Drafting Techniques

Outside reading...

There two basic approaches a designer can use to create the scenic drawings. They can be hand drafted on tracing vellum (paper) using a pencil, T-square and triangle or on the screen of a computer using a CAD program.

1. What tools are needed by a pencil and paper draftsman?

1. Drafting board -- a hollow core door can be used in an emergency
2. Drafting board cover-- usually a sheet of heavy paper such as Bristol board
3. T-Square for drafting horizontal lines
4. 45° Triangle for drafting both diagonal and vertical lines
5. 30°-60° Triangle for drafting both diagonal and vertical lines
6. 6" Bow compass for drafting circles and "door sweeps"
7. Architect's scale
8. Mechanical Push-point Drafting Pencil with 2H lead
9. Eraser
10. Eraser shield to shield the lines you do not want to erase (Not essential, but helpful)
11. Templates (which makes drafting circles, furniture, and door sweeps much easier)
    1. Circle
    2. Furniture
    3. Architectural
12. Drafting tape (or its cheaper cousin: masking tape) to hold the drafting paper on the drawing board
13. Tracing Vellum

2. Why are the technical drawings drafted on tracing vellum?

There are two major reasons. (1) Drawings drafted on vellum can be easily copied using "blueprint" technology and (2) tracing paper will take more abuse from multiple revisions than will drawing paper.

5. What is orthographic projection?

Orthographic projection, the basis of all theatrical drafting, allows us to illustrate a three-dimensional object (such as a set or prop) through a series of two-dimensional drawings. The minimum number of drawings is three: a front view (or front elevation), a top view (or plan) and a side view (or side elevation). If the object is very complex, six views may be needed: both a front and back, top and bottom, and left and right side. Boyd Ostroff used three views to describe the two chimney units in the Designer's Elevation for the Act One set for La Boheme.

Link to Robert Gardiner's Technical Drawings for Theatre - An Introduction to Orthographic Projection at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

6. What is a sectional view?

A sectional view is created when the scenic object (the set or prop) is cut with an imaginary knife and separated, revealing the object's interior. Typically the cutting plane (the imaginary knife) is either vertical through the center line of the set creating a Cross Section or is horizontal, approximately three feet above the stage floor, creating the Floor Plan. See Boyd Ostroff's Floor Plan and Cross Section for the Act One set of Al Boheme

Link to Robert Gardiner's Technical Drawings for Theatre - Section Views at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

7. What are the three commonly used line widths?

In pencil drafting, the USITT recommended line widths for theatrical draftings are 0.9mm for an extra-think (or extra-heavy weight) line. 0.5mm for a think (or heavy weight) line and 0.3mm for a thin (or light weight) line.

8. What style and line widths are used for...

1. Object line-- Width: thick. Style: solid.
   Generally the outline of the primary scenic object (a flat, for example) is drawn with a thick solid line.
2. Hidden line-- Width: thin. Style: dashed.
   Objects hidden from view (behind a piece of scenery, for example) are drawn with a thin dashed line.
3. Alternate position line-- Width: thin. Style: dashed.
   Short dashed lines are also used to indicate an object's alternate position, for example: the off-stage location of a wagon.
4. Center line-- Width: thin. Style: alternating long and short...
5. Plaster line-- Width: thin. Style: alternating long and short-short...
   The center and plaster line should be drawn on the floor plan.
6. Dimension line-- Width: thin. Style: solid. Termination: arrow.
   Dimension lines are used to show the size of an object.
7. Extension line-- Width: thin. Style: solid.
   The extension lines extend the boundaries of the object. Dimension lines are drawn between the extension lines.
8. Leader line-- Width: thin. Style: solid Termination: arrow.
   Leader lines are drawn between a note and the object being notated.
9. Border line-- Width: extra-thick. Style: solid.
   

9. How much dimensional information needs to be provided on the drawings?

The designer should provide enough information on the drawings to make it possible for the shop to build and assemble the set. Generally dimensions on a front elevation show the size of each flat and the location and size of the doors and windows, the size of the cornice and baseboard and the size and location of the picture rail, chair rail, and wainscoting.

Typically the dimensions on the floor plan provide the carpenter with the information necessary to place the set on stage. For example, a simple three wall box set (with a left, center, and right unit) can be placed by establishing the location of the four corner points. These points are plotted by the distance (left or right) from the center line and the distance up stage of the plaster line.

10. Where on the drawings should the dimension lines be located?

The dimension lines should not confuse the outline of the scenic object. I tend to place the closest dimension line at least two feet (in scale) from the outside edge of the unit. On an elevation I typically place the dimension lines below and on the right side of the object. The primary dimension (for example: the width of a door flat) should be placed outside of the secondary dimension: the width and location of the door opening. All dimensions should be able to be read from the bottom or right hand side of the drawing.

11. What information should be included in the Title Block?

1. Producer--Organization or school.
2. Show title
3. Act and scene number if a mult-set show.
4. Drawing title-- Floor plan, Front elevation, Cross section...
5. Scale
6. Designer
7. Draftsperson if other than the designer.
8. Director
9. Date the drawing was created.
10. Revision date-- The date and number of the last revision
11. Sheet number-- For example: Sheet 1 of 9. The sheet number should be placed in the lower right corner of the title block.

12. Where on the drawing should the Title Block be located?

In the lower right hand corner.

13. What are the most commonly used scales in theatrical drafting?

There are two commonly used scales. Outside of the commercial New York theatre, most floor plans and cross sections use the scale: 1/4" = 1'0" (also known as 1:48). Front and rear elevations are normally drafted in 1/2" = 1'0" (or 1:24) scale. Detail drawing are usually in a larger scale such as 1" = 1'0" (1:12). Preliminary floor plans are often sketched in a smaller scale-- 1/8" = 1' (1:96).

14. How many drawings are needed to describe a single box set?

Obviously the number of drawings is determined by the size of the set. The absolute minimum would be two-- A Floor plan and a Designer's (or front) elevation.

    In what order should they be assembled?

1. Floor plan
2. Center-line cross section, if needed.
3. Platform plot (a floor plan showing only the platforms used), if needed.
4. Soft goods (front elevational drawings of legs, borders, backdrops), if needed.
5. Designer's (or front) elevations
6. Painter's elevations, if needed.
7. Detail Drawings, if needed.

1. Briefly outline the process of drafting a floor plan.

1. Tape a copy of the floor plan of your stage and auditorium on to your drafting board.
2. Attach a sheet of tracing vellum over the theatre plan.
3. Trace out the major architectural units-- proscenium arch, back and side walls, apron, orchestra pit.
4. Lay in the center line and plaster line.
5. Locate the two critical site points. These tend to be the outside seats in the first row.
6. Draw the tormentors (or portal legs) establishing the width of the "picture frame."
7. Lightly sketch the sight lines from the critical site points to the near proscenium arch (or tormentor, portal leg, or act curtain...). This should create a triangular shaped playing area which will be visible to every seat in the house.
8. Draw the major scenic units-- platforms, steps, ramps, walls, etc... Try to locate the set within this triangular shaped playing area.
9. Draw the backing flats behind the door and window units. Check sight lines from the site point on the opposite side of the stage. For example: use the stage left (house right) site point to check sight lines for a door in the stage right wall.
10. Draw and label the furniture (or other set props).
11. Indicate the alternate position of any scenery or set props which will be shifted during the show.
12. Draw the necessary masking units: legs, backdrop, cyc, etc...
13. Assign each scenic unit (flat, platform, drop) a number (or letter) for identification in other drawings.
14. Dimension the set so it can be accurately positioned during load-in.
15. Draw the title block in the lower right hand corner of the drawing.

2. Briefly outline the process of drafting a Designer's (or front) elevation for a simple box set.

Using the floor plan, determine the width of each flat in the set.
Establish the height of the set.
1. Tape a sheet of tracing vellum (18x24) on your drafting board.
2. Determine a rough layout. Typically two rows of flats (For example: up stage wall at the top, left and right wall at the bottom) can be drafted on a single sheet.
3. Draw a horizontal line near the center of your sheet. This will be the base (or floor) line for your top row of flats.
4. Locate a point near the left end (approximately 2" from the edge of the paper) of this line.
5. Draw a vertical line through this point. This will be the left edge of your top row of flats.
6. Locate a point on this vertical line the height of the set above the base line.
7. Through this point draw a second horizontal line. This will be the top of the flats.
8. Using the widths determined from the floor plan and starting at the point near the left end of the line, measure and mark on the base line the outside edge of each flat in the set. The flats, starting with the stage right return, should be drawn in the same order as they will appear on stage. Typically the backing flats will be placed on a second sheet.
9. Draw a vertical line through each mark. You should now have an outline of each flat in the set.
10. Draw the door, window, and fire place openings in the door, window and fire place flats.
11. Draw the architectural detail: cornice, picture rail, chair rail, mop board, wainscoting, door facings, etc...
12. Dimension the elevation so the walls can be built in the shop.
13. Label each flat with the number (or letter) which appears on the floor plan.
14. Label the major units of the set-- Stage Left Wall, Up Center Wall, Kitchen Backing, etc...
15. Draw the title block in the lower right hand corner of the drawing.

3. Briefly outline the process of drafting a center line cross section.

1. Tape a copy of the center line cross section of your stage and auditorium on to your drafting board.
2. Attach a sheet of tracing vellum over the sectional view.
3. Trace out the major architectural units-- orchestra pit, stage floor, proscenium arch, back wall, etc.
4. Lay in the plaster line.
5. Locate the critical site point. This tends to be at the stage floor level over the center seat of the first row.
6. Draw the teaser (or portal header) establishing the height of the "picture frame."
7. Draw the major scenic units-- platforms, steps, ramps, walls, etc... Their position upstage of the plaster line can be measured from the floor plan. The height of the units can be taken from the front elevation.
8. Draw the out position of all scenic units suspended above the stage
9. Draw the necessary masking units: borders, backdrop, cyc, etc...
10. Locate the masked position of all light pipes.
11. Draw the title block in the lower right hand corner of the drawing.