PAPER FOR DRAFTING
Paper is an essential tool for any drafter. But before you decide which one to use, there are some questions you should ask yourself. Will you be doing a rough sketch or a final drawing? Will it be scanned or framed, and do you want grid lines? Final drawings are done on archival-quality paper, so the image will endure and the paper will stay crisp for years. The paper should also contrast well with the colors of pen and pencil. You want to use paper that’s firm and not too flexible, because it will keep the drawing intact for a longer period of time. And if you’re using an erasable medium, it should stand up well. This will limit the number of ghost lines, streaks, smudges, and tears. There are several types of paper that can be used for drafting, and all of them will take graphite or ink. However, every kind of paper has properties that make them more suitable for a specific medium.
WHAT IS A BLUEPRINT?
A blueprint is a reproduction of a technical drawing that’s done by using a contact print process on light-sensitive paper, and it refers to either the blueprint or diazotype (whiteprint) method. The original process was invented by Sir John Herschel in 1842, and it produced white lines on a blue background. The paper turns blue because of a chemical reaction, while leaving the corresponding drawing as white lines. The diazotype method was invented in the early 1940’s and was also called “whiteprinting,” which left blue lines on a white or light background. It was a simple process that didn’t need a lot of complicated parts, and the maintenance was inexpensive. The machines can also be used for 20 years with little downtime and a high degree of reliability. But in both methods, the original drawing was produced on vellum or some other medium that allows light to pass through it.