From what I have learned while researching technical illustration, technical illustration is basically a means of visually explaining to a non-technically educated audience the specific form, proportions, components, and uses of an object, usually something mechanical or detailed. It’s used in many areas, but mostly in the field of technology as blueprints and diagrams or in the medical and scholastic field. It is used often for mechanical engineering and invention for practical, military, or artistic use. It stresses accuracy and detail for the entire form, sometimes even the parts that are not facing the viewer.
The tools used in technical drawings vary widely, often depending upon the era in which they were drawn. They can be drawn simply, with no more than a pencil and paper, or with the more important and finished products the major tools can be used. The drafting board has been around for a while. This board involves the large sheet of paper set at 90% angles on a large board where a sliding strait-edge T-Square can be used to control the pencil or pen being used to create accurate measurements. It also holds set squares and triangles in place for diagonal drawing, etc. Nowadays drafting tables have drafting machines supported on both sides of the tables so that lines are guaranteed to be parallel—though mostly even they have been largely replaced by CAD (computer aided design) Workstations. Drafting table tools include compasses for drawing circles and arcs, the French Curve for more complex curves, and Splines that can be manually bent for different curves. They also use templates and other things. As for the computer technology they use now, the 2-dimentional types are basically mechanical drawing systems where shapes and curves can be created by software and drawings are much easier to edit—with a drafting table, if a mistake is made, that’s it and you have to start over. The three dimensional programs make the technical illustrations much more comprehensive and complete, in a way, because the illustration can be turned about and examined on all sides. There’s less room for error for these and so in the modern world everything like planes and car designs are checked in 3-D before they’re released in 2-D format for manufacture.
From looking at some of these illustrations, I’ve been able to see there are a few specific similarities in how most technical illustration is carried out. First of all, the object represented is usually drawn with very precise, clean lines that convey every important detail. If it’s drawn on paper the lines may necessarily be a little rougher but almost anything drawn with a computer with be completely pristine and clear. The way in which these things are drawn involve all parts as seen all the way through, as if it were transparent. The back parts are visible, though the lines that indicate them are either lighter or dotted or dashed. Less important lines are also lighter. The lines in the forefront, as well as the general outlines of the object, are thicker and darker to give the object perspective. Perspective is very important in technical drawings along with the realism and accuracy of proportion.
Examples of technical illustration:
Hatch Illustration: http://www.hatchillustration.com/Vector.html
These people (or person) do mostly mechanical illustrations for cars, bicycles, parts, and other machinery—and in a couple instances riding clothing and helmets.
Leonardo Da Vinci: http://www.drawingsofleonardo.org/
He was one of the first technical illustrators to become famous. He designed machines and invented many things advanced for his time and revealed the complexity of the human body.
Nidus Corp: technical illustration: http://www.nidus-corp.com/Tonp.html
They do everything-from shoes to car parts to faucets.
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