made in two shapes, triangular and flat The one-half-inch scale is the most frequently used in theatrical drafting

7. Drafting Materials and Instruments Drawing Pencils Most drafting for theatrical work is done with drafting pencils marked 2H (soft), 3H (medium), and 4H (hard) A sharp pencil is essential for accurate drafting Pencils can be wood or mechanical

8. Drafting Materials and Instruments Eraser A soft, pliable, pink eraser or a kneadable eraser is the best choice for correcting penciled mistakes Powdered eraser can be sprinkled on the drafting paper while the drawing is being made The movement of the T Square and triangles over these particles keeps the underside of the instruments clean and keeps them from smudging the paper

9. Drafting Materials and Instruments Drafting Tape Drafting tape is used for holding the paper in place on the drafting board Drafting tape looks like masking tape; however, it will not leave a sticky residue on your drawings

10. Computer Drafting One of the most common uses of computers in theatrical production is in the area of drafting Two of the most common drafting programs are MiniCad by Graphsoft and AutoCad by Autodesk A “plotter” is needed in order to print on sheets of paper up to 24x36 inches Plotter--a printer used to produce computer-generated drafting sheets and drawings on large paper

11. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Line Weights Line widths for pencil are 0.3 mm for a thin line and 0.5 mm for a thick line For ink, the line weights are 0.010 inch to 0.0125 for a thin line and 0.020 inch to 0.025 inch for a thick line

12. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Drafting Conventions The drawing on a groundplan of standard theatrical units, such as chandeliers, shelves, fireplaces, etc, should be made using a sectional cutting plan at whatever height is appropriate to provide the most descriptive view of the object Flats should be drawn in scale thickness and should have the space darkened between the two visible lines that outline the thickness of the flat

13. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Lettering Hand lettering should be legible, and the style should allow for easy and rapid execution Characters that generally conform to the single-stroke Gothic style meet these requirements

14. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Title Block The title block should be in the same location on all drawings of a single project It should be located in either the lower-left or right-hand corner of the drawing or in a strip along the bottom • The block should include the following information: • Name of producing organization or theatre • Name of production, act, scene, etc • Drawing title • Drawing number of drawings in the set • Predominant scale of the drawing • Date the drawing was drafted • Designer of the production • Drafter, if different than designer • Approval of drawing, if applicable

15. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Dimensions Using the guidelines set out on page 524 of your text will help ensure that your drawings are easily understood by everyone who must read them

16. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Dimensions Using the guidelines set out on page 524 of your text will help ensure that your drawings are easily understood by everyone who must read them

17. Drafting Symbols and Conventions Symbols The standard symbols for theatrical design should be used as substitutions for drawings of actual objects

18. Types of Drawings Ground Plan The ground plan is the single most important mechanical drawing used in the theatre Created by the scenic designer, it is a top view of the setting and shows the position of the set in relation to the structure of the stage and auditorium Ground plans are usually drawn in a scale of ½ inch to 1 foot

19. Types of Drawings Ground Plan Three requirements for any ground plan: The shape of the set The position of the set with the physical structure of the theatre The location of the furniture and set pieces within the set

20. Types of Drawings Sectional Drawings A sectional drawing provides a view of an object as though it had been cut along some imaginary plane A scenic sectional, or “hanging plot”, shows a sectional view of the stage with the cutting plane of the section being on the center line of the stage

21. Types of Drawings Front Elevations A front elevation is a front view of the setting as it would appear if it were flattened out until is was in a single plane and viewed as though the observer were standing exactly at right angles to it

22. Types of Drawings Rear Elevations Rear elevations show the reverse side of objects depicted in the front elevations This rear view allows the construction details to be shown

23. Types of Drawings Detail Drawings The ½ inch to 1 foot scale often reduces the size of smaller set features to the point that it is impossible to include all of the dimensions and notes necessary for the complete understanding of the object In those cases, a larger scale can be used If smaller features of the set are intricately detailed, it is easier and faster to draw them in full scale

24. Types of Drawings Orthographic Projection Orthographic projection describes an object with a series of scale elevations showing each side of the article

25. Types of Drawings Isometric Drawing Isometric drawing provides a fast and easy way of representing an object pictorially without becoming involved with perspective

26. Types of Drawings Oblique Drawing Oblique drawing is a combination of the principles of orthographic and isometric drawing

27. Types of Drawings Cabinet Drawing Cabinet drawing is similar to oblique drawing except that the depth or thickness measurements of a cabinet drawing are reduced by one-half or a similar ration such as 1:4 This foreshortening is done in an attempt to reduce the pictorial distortion that occurs if the depth measurement is excessive