CAD STANDARDS Version 2

VENUE AND PRODUCTION

DRAWINGS

Based upon the European Draughting Standards

For
Technical Communication in Theatres (TCT)
Version 14C

ABTT CAD Standards V2 1 2004

Contents
1 Lines
1.01 Line Form
1.02 Line Widths
1.03 Border Lines
1.04 Drawing Lines
1.05 Reference Lines
1.06 Other Lines
1.07 Other Objects
1.08 Fill Lines (Hatching)
1.09 Movable Elements
1.10 New Lines

2 Text
2.01 Size
2.02 Font
2.03 Language

3 Dimensions
3.01 Dimension Lines
3.02 Leaders

4 Layers
4.01 Layer Names (Parent Layers)
4.02 Parent Layer Content
4.03 Further Expansion of Layers
(Child and Grandchild Layers)
4.04 Layer Colours
4.05 3D Layers

5 Title Block
5.01 Position and Construction
5.02 Essential Information – Title Blocks
5.03 Optional Information – Notation Box
5.04 Scale Bar
5.05 Legend
5.06 Other Information
5.07 Hanging Plot List

6 Drawing Borders

7 3 Dimensional Drawings

ABTT CAD Standards V2 2 2004

1 Lines
Clear use of different line forms, widths and colours can help convey extra
meaning. Standardisation of line forms and weights is important to establish a
logical hierarchy within the drawing, leading the reader automatically to the
most important information

Each line is made of two variable parts

Its form (dotted, dashed, continuous etc.)

It’s width or weight.

These elements combined form a Line Style.

Line Styles for most commonly occurring situations are defined in the
following sections.

1.01 Line Form

It is recommended that the above line forms are used wherever possible and
that their proportions are maintained to be close to above.

The AutoCAD LineType names are in parentheses; where possible we have

tried to use ISO Standard LineTypes.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 3 2004

 1.02 Line Widths

The recommended Line Widths are shown below. It should be emphasised

that these widths are the widths of the Lines when plotted. When using Line
Widths it may be necessary to adjust their Settings so that they are shown
realistically onscreen. Once set Line Widths do not need to be displayed
unless required. LWT should be set to Off in electronically exchanged
Drawing Files

Line Width by Common Scales

1:100 1:50 1:25

Ultra Thin 0.12 0.18 0.25

Thin 0.18 0.25 0.35
Medium 0.25 0.35 0.50
Thick 0.35 0.50 0.70
Ultra Thick 0.50 0.70 1.00

It is recommended that the above line forms and widths are used wherever
possible. Other line forms and or widths should only be used if they help
clarify a drawing. In such cases new Line Styles should be noted on a
Legend.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 4 2004

Definitive Line Styles (Pre set combinations of Form
and Width)
1.03 Border Lines

Drawing Border; Title Block; Drawing Division; Notation Box

An Ultra Thick Single Continuous Line

1.04 Drawing Lines

Edge Line

An Ultra Thick Single Continuous Line

Major Structural Information between Floor Level and +1800mm

A Thick Continuous Line

Minor Structural Information between Floor Level and +1800mm

A Medium Continuous Line

Detail Below Floor Level

A Thin Short Dashed Line

Permanent Features above +1800mm

A Medium Long Dashed Line

Non-Permanent Features above +1800mm

A Thin Long Dashed Line

Hidden Detail

A Medium Short Dashed Line

1.05 Reference Lines

Stage Centre; Setting and Datum Lines

A Thin Datum Style Line with additions of CL, SL and DL as necessary

ABTT CAD Standards V2 5 2004

 Centre, Axis and Loci Lines

A Thin Centre Line

1.06 Other Lines

Break Line

A Thin Continuous Line with a ‘break’ symbol placed at the Midpoint

Phantom Line

A Thin Phantom Line used to show Adjacent Parts or Alternate positions

1.07 Other Objects

Objects with thickness such as LX Bars etc should be drawn full size to show
the space they take up.

Polylines should be used to represent such items, with LineTypes as

appropriate, according to position. Polylines are not affected by any
LineWeight LineWidth settings.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 6 2004

 1.08 Fill Lines (Hatching)

Outline of a Filled Area

A Thick Continuous Line

Outline of an Unfilled Area (An Area too large to Fill)

An Ultra Thick Continuous Line

Area Fill (Cross Hatch)

Thin, Uniformly spaced Diagonal (45º) Continuous Lines

Area Fill (Material)

A Hatch representing the Material used

Sectional Fill (Area too small to use other Fills)

Solid Fill

ABTT CAD Standards V2 7 2004

 1.09 Movable Elements

Elements with more than one position such as Tormentors, Portal or LX

Bridges or Orchestra Pit Lifts should be drawn in their ‘Normal’ position using
the appropriate Standard Line Style. Minimum and Maximum extent of travel
should be shown using a Thin Phantom Line

1.10 New Lines

It is acknowledged that on occasion, to aid clarity to a complex drawing, new

Line Styles will be created. In such cases the definition of such Line Styles
should be clearly marked on a Legend.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 8 2004

2 Text

2.01 Size

Text can be divided into two types

Major Text Information that anyone using a drawing should note as of

primary importance

Minor Text Less important information but nonetheless necessary to the

understanding of a drawing.

The recommended heights of Text are as follows

Major Text

1:100 1:50 1:25

Drawn Size (1:1) 200 200 200

Plotted Size 2mm 4mm 8mm

Minor Text

1:100 1:50 1:25

Drawn Size (1:1) 100 100 100

Plotted Size 1mm 2mm 4mm

As can be seen from above it is not recommended that drawings containing

important textual information are distributed plotted at 1:100.

2.02 Font

A clear sans serif font should be used.

Arial, which this document is written in is recommended as the Standard font.

In this case the TEXTFILL system variable should be set to On (1)

2.03 Language

Text should be in English plus any other language. Each Language text
should be on a separate Layer.
ABTT CAD Standards V2 9 2004
3 Dimensions
3.01 Dimension Lines

Surveyed Reference Dimension

A Thin Continuous Line Terminating in Arrows with Thin Continuous

Extension Lines. Text adjacent to an Arrow

Object Size Dimension

A Thin Continuous Line Terminating in Ticks, with Thin Continuous Extension

Lines. Text centre positioned above Horizontal Dimensions and to the
Left of Vertical Dimensions

3.02 Leaders

Leader to the Outline of an Object

A Thin Continuous Line terminating in an Arrow

Leader to a Surface

A Thin Continuous Line terminating in a Dot

ABTT CAD Standards V2 10 2004

4 Layers
Layer Names should perform several functions, they should
• Indicate what type of information is contained on a Layer
• Allow for automatic grouping and sorting by software
• Allow for further expansion by the end user with the use of sub groups
(Layer Families)

4.01 Layer Names (Parent Layers)

0
1 Basic
1A Datum Line
2 Floor
3 Subfloor
4 Flying
5 LX
6 Sound & AV
7 Scenic Elements
8 Services
9 General Notes

4.02 Parent Layer Content

0 This Layer is created automatically by some software and

it cannot be deleted. Some software does not use layer
“0” at all. Therefore it should only be used as a temporary
layer (work in progress) if at all.

1 Basic This layer contains the fundamental structural information

required to establish if a set fits the space. Including
sightline reference points from critical seats, FOH
Building outlines, reference lines that all dimensions are
taken from (Setting, Centre and Datum lines and their
symbols

2 Floor Details of traps, integral revolves etc. Alternative stage

shapes and pit formats.

3 Subfloor Details of the structure supporting the stage (showing

areas to be avoided or considered when planning floor
alterations or effects through the stage surface.)

ABTT CAD Standards V2 11 2004

 4 Flying Details of the flying system, bar ends and centres
indicated, position of suspension centres, grid details,
areas where motors can be rigged, access points etc.

5 LX Permanent LX positions / rig details. Circuit outlets,

numbering and types, position of dimmers. Follow spot
positions and type, control room information.

6 Sound Microphone and speaker positions and equipment

information. Alternative operating positions. Cue light
information. Video camera and monitor positions.

7 Scenic Items of Scenery, including temporary structures, floors,

Elements Stage extensions, flying pieces etc.

8 Services Building services details, plumbing runs; “domestic”

power runs, fire and security alarm details (sensors,
sprinklers, hoses etc.)

9 General Optional layer for storage of notation (text). Text in

Notes general should stay on the layer to which it relates

4.03 Further Expansion of Layers (Child & Grandchild Layers)

The above layers represent how a Parent Layer structure should be

created for a Library plan. If the end user wishes to add more information
on further (Child) Layers the following protocol should be adopted.

Further information relating to Parent Layers is drawn on a Child Layer

with a letter (suffix) following the original Parent Layer number and a
brief description of the type of information.

Child Layers may be further subdivided into separate Layers so they can
be switched on or off as required. All these ‘Grandchild’ Layers are given
common Child Layer designators is Number/Letter with extra
descriptions as appropriate. It should be noted that it might well be the
case that no drawing elements exist on the Parent Layers but only on
the Child or Grandchild Layers. Different shades of the Parent Layer
Colour are shown to add definition as shown below.

Examples

4 Flying The Parent Layer

4 Flying - Text Text relating to the Parent Flying Layer

ABTT CAD Standards V2 12 2004

 4a CW Bars Counter Weight Bars. This layer shows the bars
full extent across the stage

4a CW Bars@CL This shows a short section of the bar on the

Centre Line for indicative Purposes

4a CW Bars@Ends This shows a short section of the bar at the

Extreme Bar Ends for indicative Purposes

4a CW Bars@Gallery This shows a short section of the bar at the

Gallery side that the flys are operated from. These
would be next to the Hanging Plot List.

4.04 Layer Colours

Colours have been assigned to Layers in order that anyone opening a new
drawing will have immediate references to work with.

The basic colours assigned to the Parent Layers are as follows

Layer Title Colour Use for

1 Basic White/Black Building Structure

1A Datum Yellow Setting & Centre Line
2 Floor Grey 8 Floor/Revolves etc
3 Subfloor Red Basement Detail etc
4 Flying Green Bar Positions etc
5 LX Cyan LX Information
6 Sound & AV Blue Sound Information
7 Scenic Not assigned Scenery etc
8 Services Magenta Ring Mains, Water etc
9 General Notes White/Black General Notes

Colours for Child/Grand Child Layers should use shades of the Parent Layer
colour to differentiate.

An example of a typical Layer Family is shown below.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 13 2004

5 Title Blocks
5.01 Position and Construction

The title block should be positioned, where possible, at the bottom right-hand
corner of the sheet, so that when the plan is drawer stored, or folded
appropriately, the title and number are always clearly visible. Figure shows
the recommended method of folding A0 and A1 size sheets.

The position of the title block should only be changed in exceptional

circumstances, if for example the drawings are always stored in a hanging
rack. The title and number should still remain clearly visible when the drawing

ABTT CAD Standards V2 14 2004

is folded. The title block will therefore always be positioned in a drawing
corner.

It is sometimes useful if the line marking the left-hand edge of the title panel
continues up for the full extent of the sheet, since this reserves a strip along
the side of the sheet for the addition of notes, revisions, etc.

Line and text widths and layout within the title block should be chosen for
greatest clarity. See sections 5 and 6 for Line Weight and Text details.

5.02
2.02 Essential Information:
Essential Information –(Venue
Title Blocks
plans)

Sample Title Blocks

ABTT CAD Standards V2 15 2004

 5.03 Optional Information – Notation Box

The Notation Box may carry further information, such as the venue logo, the
project designer (director, lighting designer). The name of the producing
company; the name of the person preparing and checking the drawing, job
reference, essential stage information, software used to produce the drawing,
etc.

5.04 Scale Bar

It is recommended that a scale indicator be included in the drawing, to enable

both the checking of plan print accuracy, and rough scaling on site without
need for a scale rule.

The scale bar should be drawn 1:1 and placed outside the title block, to allow
for prints in different scales.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 16 2004

5.05 Legend

The use of a Legend is necessary to define the meaning of non-standard

symbols, line types (and line widths) contained in the drawing.

If the drawing conforms to the Standards laid down in this document, it is not
necessary to include a Legend if the following phrase is clearly visible:

This drawing has been prepared in accordance with the ABTT

CAD Standards for Theatre Groundplans and Sections.
unlessUnless non standard Line Styles etc are used.

5.06 Other Information – Notation Box

Any other relevant information such as vital Dimensions, SWLs of Flying units
etc should be contained in a Box, placed outside the Theatre Walls on the
Drawing. The bottom left hand corner is recommended for such an item.

The Border of the box should be in accordance with the Standard Line Styles.

5.07 Hanging Plot List

A Hanging plot list should be drawn preferably outside the theatre walls or
otherwise at a convenient place.

Use “H” to indicate that a fly is a manually operated Hemp Line

Use “CW” to indicate that a fly is manually operated Counter Weight Line
Use “M” to indicate that a fly is Motorised
Use “C” to indicate that a fly is Computer controlled
Use “W” to indicate a manually operated Winch

ABTT CAD Standards V2 17 2004

6 Drawing Border

Electronic Library plans do not include a border because of the various plot
formats that may eventually be used. Separate Templates in most programs’
libraries contain approved borders for the standard ISO ‘A’ format paper sizes.

Printed plans, where possible, should always include a border. The border
should be kept simple and clear. The choice of continuous line of ultra thick
line weight is recommended in keeping with section 5.

In UK Theatre practice 1:25 and 1:50 are the most commonly used scales,
1:75 or 1:100 are also used. Apart from these scales, plots should be at ISO
scales 1:10, 1:20, 1:50 or 1:100 etc.

Some programs using ‘PaperSpace’ to plot from automatically produce a

Border as part of the process. Where possible this borders width should be in
accordance with the Standard, i.e. an Ultra Thick Continuous Line.

A border is strongly recommended as a way to ensure that the complete

drawing is contained within the media it is finally presented in.

ABTT CAD Standards V2 18 2004

7 3 Dimensional Drawings
3 Dimensional drawing is usually done using a combination of Solids, and
Meshes. This stage is known as the Wireframe.

These drawings can then have photorealistic surfaces added to them and
Rendered to produce realistic looking images.

3 Dimensional Elements of a drawing should take on the approximate

properties of the materials they are representing. Many programs allow the
applying of Texture or Materials based on bitmaps to the 3D entities.

In terms of Layer control, 3D drawing of the Wireframe should follow the

Parent/Child hierarchy outlined above within the current Layering protocol.

In some programs, a separate layer is not required to display a separate

colour for 3 D Objects. In such cases, it is for the user to decide upon the
creation of extra layers or not.

In that 3Dimensional drawings are representative of real life solid objects,

Linetypes and Line Widths may be ignored and all Wireframes should be
constructed in Continuous lines

Extra layers are not required for the Materials or Textures of a Rendered
drawing.

Example

Simple Auditorium Plan - Layer 1f Auditorium Colour - Black

ABTT CAD Standards V2 19 2004

Auditorium with 3D Elements added (Shown above Plan for clarity)
Layer 1f 3D Auditorium - Colours as per decorative finishes

ABTT CAD Standards V2 20 2004

Compiled by Steve Green - Scottish Opera
David Ripley - cad4theatre

Version 2 Additions by David Ripley – cad4theatre

Copyright resides with originating Authors

Matthew Attwood Production Manager and English National Opera

Draughtsman
Alan Bartlett Construction Manager Royal Shakespeare
Company
Robert Batchelor Partner and CAD draughtsman Anystage (Theatre Cad
Bureau)
Chris Dyer Designer and Lecturer
Steve Green Production Manager Scottish Opera
Colin Maxwell Head of Modelroom Royal Opera House
Alison Southern Assistant to Production Manager Royal Opera House
Anthony Draughtsman Freelance
Waterman
David Ripley AutoCAD Tutor cad4theatre

ABTT CAD Standards V2 21 2004