Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
If your view doesn't reflect the Plot Style settings, make sure you have the Display Plot Styles
option selected in the Plot Style Table group of the Page Setup dialog box.
COLORS AND LINE WEIGHTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIN LIBRARY
Technical drawings can have a beauty of their own, but they can also be deadly boring. What really
sets a good technical drawing apart from a poor one is the control of line weights. Knowing how to
vary and control line weights in both manual and CAD drawings can make a huge difference in the
readability of the drawing.
In the San Francisco Main Library project, the designers at SMWM Associates were especially con-
cerned with line weights in the reflected ceiling plan. The following image shows a portion of the
reflected ceiling plan from the library drawings.
As you can see, it contains a good deal of graphical information, which, w ithout careful line
weight control, could become confusing. (Although you can't see it in the black-and-white print,
a multitude of colors were used to var y the line weight.) When the electronic draw ings were
plotted, colors were converted into lines of varying thickness. Bolder lines were used to create
emphasis in components such as walls and ceiling openings, and fine lines were used to indicate
ceiling-tile patterns.
By emphasizing certain lines over others, you avoid visual monotony and the various components
of the drawing can be seen more easily.
