Architectural Communication 1
GRAPHICS 1
LINE WEIGHTS, LINE QUALITY
AND DRAFTING TECHNIQUES
Line Weights
In theory, all lines should be uniformly dense for ease of
readability and reproduction. Line weight is therefore
primarily a matter of width or thickness. While inked lines
are uniformly black and vary only in width, pencil lines can
vary in both width and tonal value, depending on the
hardness of the lead used, the tooth and density of the
surface, and the speed and pressure with which you draw.
Strive to make all pencil lines uniformly dense and vary their
width to achieve differing line weights.
Line Weights
Heavy Solid lines
Heavy solid lines are used to delineate the
profiles of plan and section cuts as well as
spatial edges.
Use H, F, HB, or Bleads; pressing too hard to
draw a bold line indicates that you are using
too hard of a lead.
Use a lead holder or draw a series of closely
spaced lines with a 0.3 mm or 0.5 mm
mechanical pencil; avoid using a 0.7 mm or
0.9 mm pencil for drawing heavy line
weights.
Use 0.5 to 0.8 Technical Pen for Inked lines.
Line Weights
Medium Solid lines
Medium-weight solid lines indicate the edges
and intersections of planes.
Use H, F, or HB leads.
Use 0.3 or 0.4 Technical Pen for inked lines
Line Weights
Light Solid lines
Light weight solid lines suggest a change in
material, color, or texture, without a change
in the form of an object.
Use 2H, H, or F leads.
Use 0.1 to 0.2 Technical Pen for inked lines.
Line Weights
Very Light Solid lines
Very light solid lines are used to layout
drawings, establish organizing grids, and
indicate surface textures.
Use 4H, 2H, H, or F leads.
Note: The visible range and contrast of line weights should be in proportion to the size
and scale of a drawing.
Line Quality
Line quality refers to the crispness, clarity, and consistency
of a drawn line.
Line Quality
The density and weight of a line should be as
uniform as possible along its entire length.
Drafted lines should have a taut quality, as if
stretched tightly between two points.
Avoid drawing a line as a series of short
overlapping strokes.
Line Quality
All lines should meet crisply at corners.
When lines stop short of a corner, the resulting
angle will appear to be soft or rounded.
Avoid excessive overlapping that appears out of
proportion to the size of a drawing.
Line Quality
Dashes should be relatively uniform in length and
be closely spaced for better continuity.
When dashed lines meet at a corner, a dash should
continue across the angle.
Drafting Techniques
Position your body to draw over the upper
straightedge of a T-square, parallel rule, or triangle,
never the lower edge.
Hold the pencil at a 45°to60°angle; hold technical
pens at a slightly steeper angle.
Pull the pen or pencil along the straightedge in a
plane perpendicular to the drawing surface, leaving
a very slight gap between the straightedge and the
nib of the pen or the point of the pencil. Do not
push the pen or pencil as if it were a cue stick.
Do not draw into the corner where the straightedge
meets the drawing surface. Doing so dirties the
equipment and causes blotting of ink lines.
Drafting Techniques
Draw with a steady pace— not too fast, not too
slowly—and with even pressure. This will help
prevent a line from feathering or fading out along
its length.
To help a pencil point wear evenly and keep it fairly
sharp, rotate the shaft of the lead holder or
mechanical pencil between your thumb and
forefinger slowly as you draw the entire length of a
line.
A line should start and end in a positive manner.
Applying slight additional pressure at the beginning
and ending of a stroke will help accomplish this.
Strive for single-stroke lines. Achieving the desired
line weight, however, may require drawing a series
of closely spaced lines.
