HOW TO

SCALE
YOUR DRAWING?
OBJECTIVES:

1. FAMILIARIZE THE BASICS OF SCALING

2. DECIDE WHAT SCALE TO USE IN EXAM AND AAT
PLATES
3. EMBRACE THE CHARACTER OF BEING TEACHABLE
THROUGH CONSULTATION
The BASICS:
The scale 1: 100 means 1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
100 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

The scale 1: 200 means 1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

200 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

The scale 1: 50 means 1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

50 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

Ex. 1) To get the drawing measurement of a table with a 2-m length in actual/real life:
A) Using scale 1: 100
1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 "n" 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
=
100 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒎 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙

*Cross multiply:
𝑛 200
= 100 cm in drawing
1
*Note that you need to convert first all actual measurements in centimeters.
𝒏 = 𝟐 𝐜𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠
So 2m = 200cm.
Ex. 1) To get the drawing measurement of a table with a 2-m length in actual/real life:
B) Using scale 1: 200
1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 "n" 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
=
200 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒎 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙

*Cross multiply:
200
𝑛 = 200 cm in drawing
𝒏 = 𝟏 𝐜𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠

C) Using scale 1: 50
1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 "n" 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
=
50 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 200 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙

*Cross multiply:
200
𝑛 = 50 cm in drawing
𝒏 = 𝟒 𝐜𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠
Ex. 2) The height of my cabinet in actual measurement is 1.6 meters. I would like to make it
8cm in my drawing, what scale should I use?
Note: Use this
1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 8 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 scenario in
"n" 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
=
𝟏60 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 calculating
the scale of
*Cross multiply: your PT and
160 CPT plates.
𝑛 = 8 cm in actual
𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎𝒄𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍

Therefore, the scale to use is 1:20.

Furthermore, the width of my cabinet is 0.8 meters. If I use this 1:20 scale, what would be its
drawing measurement?
1 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 "n" 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
=
20 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝟖𝟎 𝑐𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙

*Cross multiply:
80
𝑛 = 20 cm in drawing
𝒏 = 𝟒𝒄𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠
Good practices before creating your plate:
1. Sketch your design.

2. Put dimensions in your sketch using the actual or real life measurements.

3. Select your desired drawing measurement in your paper. This measurement should be
in centimeters and should not be too small or too large for the drawing area.
Ex. A 2-cm height of a chair is too small for the drawing area in A4-size paper. A 6-cm height would be better.

4. Calculate for the scale to use.

5. If the calculated scale has decimal values, round it off to the nearest whole number.

6. Convert all of your actual measurements into their corresponding drawing

measurements using the rounded off scale you calculated.
PT INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Create the Orthographic Views of your furniture with
correct dimensions (top view, front view, &
right side view).

2. Plate Title: Orthographic Drawing

3. Plate No: PT

4. Put or indicate the scale you use on the bottom-center

Part of your drawing area. Ex. “SCALE 1:20”

5. Do not put the unit “cm” in your dimensions.

6. In your dimension figures or numerals, use the
“actual/real-life” dimensions, not the drawing or scaled
dimensions.
7. Use 0.5 cm text heights for your labels (views and scale
at bottom).
8. Use 0.3 cm text heights and 0.1 pin for your dimension
figures.
CPT INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Create the Isometric View of your furniture with
correct dimensions.

2. Plate Title: Isometric Drawing

3. Plate No: CPT

4. Put or indicate the scale you use on the bottom-center

Part of your drawing area. Ex. “SCALE 1:20”

5. Do not put the unit “cm” in your dimensions.

6. In your dimension figures or numerals, use the
“actual/real-life” dimensions, not the drawing or scaled
dimensions.
7. Use 0.5 cm text heights for your labels (views and scale
at bottom).
8. Use 0.3 cm text heights and 0.1 pin for your dimension
figures.
 SAMPLE
DRAWINGS