Guidelines for Scientific Drawing
Purpose of Drawing: To serve as a record of a laboratory work and outputs. In other words,
these are the observations of structures examined. They must be completed while viewing the
specimen. They cannot be done “in rough” as a draft while observing the specimen, and then
redone later “in good”. A scientific drawing is a precise record of specific details at the time the
specimen is presented.
1. Use pencil (preferably No.2) and unlined paper only.
2. Draw as large as 30- 50 mm in diameter or length, or about one-fourth fraction
of your paper (letter/short size bond paper).
3. Draw your image at left or center to allow for labels and label lines.
4. Emphasize the boundary structure of the specimen. It is more important than
secondary features such as shadows, curvature, or color.
5. Stipple darkly to indicate depth or thickness. Do not shade or cross-hatch.
6. Draw clean lines. Do not sketch like an artist. Structure lines should be definite,
continuous and clear-cut.
7. Draw part for part, not from memory. Do not invent structures that are not there in
the specimen. Remember, these are records of your observations!
8. Label parts with a solid straight line out to the right. It is best to align the text.
Do not cross label lines.
9. Label lines must touch the structure being labeled.
10. Do not add arrow-heads to the label lines.
11. Include title and specimen name below the drawing. Also include the nature of
the specimen descriptors such as cross section, longitudinal section, whole
mount etc.
//LLS1st Sem 2022
