Drawing applications

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The purpose of scale is to accurately represent spaces, objects or even graphics to a smaller, or larger, more practical size than the original.
For example, A 1:50 scale, means that the object is 50 times smaller ON PAPER than in REAL LIFE.

Real Life Scaled Real Life Scaled Real Life Scaled

1 : 2 1 : 10 2 : 1
Real Life This is used when the item to be
drawn is too small in REAL LIFE
and needs to be enlarged on PAPER

1:5 1:10
A3 Paper A3 Paper

Compiled by M. Patrick November 2016 ©

 Calculating Scale
Scale always relates REAL LIFE (1:1) to your PAPER you wish to draw on. You therefore must make the scale suit YOUR PAPER accordingly.
If your REAL LIFE item is as big as a house, and YOUR PAPER is A3, then you must scale the house down enough to fit the PAPER.
Depending on the size of the house, and your paper, you may need a scale of 1:20, 1:50 or 1:100

1/50 of original size 1/100 of original size 1/250 of original size

Note: 1:50 1:100 1:250 the bigger the number, the
smaller the item becomes
on the PAPER

In other words you can divide the original REAL LIFE measurement by the scale required.
Example: Your house is 15000mm long (15m) and you need it to fit on your A3 PAPER (about 390 x 260mm)
At a scale of 1:20 we must divide 15000 by 20 = 750mm - will this fit onto your PAPER? - No
At a scale of 1:50 we must divide 15000 by 50 = 300mm - will this fit onto your PAPER? - Yes
At a scale of 1:100 the length of the house will also fit onto your PAPER but it will be too small.

Road Design Understanding that: 1cm = 10mm and 1m = 100cm and 1m = 1000mm and 1km = 1000m

When designing a road, you will be required to show 20m distances on your PAPER. This is called the SKD value.
20m is too long to fit on your PAPER, therefore you must scale it down to about 1:250 or 1:500.

REAL LIFE
Example: (using a scale of 1:500) - since 20m = 20 000mm So at a scale of 1:500 20m = 20 000mm = 40mm
500
Therefore 20m REAL LIFE at a scale of 1:500 = 40mm on YOUR PAPER
By calculation then, 1m in REAL LIFE = 2mm on YOUR PAPER Compiled by M. Patrick November 2016 ©
 The Scale Rule
The Scale Rule has been designed to make your life easier when drawing.
Using a scale rule means you don’t have to grasp for your calculator every few minutes.

Scale rules are NOT RULERS, they are precision measuring instruments
and should not be used to draw lines. Do not drop them.

We calculated that 20m in REAL LIFE = 40mm on PAPER at a scale of 1:500.

Draw a line 40mm long on your PAPER. Place the Scale Rule as you see below.

ON PAPER REAL LIFE

40mm

20m 50m

1:5, 1:50, 1:500, 1:5000 etc can all be used here The colour is a quick reference reminder.

Note the scales on opposite sides Note the scales on opposite sides

Compiled by M. Patrick November 2016 ©

 134m Above Ground Level

mm r
4 p e
29on pa

30m Note: Google Scale

REAL LIFE Scale 1:650
Compiled by M. Patrick
A3 Paper November 2016 ©
 233m Above Ground Level

m mer
6 2 pap
1n
o

51m Note: Google Scale

REAL LIFE Scale 1:1085
Compiled by M. Patrick
A3 Paper November 2016 ©
 431m Above Ground Level

e r
a p
n p
o

127m Note: Google Scale

REAL LIFE Scale 1:2700
Compiled by M. Patrick
A3 Paper November 2016 ©
 949m Above Ground Level

m
4 0 m er a p
n p
o

216m Note: Google Scale

REAL LIFE Scale 1:4600
Compiled by M. Patrick
A3 Paper November 2016 ©
 2.50km Above Ground Level

15

576m Note: Google Scale

REAL LIFE Scale 1:12255
Compiled by M. Patrick
A3 Paper November 2016 ©