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Scale Factors

Scale Ratio Examples

  • 1:2            6”=1’-0”                   72pt type at actual size is 36pt on a drawing
  • 1:2            1/2” = 1”                 
  • 1:4            3”=1’-0”                     72pt type at actual size is 18pt on a drawing
  • 1:4            1/4” = 1”                 
  • 1:8            1 1/2”=1’-0”            72pt type at actual size is 9pt on a drawing
  • 1:8            1/8” = 1”                 
  • 1:12         1”=1’-0”                     72pt type at actual size is 6pt on a drawing
  • 1:16         3/4” = 1’-0”              72pt type at actual size is 4.5pt on a drawing
  • 1:24         1/2” = 1’-0”              72pt type at actual size is 3pt on a drawing
  • 1:36         3/8” = 1’-0”              72pt type at actual size is 2pt on a drawing
  • 1:48         1/4” = 1’-0”              72pt type at actual size is 1.5pt on a drawing
  • 1:64         3/16 =1’-0”              72pt type at actual size is 1.125pt on a drawing
  • 1:96         1/8” = 1’-0”              72pt type at actual size is 0.75pt on a drawing
  • 1:192       1/16” = 1’-0”          72pt type at actual size is 0.375pt on a drawing

1/2”=1’ scale means that every 0.5” on your drawing represents 12 inches in real life, and every 1” equals 24 inches in real life.

If you wanted to figure out sizes of objects mathematically, you would use a 1:24 ratio. So for an 18” object, you would divide 18” by 24, getting 0.75”. For 64 point type, you would divide 64 by 24 getting 2.66 pt

Drawing to Scale in Adobe Illustrator

In PREFERENCES set your guides and grids to the scale you are working in.

  • For 1” = 1’ scale (1:12) set a gridline every 1 inch with 12 subdivisions.
  • Each small square in your grid will represent 1 inch and each large square will represent 1 foot.
  • Similarly, for 1/2” = 1’ scale (1:24) set a gridline every 0.5 inch with 12 subdivisions.
  • For 3”=1’ scale (1:4, or quarter size) set a gridline every 3 inches with 12 subdivisions.
  • Once you set your grids, you can use the gridlines as reference, instead of the ruler. You can draw an 18”x 24” didactic panel in 1/2” scale by making a rectangle that takes up 18 little boxes

Exercise #1

Elevation drawing at 1/2” = 1’-0” scale

• Draw a wall that is 12 feet wide by 10 feet tall.

• Add a doorway that is 6 feet wide by 7 feet tall.

• Locate the doorway 2 1/2 feet from the right hand edge of the wall.

• Draw a sign plaque that is 6 inches wide by 8 inches high.

• Locate the sign 2 inches from the left side if the doorway and align the top of the sign at 60 inches above the base of the wall.

• Add three inch high lettering that reads: “Pop-Up Exhibition“ 4 inches above the doorway.

• Finally add a scale figure that stands 6 feet tall.

Due

2/13 Please submit as a PDF, with your name, to this folder in the class >>Dropbox Folder

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