Jefferis_SCR_Chapter 06.

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CHAPTER 6
Lines and Lettering

LINE TECHNIQUES
When you are working on vellum or polyester film with pencil, polyester lead, or ink, use these basic techniques to make the
completion of the drawing easier:
1. Prepare a sketch to help organize your thoughts before beginning the formal drawing.
2. Do all layout work using construction lines. If you make an error, it is easy to correct.
3. Begin the formal drawing by making all horizontal lines from the top of the sheet to the bottom.
Try to avoid going back over lines that have been drawn any more than is necessary.
4. If you are right-handed, draw all horizontal lines from left to right and vertical lines from bottom to
top. If you are left-handed, draw horizontal lines from right to left and vertical lines from bottom to
top.
5. Place all symbols on the drawing. Try to work from one side of the sheet to the other.
6. Do all lettering last. Place a clean piece of paper under your hand when lettering to avoid smudging
lines or perspiring on the drawing.
7. Most important, keep your hands and equipment clean.

Pencil Line Methods on Vellum

To see if your lines are dark and crisp enough, turn your drawing over and hold it up to the light or put it on a light table. The
lines should have a dark, consistent density. Problems to look for are lines that you can see through or that have rough or fuzzy
edges. You can also make a test copy to check line quality. If your lines are fuzzy on a properly run print, the quality is not
dark and crisp enough. The following hints may help you to make a proper line:
1. Use a lead of the proper hardness. A lead that is too hard does not make a dark line without a lot
of extra work. A lead that is too soft causes fuzzy lines.
2. Draw with the automatic pencil perpendicular with the sheet. Draw with the mechanical pencil
tilted about 45° in the direction you are drawing. See Figure CD6.1.
3. When using an automatic pencil, you are not required to rotate it, although some drafters feel that
rotation does help. Always rotate the mechanical pencil as you draw. This helps keep the lead uni-
formly sharp. See Figure CD6.1.
4. Use enough pressure on the pencil. The amount of pressure depends on the individual. The sug-
gested leads are only a recommendation. You may need to experiment with different lead hardness-
es and pressures to find the right combination. Too much pressure can engrave the paper or break
the point; not enough pressure makes fuzzy lines.
5. Some drafters may need to go over lines more than once to make them dark. Try to avoid this, as it
slows you down and can cause an unwanted double line.

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2 I Architectural Drafting and Design Supplemental Chapter Reading

ROTATE PENCIL
AS YOU DRAW
(OPTIONAL WITH
THE AUTOMATIC
PENCIL, BUT
REQUIRED WITH
THE MECHANICAL
PENCIL).
KEEP AUTOMATIC PENCIL 90°
PENCIL MOVES TO SHEET. THE MECHANICAL
FROM BOTTOM PENCIL IS TILTED ABOUT 45°
TO TOP. IN THE DRAWING DIRECTION.

PENCIL MOVES
LEFT TO RIGHT.

FIGURE CD6.1

Polyester Lead Methods on Polyester Film

Some companies use polyester lead on film to help improve lines and lettering quality without using ink. Polyester lead is
faster to use than ink and, in general, produces a better print than graphite on vellum. After you have worked with graphite
on vellum, the use of polyester lead is similar to drawing with a crayon. Here are some basic techniques that may help:
1. Always draw on the matte (textured) side of the film. Some films have double matte.
2. Draw a single line in one direction. Retracing a line in both directions deposits a double line, which
can smear and damage the matte.
3. Draft with a light touch. Drafting films require up to 40 percent less pressure than other media.
Smearing and embossing can be reduced with less pressure.
4. Erase with a vinyl eraser. If an electric eraser is used, be very careful not to destroy the matte surface.

Inking Methods on Vellum or Polyester Film

When inking on either vellum or film, be sure to ink on the matte surface. On vellum the inking surface has a watermark,
printed label, or title block and border. Inking can be easy if you remember that ink is wet until it turns a dull color. If the ink
is shiny, do not move your equipment over it. Follow the same recommended procedures as previously discussed. Following
are some helpful hints to make inking easier.
1. When using a technical pen, hold the pen perpendicular to the vellum or polyester film. Move the
pen at a constant speed that is not too fast. Do not slow at the end of a line because this can widen
the line or cause a drop of ink to form at the end of a line. Do not apply any pressure to the pen.
Allow the pen to flow easily. See Figure CD6.2.
2. Care should be taken to provide a space between the instrument edge and the ink so the ink does
not flow under the instrument and smear. Drafting machine scales are generally manufactured
with edge relief for inking. Now templates, triangles, and other devices are being made with ink
risers. Other ways to keep instruments away from inked lines include adhesive template lifters or
template risers, which are long plastic strips that fit on the template edges. If these are unavailable,
it is possible to place a second template with a larger opening under the template being used.

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CHAPTER 6 Lines and Lettering I 3

FIGURE CD6.2

3. Periodically check pens for leaks around the tip or a drop of ink at the end of the tip. Have a piece
of tissue paper or cloth available to help keep the tip free of ink drops.
4. Keep technical pens clean and the reservoir between one-quarter and three-quarters full.
5. Shake a technical fountain pen to get the ink started, but do not shake the pen over your drawing.

HINTS FOR PROFESSIONAL LETTERING

Vertical freehand lettering is the standard for architectural drafting. The ability to make good-quality lettering quickly is impor-
tant. A common concern of employers hiring entry-level drafters is their ability to do high-quality lettering and linework. The
following suggestions may help you establish good lettering skills:
1. Always use guidelines, which are lightly drawn horizontal or vertical lines spaced equal to the
height of the letters. Guidelines should be so light they do not reproduce.
2. Use a slightly rounded point on a mechanical pencil lead or a 0.5-mm automatic pencil with H, F,
or HB lead. Automatic pencils are usually easy to control for effective lettering and do not require
sharpening.
3. Protect the drawing by resting your hand on a clean protective sheet placed over the drawing. This
helps prevent smearing and smudging.
4. Lettering composition means spacing letters so background areas look the same. This is done by
eye, and there is no substitute for experience. In general, space vertical-line letters farther apart
than angled or curved-line letters.
5. If your letters are wiggly or if you are nervous, try using a straightedge for vertical strokes, as
shown in Figure CD6.3. Making each letter rapidly also helps some people. This tends to eliminate
wiggly letters. Another option, if the problem continues, is to try using a softer lead; also, be sure
the lead does not extend too far out of the pencil tip.
6. Make sure your hand and arm are comfortable on the board.

Making Lettering Guidelines

A commonly used device for making guidelines is the Ames Lettering Guide. It is possible to draw guidelines and sloped lines
for lettering from 1/16" to 2" (1.5 to 51 mm) in height. Disk numbers from 10 to 2 give the height of letters in 30-seconds of

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4 I Architectural Drafting and Design Supplemental Chapter Reading

USE A STRAIGHT-
EDGE TO DRAW
VERTICAL STROKE

MAKE OTHER
STROKES FREEHAND

FIGURE CD6.3

an inch. If 1/4" high letters are required, rotate the disk so the 8 (8/32" ⫽ 1/4") is at the index mark on the bottom of the
frame. See Figure CD6.4. Instructions for use should be included when you purchase the guide. Metric guidelines can also be
drawn. Slanted or vertical guidelines can be drawn easily to help keep the letters vertical or slanted.
The numbers and the set of six holes to the left of the disk relate to metric heights for guidelines. This column of six holes
offers you the option of spacing guidelines equally (right brackets) or at half space (left brackets).
Other guideline lettering aids for equidistant spacing of lines have parallel slots ranging in width from 1/16" to 1/4" (1.5 to
6 mm). These lettering guideline aids are not as complex as the Ames Lettering Guide, but they are not as versatile or as flex-
ible for drawing guidelines.

Lettering Guide Templates

Some drafting applications can be done using lettering guides. Standard lettering guide templates are available with vertical
letters and numerals ranging in lettering height from 3/32" to 3/8" (1 to 10 mm). Lettering guides are also available in many
other styles, in either uppercase or lowercase. Figure CD6.5 shows a lettering guide in use.

FIGURE CD6.4

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CHAPTER 6 Lines and Lettering I 5

FIGURE CD6.5

Mechanical Lettering Equipment

Mechanical lettering equipment is available in kits with templates for letters and numerals in a wide range of sizes. A complete
lettering equipment kit includes a scriber plus templates, tracing pins, and lettering pens. Figure CD6.6 shows the component
parts of a lettering equipment set. Mechanical lettering equipment sets generally contain instructions for use. You will need to
practice to become good at using this equipment.

Machine Lettering
Lettering machines are available that produce a variety of fonts, styles, and sizes to prepare drawing titles, labels, or spe-
cial headings. These features are especially useful for making display letters, cover sheets, and drawing titles. Most
machines use a typewriter keyboard for quick preparation of lettering. A personal computer can also interface with a let-
tering machine to increase speed and provide additional flexibility. Lettering machines prepare strips of lettering on clear
adhesive-backed tape for placement on drawing originals. The tape is also available in a variety of colors for special dis-
plays and presentation drawings.

SCRIBER

LETTERING PEN

TEMPLATE

TRACING PEN

FIGURE CD6.6

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6 I Architectural Drafting and Design Supplemental Chapter Reading

Transfer Lettering
A large variety of transfer lettering fonts, styles, and sizes are available on sheets. These transfer letters can be used in any com-
bination to prepare drawing titles, labels, or special headings. They can be used to improve the quality of a presentation draw-
ing or for titles on all drawings. See Figure CD6.7.
Another type of transfer lettering is called sticky back. In this process, all lettering is done in a word processing or CADD
file and then printed onto adhesive-backed film or paper. The sticky back material is then adhered to the drawing or the pre-
sentation.

FIGURE CD6.7

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