Additional Resource Links:
- Transform
- Transform Each command
- Illustrator’s Free Transform Tool, etc.
- Making an Isometric Grid
- Isometric Drawing
- Orthographic Projection
- Perspective Drawing
- Engineering Drawing
- Architectural Drawing
Assignment
Create a realistic illustration of an actual object/product that shows its component parts by utilizing either an exploded view or cutaway view technique. (As an alternative option for this assignment you may choose to do an anatomical drawing showing circulatory, nervous, musculature or skeletal systems detail).
Purpose:
The purpose of this type of drawing is to show how something works, how it is put together or how to assemble it in its entirety.
Procedure:
First you must find a real mechanical object that you can disassemble. You must be able to take the object apart to see it”s various working parts (components) and how they go together inside the product. A mechanical object is much better than an electronic/digital object for this purpose because the parts will typically be larger and easier for you to see, as well as easier for you to understand how they all go together.
You will typically not be able to work from a photographic template layer on this assignment. However, you will first roughly sketch with paper and pencil the exploded view or cutaway view of your object first and use that as a template to work from. This sketch will help you plan and visualize how the individual parts work together and to arrange them in a consistent angle.
Three key aspects of this type of drawing are;
- consistency,
- accuracy and
- three-dimensionality.
- Accurate rendering of details requires close observation and patience.
- Control of light and shadow is achieved by manipulation of gradient fills, use
of the blend tool, or gradient mesh to give realistic dimension and volume to component objects. - It may be in either B & W or color, your choice.
- Your final illustration size depends on which layout option you choose (see below)
- Your technical drawing must be placed in either an advertisement or a product catalog page.
3D and/or Perspective Drawing:
- https://youtu.be/5cJO0UVJGP4?si=UBZLqaaNjSrSRVXs
- Perspective Drawing
- Isometric Projections
- Consistent perspective view point throughout all the parts can be aided by use of Illustrator’s three-dimensional grid
- Making an Isometric Grid
3D Effects and/or Shading can be best achieved in Illustrator by using one or a combination of the following tools:
- Illustrator’s 3-D Revolve —For symmetrical objects:
- Blend Tool—between two shapes, works well for rendering wire
- Gradient Fill and Gradient Tool—use the gradient tool to customize the size and direction of the gradient fill
- redial
- linear
- Gradient Mesh—use on irregularly shaped objects. The gradient mesh tool is the single most effective tool in achieving this modeling/chiaroscuro effect.
Effects Tutorials
- Coil Spring
Use the BLEND TOOL to add shading - Spring
- Bolt
- Screw
Use the BLEND TOOL to add shading - 3D Revolve
- Spiral
- Perspective Grid
- Gradient Mesh
Final Layout Options (choose one of these):
- Product Concept Proposal option
- layout is for the purpose of conveying specifics of an industrial design product
- this type of drawing serves as a step in product development to communicate understanding between several members of a design and development team
- it occurs before engineering finalizes the production drawings
- size is typically 11 x 17
- callouts also include a brief description of the specs of the product
- the type/copy is focused on the specs of the parts of the object (dimensions, and kinds of material, how assembled, etc. + the name of the object. There is no persuasive language focusing only on the factual details.
- Magazine Ad option
- layout is for the purpose of promoting and selling the product
- choose a specific magazine that would be appropriate for your object to be advertised in (examples; Better Homes and Garden, Time, Newsweek, Architectural Digest, etc.)
- size is determined by this choice but it is a full page ad
- Create a tagline that relates to the kind of drawing that you have done (cutaway or exploded view) and write it in such a way that it emphasizes this as a selling point copy, it is persuasive
- Photograph Your Ad Layout
Insert your technical drawing into a magazine (as if it were printed in the magazine itself). Then photograph this and email me the JPEG file. Try to shoot your magazine at an angle so that we can tell from the photograph that it is in a magazine, not just the flat illustration. In your portfolio, you would normally pair this photo (which shows context) with the flat image of just the design itself.
Emilie Jenkins, 2018
- Catalog option
- layout is for the purpose of ordering replacement parts of the product
- online catalog or print catalog
- ad additional elements: graphics/typography that make ordering/shopping cart possible
- size/layout determined by either a specific catalog or website that is already in use (examples; Lowes, Target, Office Depot, etc.)
examples
