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Rendering orthographic drawings helps to reveal the materials, their design and can also show their depth. Graphic enhancement can be done on these flat and two dimensional drawings and can be successfully used in design presentations. These are faster and easier to render when compared to other drawings. All rendered orthographic drawings require shadows. These should be considered prior to rendering and a shadow plan created with each shadow located which can be colour rendered later. Plans, elevations and sections require large areas of colour applied that must be applied in deliberate straight edge strokes.
To render any orthographic drawings like plan, section or elevation a clean original drawing without dimensioning and notes should be selected. The simple way of deciding on the rendering is to consider light direction and create shadows which help to reveal height and provide the contrast to enhance the drawing. Later if time permits value contrasts, material and colour rendering can be done.
There are two ways in which one can estimate shadows in a drawing; one is to create consistent shadow orientation adjacent and according to the height of each form for the whole plan at a 45 degree orientation for the whole plan and, the second is to create shadows at 45 degree angles that are cast by a variety of light sources fond in the environment. The shadows are drawn according to the location of the windows, skylights and electric light sources. These shadows are cast according to the height and adjacent to each form which will help in creating dramatic effects and help indicate window locations.
Rendering helps to enhance elevations and section drawings to indicate relative depths and forms of design elements. Shadows are drawn in these drawings as cast from top right to bottom left following a 45 degree diagonal. (Fig – 1) The lengths are determined by the relative depth of the object casting the shadow but should be kept to minimum for graphic clarity. When required to make the drawing more dramatic the lengths of the shadows can be increased. Exterior elevations which receive more sun light are usually rendered more to create dramatic effects. Section drawings have shadows cast by cut elements such as the roof, floors and walls and the length of the shadows are based on the distance of the cut line receiving the shadow from the source of light.
Material can be rendered in orthographic drawings. This is done by delineating the size and location, texture and finish of both elements and furnishings which helps to distinguish material qualities easily. This can be done by simple line work and stippling and adding more detail when necessary. (Fig – 2) Some accepted standards for rendering materials and finishes can be used or a close observation of the material / finish will also help. The materials must be rendered in scale and with some indication of texture or surface finish. This allows the plan to indicate accurately the finish material sizes and locations. The rendering can be spare and minimal or detailed according to the time available and choice of the designer. Figs – 3 & 4) When accurate visual assessment is not possible due to paucity of time a legend system can be added for more information.
Colour rendering can also be done to enhance orthographic drawings. This rendered should be done on a clean copy of the drawing. This depends on the time available, type of audience, project phase, type of project and the audience. Considering all factors an appropriate media must be chosen. A little knowledge of the color theory and the techniques of rendering can be very helpful in choosing the media and the drawing surfaces. When time is a constraint spot rendering i.e. rendering only a small portion of the drawing is accurately rendered to indicate range of materials used in the project. Time can also be saved by using the correct colour in a particular area and defining elements accurately in part of that area, eg tiles can be outlined in part of the area accurately and the rest of the area can be rendered with the color of the tiles. (Figs 5 to 7) But this must be accompanied with clear notes to allow clients to understand the material locations. (Figs 8– 10)
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