Chapter 6

Architectural Lines and Lettering

Introduction

• Drafting

– Universal graphic language

– Uses lines, symbols, dimensions, and notes to

describe a structure to be built

– Properly drawn lines are dark, crisp, sharp,

and of a uniform thickness

Types of Lines

• Lines are the primary method of displaying images on architectural drawings

– Must accurately and clearly represent content

– There are a variety of types

• Each conveys a meaning

– Widths are thick or thin

– Guidelines are used to guide manual lettering

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

• Object lines

– Define outline and characteristic features

• Specific thickness

– Presentations vary

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

• Dashed lines (i.e., hidden lines)

– Show features not visible in the view or plan

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

• Extension lines

– Show extent of dimension

• Dimension lines

– Show dimension length

– Terminate at related extension lines with

slashes, arrowheads, or dots

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

• Leader lines

– Thin, dark, and crisp

– Used to connect

notes to related

features

– Drawn freehand or

with irregular curve

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

• Break lines

– Used to remove a portion of an object, show a

partial view, shorten a long object

– Also used to terminate features when extent is

clearly defined

– May be long or short

• Line techniques

– For additional information, refer to Student CD

Types of Lines (cont’d.)

Lettering

• Basic terminology:

– Composition

• Lettering spacing, layout, and appearance

– Justify

• To align text

– Lettering

• Traditional handmade letters and numbers

– Text

• Lettering using CADD

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Basic terminology (cont’d.):

– Annotation

• Text, notes, dimensions, and text symbols

– Font

• Assortment of one size and style of lettering or text

– Text style

• Set of text characters (e.g., font, height, width)

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Single-stroke lettering

– Single straight or

curved line

elements

• Makes text easy

and clear to read

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Slanted lettering

– Slant to the right with an angle of 68° from

horizontal

• Uppercase slanted lettering is used for water

feature names in mapping

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Lettering height

– Minimum should be 1/8" (3 mm)

• Some companies use 5/32" (4 mm)

– All dimension numerals, notes, and other

lettered information should be the same

• Except titles, drawing numbers, and captions

– Height of fraction numbers should be the same

as other lettering associated with the fraction

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Lettering legibility

– Lettering should be dark, crisp, and sharp

• Reproduction quality

– Spaces should be uniform

• Some letters will require spacing farther apart (e.g.,

I, N, or S versus L, A, or W)

• Minimum recommended space between letters is

1/16" (1.5 mm)

– Notes should be lettered horizontally

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Rules for lettering and text numeral applications:

– Foot units are followed by foot symbol ('), and inch units are followed by inch symbol (″)

– Inches and fractions are used for values less than 12 inches (e.g., 6″)

– Metric values in architectural drafting are

generally in millimeters

Lettering (cont’d.)

• Rules (cont’d.):

– When metric values are used on a

predominantly foot and inch drawing, the

abbreviation “mm” follows the metric value

– Metric unit names are lowercase

• Except proper names

– Vertical text is used for unit abbreviations

– Leave a space between a numeral and an

abbreviation

Lettering (cont’d.)• Rules (cont’d.):

– Do not leave a space between a unit

abbreviation and its prefix

– Do not use plural unit symbols

– Use the plural of spelled-out metric

measurements

– Millimeters (mm) are assumed

• Hints for professional lettering

– For additional information, refer to Student CD