Introduction to Graphic

Communication
A drawing is a graphic representation of an object, or a part of it, and is the
result of creative thought by an engineer or technician.
Drawings, photographs, slides, transparencies, and sketches are all forms of
graphic communication. Any medium that uses a graphic image to aid in
conveying a message, instructions, or an idea is involved in graphic
communication.

My House
One of the most widely used forms of graphic communication is the
drawing.
Technically, it can be defined as “a graphic representation of an idea, a
concept or an entity which actually or potentially exists in life”.
History of Drawing
People learned to draw pictures of the objects
around them long before they learned to write. The
ability to make simple drawings helped people
develop their first written language. There were no
words or characters in ancient writing. Ideas of
things were conveyed by pictures of the battles, and
hunting was recorded in these “picture” languages.
Drawings carved by primitive people on rocks, walls
of caves and so forth have survived to our day. Many
drawings of human beings, animals, fish and so on,
made by our forefathers thousands of years ago,
have been found on the ancient caves and stones.
These drawings were carved on granite rocks with
stone (flint) tools. (See Fig.)
History of Drawing
History indicates that drawings were used in ancient times to describe the exact
forms and sizes of structures. The Bible states that Solomon’s Temple was “built of
stone made ready before it was brought thither,” indicating that drawings were
used to describe the forms of and sizes of the individual members of historic
structure.
The theory of projection drawing was advanced to an academic study by the
introduction of two planes of projection at right angles to each other by French
mathematician Gaspard Monge, near the end of the eighteenth century. This
development provides the basis of descriptive geometry, the science which treats
the graphical description of objects of three dimensions and provides problems
designed to develop the ability to visualize and to solve problems.
The original and natural method of describing the forms of objects is by means of
drawings. Written or spoken language is inadequate to describe any but the most
elementary forms.
Two (2) basic types of drawings:
1. Artistic drawings
Range in scope from the simplest line drawing to the most famous
paintings. Regardless of their complexity, artistic drawings are used to
express the feelings, beliefs, philosophies, and ideas of the artist.
Two (2) basic types of drawings:
2. Technical drawings
A technical drawing is a means of clearly and concisely communicating all of
the information necessary to transform an idea or a concept in to reality.
Therefore, a technical drawing often contains more than just a graphic
representation of its subject. It also contains dimensions, notes and
specifications.
Technical drawing may be made with instruments, or freehand, or partly with
instruments and partly freehand. Instrumental drawing is the term usually
applied to technical drawings executed with instruments; technical sketching
applies to such drawings executed without the aid of instruments.
Two (2) basic types of drawings:
2. Technical drawings
Areas/Professional Disciplines of Technical Drawing
Drawing is a tool used by engineers and industrial designers to design a product, solve a
problem, or produce a product. Almost everything around you began as an idea and then
as a drawing. The buildings in which you live and work; the appliances in your home-
dishwashers, can openers, dryers, toasters; the methods of transportation - cars, trains,
ships, airplanes; the systems that support your life - plumbing, electricity; even what you
wear was conceived and brought into being by the effective use of engineering drawings.
Few items get manufactured or produced with out an engineering drawing. Technical
drawings must contain everything needed for proper interpretation of the design
because design and manufacturing may be located far apart - often in different countries.
Therefore technical drawing has extensive application especially for architectures and
engineers. The most common applications of technical drawings can be found in the
fields of manufacturing, engineering and construction. So the art and design that goes
into making buildings is known as architecture. To communicate all aspects of the design,
detailed drawings are used. Architectural drawings describe and document an architect's
design.
Purpose of Technical Drawing
To appreciate the need for technical drawings, one must understand the design
process. The design process is an orderly, systematic procedure used in
accomplishing a needed design. Any product that is to be manufactured,
fabricated, assembled, constructed, built, or subjected to any other types of
conversion process must first be designed. For example, a house must be designed
before it can be built.
Application of Technical Drawing
Technical drawings are used in many different applications. They are needed in
any setting, which involves design, and in any subsequent forms of conversion
process. The most common applications of technical drawings can be found in the
fields of manufacturing, engineering and construction.
For instance, Surveyors, civil engineers, sanitarians use technical drawings to
document such works as the layout of a new subdivisions, or the marking of the
boundaries for a piece of property. Contractors and construction personnel use
technical drawings as their blue prints in converting architectural and engineering
designs in to reality.
Technical Drawing Today (Computer Aided Design and Drafting)
Technical drawings had been produced by the help of drawing instruments and
traditional pencil-on-paper drafting is referred to as manual drafting. However,
nowadays different software are available to do design and drafting.
Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) involve any type of design activity
that uses the computer to develop, analyze, modify or enhance an engineering
design. CADD systems are based on interactive computer graphics. The engineer
creates an image on the monitor by entering commands on the computer.
CADD can serve as a full partner in the design process, enabling the designers to
do jobs that are simply not possible or feasible with manual equipment.
Besides increasing the speed with which a job is done, a CADD can perform many
of the tedious and repetitive skills ordinarily required of drafter. It has proved to
be, conservatively speaking, at least a 30 percent improvement in production in
terms of time spent drawing.