Technical Sketching

LESSON 3: TECHNICAL SKETCHING
OBJECTIVES
1. Define the importance and uses of technical sketching.
2. Define the terms vertex, edge, plane, surface, and solid.
3. Identify regular solids.
4. Identify and Draw lines types
5. Apply techniques that aid in creating legible well-proportioned freehand sketches.
6. Apply techniques to 3D sketches.
TECHNICAL SKETCHING
Ideas and plans are

formed in the designer’s
mind, but to be
Transformed into reality,
they have to be
communicated to others.
Although a designer may
have a great idea, it must
be effectively
communicated or it will
remain just an idea and
never move
beyond conception.
Designers and other
professionals in the
Different industries use drawings as the primary means
of developing and sharing their ideas.
Designers, Engineers and architects do a lot of sketching and drawing. They develop their
skills in freehand drawing by sketching the objects and spaces in the environment. This
process of brain, eye, and hand coordination is an intrinsic part of design.
Abstract Freehand sketching is important for the initial transfer of an idea from
the Designer’s abstract world. Sketching techniques, in 2D and 3D, are presented,
together with details of the motoric functions of the hand during the sketching.
A special section covers the phases of making a sketch for a working drawing.
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Sketching Basics
The language of graphics in the drawing environment consists of a number of
images and symbols. It is used for the daily communication of ideas and concepts.
Each idea is veriﬁed by an attempt to express it with different concepts and in details.
Figure 1. Quick freehand sketches such as this floor plan can be used as a first step in turning designers’ creative
ideas into reality.
Sketching is also used so as to be able to quickly present, in a graphical form, an

idea that is related to a particular problem. Sketching signiﬁcantly improves the
communications between the members of a team, the drafter and the customer.
A sketch is usually freehand, without any assistance or the use of instruments or aids that are
otherwise used for technical drawing.
Sketches are used to present the outside appearance of an object, with a little
emphasis on concealed surfaces and features, which are included in the sketch in
order to make the presentation as clear as possible. Sketches are direct graphical
communications, often drawn in changeable conditions, such as at a building site, in
a workshop or at a
business meeting.
Fig. 2A freehand drawn

plane and a spatial sketch of
an object, including the
description of commonly
used thicknesses.
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Line Types
Lines are drawn to describe objects, hidden conditions, and important relationships between
components and space. A line drawn on a surface has both direction and weight. The weight
of a line refers to its thickness and intensity; a line can also be continuous or dashed. The
direction can be straight, curved, diagonal, or a combination of these. In drafting, continuous
lines of various weights are used to represent objects and major elements such as structural
walls and columns. Dotted lines are usually used to denote objects hidden from view.
• Cutting lines: show major slices in a building or object.

• Object lines: show major outlines of building elements or objects.
• Hidden lines: indicate areas or objects not visible on the surface, or objects hidden
behind others. They are also used to show objects above the cutting plane of a floor
plan, such as wall cabinets, beams, arches, etc.
• Centerlines: locate the symmetrical center of objects such as windows, doors, beams,
and walls.
• Dimension lines and extension lines: indicate the physical dimensions of objects. Dimensions are
placed directly above the dimension line or inserted within it.
• Leaders: line extending from text and ending with an arrow, pointing to an object or place.
• Break lines: indicate where an object or area is not drawn in its entirety.
• Layout lines: are used in the preliminary blocking out of components and for lettering guidelines.
Page 3 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Line Weights and Their Uses
Line weight refers to the blackness (intensity) and width of a line on the drawing surface. In
general, heavy (dark) lines are used to represent cutting planes and contours (or outer
boundaries) of an object. In a floor-plan view, it is often the walls that are drawn with the
darkest lines in order to define the spaces (Figure 3-8). These lines appear to be the closest
to the viewer and are perceived as major elements. Medium and lighter lines appear to be
farther away from the viewer and are used for secondary emphasis.
With the variety of mechanical pencils on the market today, it is easy to control line widths.
Fine-line mechanical pencils are available in a 0.3, 0.5,0.7, or 0.9 mm lead. By switching to
different pencils, the drafter can vary line weight easily.
Thick dark lines are used for major sections

(Figure 3-8), details,
borderlines, and cutting plane lines. A thick,
intense line can represent
the walls on a floor plan or structural members,
such as fireplaces or stairways,
the outline of a ceiling on a reflected ceilingplan,
or the outline of a building on a site plan. Thick,
intense linesare also used to emphasize an
object or element.
Medium-weight lines are used for hidden

objects and are usually
drawn dashed or dotted. They are also used for
outlining the
planes of objects and for centerlines, as well as
for furniture and
equipment.
Thin light lines are generally used as guidelines, drawn to help

line up certain details or to help with lettering height. These lines
should be barely visible and should disappear when a print or copy
is made. Lines that are a little darker are used for dimension and
extension lines, leaders, door swings, and break lines.
Page 5 of 10
UNDERSTANDING SOLID OBJECTS
Three-dimensional figures are referred to as solids.

Solids are bounded by the surfaces that contain them.
These surfaces can be one of the following four types:
• Planar
• Single curved
• Double curved
• Warped
Regardless of how
complex a solid may
be, it is composed of
combinations of these
basic types of
surfaces. All objects &
structures can be
broken down into basic
constituent geometrical
‘units’. These are:
Page 6 of 10
3D freehand sketching is very useful to a Designer, Engineers and Architects to communicate
ideas quickly, clearly and effectively in order to stimulate further discussions and ultimately,
to aid the design process.
Sketching to Generate ideas…
Page 7 of 10
To develop ideas…
To understand ideas
to refine ideas…
Page 8 of 10
To sell ideas…
Everybody can draw. You just don’t all know it yet!
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LESSON 3: TECHNICAL SKETCHING

Ideas and plans are

Sketching is also used so as to be able to quickly present, in a graphical form, an

Fig. 2A freehand drawn

• Cutting lines: show major slices in a building or object.

Thick dark lines are used for major sections

Medium-weight lines are used for hidden

Thin light lines are generally used as guidelines, drawn to help

Three-dimensional figures are referred to as solids.

Sketching to Generate ideas…

Everybody can draw. You just don’t all know it yet!

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