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 inch to for a thin line and inch to 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. Orthographic Projection
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