226 Chapter 10 Paint with Texture A texture is selected and loaded into a painting tool. The cursor now becomes a texture paintbrush that applies the selected texture on the image (Figure 10-14). Add Outdoor Lighting Most programs have a lighting function that is quick and easy to execute. Uplighting, downlighting and path lighting can be added to an existing photo or the final imaging product to simulate the effect of outdoor lighting. These effects can be displayed easily on a phone or tablet while on site (Figure 10-15). Figure 10-15 Lighting. Use the lighting tool to add uplighting, downlighting, or path lighting to an existing photo to display the effects of outdoor lighting. Figure 10-14 Painting Texture. To use the painting tool, load the cursor with the turf texture and then use it to "paint" an area (e.g., left of the driveway).
Computer Graphics 227 The Finished Product Figures 10-16 through Figure 10-19 illustrate the steps to a finished product. Figure 10-17 Plants. Plants are added as objects from the library. Figure 10-18 Mulch. Mulched beds are added by defining area and fill with mulch texture. Figure 10-16 Sidewalk. (a) The sidewalk is added as an object, (b) then distorted to fit. (a) (b)
228 Chapter 10 It is a good idea to save the design periodically in a file format that will preserve working layers in the design. Once the design is complete, saving it as a JPEG will flatten the working layers to create a small file that is easily stored and can be e-mailed to clients for viewing and downloading. In most cases, the image will be printed on a standard 8 ½″×11″ piece of paper from an inkjet office printer at an output resolution of 600 dpi, which is usually adequate. It is important to use high-quality paper to get the best print. Compare the appearance of the output on various papers to find the best print quality. Plan Drawing Software Plan drawing software has been developed to appeal to the landscape designer who wants to create plan drawings quickly and easily without having to purchase special equipment. The software is much easier to learn as well as cost-efficient. Many programs have the added feature of an export function that will transfer all the plant material to an estimator list (see the section on Cost-Estimator Software later in this chapter). Scale At the start of the project the drawing scale is selected, either architect or engineer. Some programs can simply set the scale to a determined length of line. Line One of the most basic functions of plan drawing software is the ability to draw lines (Figure 10-20). These lines can be quite simple. There are numerous ways to draw lines, depending on the software. Include different line weights or line types to define the various elements of the drawing. A pen-shaped mouse makes it easier to draw smoother lines because moving the instrument mimics hand drawing, which is better suited than the standard mouse for drawing smooth, continuous lines (try signing your name with the standard mouse!) (Figure10-21). Figure 10-19 Shadows. Shadows are added to a few of the plants.
Computer Graphics 229 Site Plan The site plan can be drawn with the line tool or scanned from the original plan. Scanning a site plan can make transferring site information to a digital format much easier (Figure 10-22). The scanned digital image of the site plan is imported and placed as an object on the artboard or workspace of the drawing software to serve as a template to quickly trace the property lines and the outline of the house with the line tool. Once the tracing is complete, the site plan image can be moved off the workspace, leaving behind only the tracing lines. If a site plan is not available, on-site measurements can be drawn accurately with the line tool. Dimensions A dimension tool can be used to automatically specify distances for layout (Figure 10-23). Dragging a dimension line from one point to another in a program with a set scale will automatically label the correct distance on the plan. Ground Plane Use the line tool to outline areas on the ground plane to be defined as the lawn, mulched beds, or hardscapes (Figure 10-24). Selecting enclosed areas with the line tool can open up other tools that can be used to fill the area with various hatching textures or colors for presentational quality. Figure 10-20 Lines. A line tool can draw lines in any shape or at any angle. Figure 10-21 Pen-Shaped Mouse. A stylus tool makes it easier to draw lines.
230 Chapter 10 Figure 10-22 Tracing the Site Plan. (a) The site plan has been scanned as a GIF and imported as an object. (b) A line tool can be used to trace the property lines, house, and concrete. (c) When finished, the site plan image can be deleted or moved off the workspace, leaving only the traced lines. (c) (a) (b)
Computer Graphics 231 Figure 10-23 Dimensions. A dimension tool can be used to automatically specify measurements to help create a realistic planting plan. Figure 10-24 Ground Plane. Use the line tool to draw the sidewalk and bedlines.
232 Chapter 10 Three-Dimensional Modeling To really get a sense of spatial relations within a landscape design, three-dimensional modeling offers an animated view (Figure 10-25). The results vary based on the software product and the skill of the operator. Some are quite simple to use, such as with PRO Landscape, which only requires a few extra clicks to convert a plan drawing to a digital pop-up display. However, truly three-dimensional models are much more involved. Given the investment of time required to build them, they are often prepared only for large projects and can even include flyover videos or walk-through demonstrations. If the time and skill required are significant, landscape designers may subcontract the preparation of three-dimensional models to computer graphic experts. Sketchup is a free product for three-dimensional model building that is also available for purchase in a more advanced Sketchup Pro package. Products such as DynaSCAPE offer add-on modules that can assist the conversion of plan drawings into three dimensions that appear quite realistic. Lumion and Rhinoceros 3D are also used to render 3E modeling. Plant Database Some products include a comprehensive plant database that provides photos, cultural details, growth characteristics, and more. They are often quite extensive and include material grown in all plant hardiness zones. Customization and selection criteria can refine options based on the designer’s location as well as size, flower color, aroma, fall color, native plant, etc. Customization allows for personalizing the information attached to symbols, including cost, which will save time every time the software is used. With cost attached to the symbols in the plan, a proposal can be generated with a few clicks. In some cases, photos of plants are automatically organized into a supply list as their symbols are inserted into the plan. This function allows a printout of plant photos to be generated that can be provided to the client (see Figure 10-26). Objects Plant symbols are placed on the plan drawing in the same way that objects are placed on the imaging software. The image database often contains a collection of symbols that can be dropped onto the design (Figure 10-27). These symbols can then be sized to the correct scale and transformed like any object. Properties can also be assigned to the symbol, such as the plant name, planting size, price, and inventory number. Duplicating Symbols The symbols can be duplicated quickly with a copy command that places the same symbol with every click (Figure 10-28). It is important to assign all the properties of the symbol beforehand so they are included in the copied symbols. Labels When all the symbols are placed, the design can be quickly labeled (Figure 10-29). Most programs have an automatic labeling command that will place the name of the symbol on the label without having to type it again. Because the properties of the symbol contain the name, the command can automatically assign the name to the label. This makes labeling an easy process that is completed in seconds.
Computer Graphics 233Figure 10-25 Three-dimensional modeling of landscape design. (Permission Patrick J. DuChene.)
234 Chapter 10 Figure 10-27 Symbol Library. The database of images has a collection of symbols. Figure 10-26 Plant Supply List. This screenshot shows the detailed information available in a plant database. Notice there is also a tab for pricing, which can be adjusted to reflect current cost and is used in an estimator function.
Computer Graphics 235 Figure 10-28 Symbols. (a) A symbol is selected from the library, (b) resized and moved on the plan, and (c) duplicated to other locations. (d) Other symbols are placed. (c) (d) (a) (b)
236 Chapter 10 Figure 10-29 Labels. Symbols are quickly labeled using a labeling tool that automatically names the symbol with the label previously assigned.
Computer Graphics 237 Area and Volume Estimation The square footage of the lawn area can be estimated along with an estimate to install sod. The square footage of a mulched bed can be estimated as well as the cubic feet required to install mulch 3″ deep. The mulch depth can be changed to recalculate volume (Figure 10-30). Color Texture can be added to the ground plane, or the plan drawing can be colored for presentation (Figure 10-31). Figure 10-30 Area. For materials estimation, area is quickly calculated from areas such as the beds, turf, sidewalk, or driveway. Figure 10-31 Color Plan. The plan drawing can also be colored for presentation. Red maple Willow oak Willow oak Wax myrtle 3 Dwarf gardenia Wax myrtle 3 Indian hawthorne Wax myrtle 5 Dwarf gardenia Wax myrtle 4 Indian hawthorne Pindo palm Wax myrtle 3 Nandina 3 Indian hawthorne 10 Dwarf gardenia 7 Nandina
238 Chapter 10 Cost-Estimator Software When the plan drawing is complete, the specifications for all the plants and materials used in the design can be exported to an estimator. The estimator organizes their assigned properties, as well as the square footage and volume of ground plane areas, into a proposal format that can add up the cost of materials to automatically generate an estimate (Figure 10-32). This software can be customized for a company as a proposal template that can be printed and presented to the client. Printing Another advantage of designing with computers is printing. Before printing, it is usually smart to do test prints since the appearance of an image on the screen may appear differently on a piece of paper. While not usually to scale, a copy can be printed on a standard 8.5″ × 11″ sheet of paper from a home office printer. Oversized prints on a full sheet (36″ × 24″) will require a large-format printer. Although many design and engineering offices can afford to invest in a large-format printer, smaller companies can save a plan drawing in a common format (JPEG or PDF) and have it printed at a blueprinter nearby. Many printers have online services for designers to upload files for pick up at a later time or to be delivered to the office. Figure 10-32 Estimation. All the materials can be organized into a proposal.
Computer Graphics 239 Software Products Most products come with online tutorials. Some are adequate for a user to become proficient, while other products may require additional training that is provided by the software maker at an additional cost. Training requirements often depend on the complexity of the product. The simplest products are often intuitive and easy to learn but may lack the advanced tools that the more expensive products offer, such as the ability to generate proposals and three-dimensional models. Take advantage of free trials to see which one fits your needs. The following products range in ease of use (homeowner to professional) and cost ($40 to $5000). Prices are approximate at the time of this publication. Virtual Architect Plan drawing, photo imaging, and 3D Modeling $40 to $80 https://www.homedesignsoftware.tv/ Structure Studios Plan drawing and 3D Modeling $95 to $165 (monthly) Free trial available https://www.structurestudios.com Realtime Landscaping Architect Plan drawing, photo imaging, and 3D Modeling $80 to $400 Free trial available https://www.ideaspectrum.com/ GreenScapes Landscape Design Imaging Software Photo imaging $500 Free trial available http://www.landscapedesignimagingsoftware. com/ Lands Design Plan drawing and 3D Modeling Beta version free http://www.lands-design.com/ RainCAD Plan drawing $30 (monthly) or $1295 (one-time purchase) Free trial available https://www.softwarerepublic.com/ PRO Landscape Plan drawing, photo imaging, and 3D Modeling $1495 Free trial available, training DVD $200 http://prolandscape.com Keysoft Landscape Plan drawing and 3D Modeling $650 to $1650 (yearly) Free trial available https://www.keysoftsolutions.com/ LANDWorksCAD $1500 to $3500 Plan drawing and 3D Modeling Free trial available http://www.landworkscad.com/ Vectorworks Plan drawing and 3D Modeling $2945 Free trial available http://www.vectorworks.net/ DynaScape Plan drawing and 3D Modeling $1995 (+$37.50 monthly) to $2850 (+$50 monthly) Free trial available http://www.dynascape.com Land F/X Plan drawing and 3D Modeling $2000 to $5000 Free trial available https://www.landfx.com/
240 Chapter 10 Summary Landscape design software can make the design process more time-efficient as well as more effective in communicating the concept. Professional-grade software has become easier to learn for the landscape designer. Imaging software utilizes a database of images, such as trees, shrubs, concrete, and mulch, which can be blended onto a digital image of the design site. As a result, clients can visualize the proposed design with the use of photo-quality images. Plan drawing software uses symbol objects from the database to create the plan. Once the site plan is built, the symbols can be placed, sized, assigned attributes (name, size, and cost), and labeled. When finished, all the materials in the plan can be exported to an estimator program that will organize and format the list for estimates. Key Words AutoCAD a commercial computer-aided design software program that allows the user to draw lines, arcs, and circles; however, it does not include a symbol library for landscape designers. BMP a BitMaP is Microsoft Windows’ native image format, which rasterizes images into a grid of pixels. Images must have a high resolution (1200 ppi) to appear smooth. brightness/contrast a tool that manipulates the intensity of the light and dark qualities of the image. cloning a tool used to erase existing plants or other objects in the image by selecting and cloning a suitable area, rather like a patch, and copying it into place as needed to cover unwanted portions of the image. cropping a digital crop tool is used to draw boundaries around the selected portion of the photo and trim off the rest. customized library a software feature that collects and organizes the most frequently used objects and textures into an image database for easy access. digital images pictures of an object or site captured with a digital camera, cell phone, or tablet, or created by scanning a printed photograph. dimension tool a tool used to accurately specify distances for layout. distort a drawing tool that will change the proportions of an object, often used to create perspective on ground plane objects. duplication use a drawing tool to copy and paste an object numerous times to create a group of similar objects, as in a mass planting. estimator a software feature that gathers all the plant and material supplies used in a design with their specific assigned properties and organizes it into a proposal format that can add up the cost of materials. file formats the various ways digital images are stored and processed by the computer. See JPEG, PDF, BMP, GIF, PNG, and TIFF. fill tool a tool used to select and specify the color or texture of the interior of an object or area. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) the digital graphic format that supports sharp boundaries, such as lettering or line drawings; the files utilize a limited color index and are relatively small.
Computer Graphics 241 ground plane objects hardscape items that are included in an image database along with trees and shrubs. An image library may be organized to contain a section of walks, driveways, and lawns. image database a large collection of commonly used objects and textures included with most landscape design software programs to place into the design. imaging a design process that creates a proposed landscape design by placing plant images and ground plane textures on a digital photo of the site. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) this format is commonly the default for digital cameras, supporting over 16 million colors and file compression that facilitates file storage and transfer. KeySCAPE LT a software drawing program that evolved from AutoCAD and combined with KeySCAPE to serve the needs of landscape designers. layers the relative stacking position of objects in a digital workspace. Objects can be moved from front to back (top to bottom) so they appear either behind (below) or in front (on top) of each other. library see image database. outline forms using the line tool to enclose areas for estimating area and volume. painting tool a tool used to apply selected textures or color with the cursor. pen-shaped mouse a wireless optical mouse device shaped like a stylus that is used on a digital workspace like a pencil to draw lines more easily than using the standard mouse. PDF (Portable Document Format) a versatile file format available as an option for saving files that preserves diverse types of file data in a single file that can be read on all computer platforms. PNG (Portable Network Graphic) this widely used image format has largely replaced GIFs on the internet. A raster graphics format, it utilizes lossless LZW compression to reduce file size. resolution defined by the number of pixels per inch (1200 ppi, 300 ppi, 72 ppi) the number indicates the amount of detail coded into an image. Pixels are the smallest digitally definable areas of an image arranged in lines and rows to render digital images. The number of pixels per inch (PPI) in an image determines its quality. A higher resolution will render a more realistic image but the file size can become cumbersome if the data is not compressed. sharpness an effect applied to an image to improve definition by increasing contrast along the visual borders of an image. TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the standard format used in the digital publishing industry because it remains stable while being processed over many different computer platforms. Supporting a full range of colors, LZW compression reduces file size. transparency tool a tool used to change the degree of an object’s transparency from completely opaque to translucent. trim tool the trimming tool acts as an eraser to remove portions of an object. zoom box a tool used to drag a selection box over an area to enlarge it for viewing. zoom tool a tool for enlarging or shrinking the image.
Appendix 243 Never throw away any of your projects. Even designs from classroom projects can be used to develop a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your design work that includes all drawings and photos of the project. By creating an organized, portable portfolio, you will be able to present your past work to prospective clients as well as prospective employers. Project Files At the beginning of any project, start a file with the project name. Smaller projects can use a small manila folder, but, as projects get larger, expandable folders should be used to hold several files of the same project. The file should contain • Site plan (and any other surveys) • Interview notes • Site observations • Pictures • Contract • Reduced plan drawing (once project is complete) The original drawing (24″ × 36″) should be stored in a cabinet (flat storage) or bin (rolled storage) and properly labeled. A Portfolio
244 Appendix A Figure A-1 Street view option available by satellite on Google Maps. Photography Whether using a phone or digital camera, it’s always helpful to thoroughly photograph the site during the initial interview. Photos will help remind the designer of details that are easy to forget such as utilities or existing vegetation. Digital photos can be printed or viewed via phone or tablet. In addition, they can be imported into design software to serve as working templates. Cloud Storage There are several advantages to using a phone to photograph site. Firstly, a phone is rarely forgotten at the office or misplaced. More importantly, it will upload photos for easy viewing and downloading. One of the best approaches to organizing photos is utilizing cloud storage. Many services are free or charge a reasonable fee. Once photos are uploaded, they can be deleted from the phone to save memory and never be lost. They can be organized based on projects and include plan drawings and other supporting documentation. This type of storage can be accessed from any computer. Links can be shared with team members or clients. Google Earth and Street View One very useful and time-saving tool is Google Earth. By searching an address, you can see the property from overhead. Some businesses generate rough estimates of design fees based on property size. This can be especially helpful if a measurement was missed or needs to be confirmed. Other calculations can be executed such as square footage. In some cases, installation estimates for materials such as sod or mulch can also be made. Another helpful tool is Google’s Street View. Searching an address on Google Maps will reveal the overhead location, but selecting the street view will take the user to the ground level, where he or she can virtually walk down the road and look around the neighborhood. The photos aren’t always current so a site visit is often required, but it can give the designer an idea of what to expect or answer questions without having to revisit a site.
Portfolio 245 Photographing the Site Take plenty of pictures of the project. Take as many pictures as possible to record various angles and help in the design process. Before Pictures During the site visit, shoot all the possible angles of the project to avoid having to make a trip back. Always include one shot of the entire front of the house and property, which is the angle most people are concerned about. Be sure to mark the spot where you take photos, so you can return to that same spot for after photos. It is much more effective to show before and after photos when they are shot from the same viewpoint. After Pictures Return to the site after installation and shoot several photos from the same spots where you shot the before photos. At this point, most of the plants will be very small and the design will not closely resemble the design that has been envisioned. TIP BOX: Planimeter Apps Take Measurements on Cellphones Planimeter apps can be downloaded to a cellphone and perform functions similar to Google Earth. Searching an address will zoom in on the property to take measurements and calculate square footage. Tip Box: Mark a “Before” Spot Be sure to remember a spot where a “before” picture is taken. This will commonly be a picture of the front of the house. When you return to the same spot to take the “after” picture, it will be much easier to compare pictures that are shot from the same viewpoint.
246 Appendix A Return to the site after the installation has had at least one year to establish. In most regions, plants are well established and filling in the design by the third year. This should more closely resemble what the design was intended to look like. Copying the Plan Drawing Blueprint You will provide the client with a copy of the design. Have a copy reduced to an 8 1/2″ × 11″ size to store it in a three-ring binder or manila folder. Instead of a hardcopy of the design, you can get a digital file to store on the computer. It will be the original 24″ × 36″ size stored as a TIFF file. This way, you can print out a copy of the design at any size or crop portions of the design for printing. It can also be sent via e-mail. Assembling a Portfolio Portfolios are a means of showing off your skills through completed projects. This may be required when interviewing with a prospective employer or simply selling yourself to a client. Many portfolios are now digital. There are software programs or apps to organize a portfolio, but the simplest means is by utilizing cloud storage, where they can be viewed on a phone, tablet or laptop either in person or via a shared link. A simple means of creating a portfolio is by physically printing and organizing in a carrier or threering binder. Whether digitally or physically creating a portfolio, the following items should be included: • Plan drawing • Photo imaging or 3D modeling (if completed) • Before and after photos Tip Box: Third-Year-After Picture In most regions, plants are well established and filling out the intended design by the third year.
Appendix 247 B Student Design This appendix is a collection of student designs for study. The border, title block, and plant list have been omitted so that the drawing is more legible. There is a short critique with each one to point out some of the strong and poor techniques. The following are the most common weaknesses in most designs. 1. Lettering. Although all lettering techniques improve, it is the most overlooked aspect in the design. It is difficult to change your natural writing to conform to a landscape style. This is probably because many people have poor handwriting to begin with. Most beginning designers overlook the basics of lettering. They fail to use guidelines, spacing, and consistency. Even if the style isn’t great, pay attention to the basics. 2. Line weight. Using a variety of line weights throughout the drawing will improve it dramatically. However, this is often overlooked. In most designs, all the line weight is the same. Pay attention to where heavy and light line weights should be used. 3. Labeling. There are often errors in labeling. Remember to include the number of plants in the label. Pay attention to the key and be consistent. Align leader lines to avoid messing up a great drawing with leader lines that fly all over the design. Another important shortfall is the lack of labels. For instance, the symbol in the front yard is labeled, but the same symbol in the backyard is not because the one in front has a label. What if you start looking at the backyard? You will have to scan the whole design to find the same symbol with the label. If in doubt, always label the symbol. 4. Plan balance. The balance of space is often overlooked. The design is squashed up against the border and a tiny plant list is pasted in the middle of a lot of white space. The same applies to the title block in which the placement of information is not balanced. Pay attention to visually balancing the arrangement of drawings and information with the blank space on the paper. 5. Too many textures. In an effort to make the design appealing, there are too many different textures on the ground plane. This especially applies to patterns that aren’t consistent or that are drawn with a line weight is too heavy. This makes it look confusing. Keep it simple.
248 Appendix B PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Figure B-1 Preliminary. Line quality is good. Shadows need to fall to the bottom of the symbols. Because of extensive coverage, the mulch pattern makes the plan look busy. (Design by Beverly Thompson)
PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Student Design 249 Figure B-2 Master. Lettering is decent. Line weight on house should be heavier for better definition. The mulch pattern still pervades the design and makes the plan look too busy. (Design by Beverly Thompson)
250 Appendix B PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Figure B-3 Preliminary. Line quality is very good. Plan reads clearly. Pond texture at right of barn needs more subtle flow lines. (Design by Gabrielle Justice)
PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Student Design 251 Figure B-4 Master. Line quality even better. Makes a great print. House needs heavier line weight. Lettering is good. (Design by Gabrielle Justice)
252 Appendix B PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Figure B-5 Preliminary. Line weights need greater variety. Great graphics. Good lettering, but labels appear at end of leader line, not on it. (Design by James Herndon)
PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Student Design 253 Figure B-6 Master. Line weights greatly improved! Still need heavier line weight on house. Great graphic technique. Love the overhead canopies! See comment on preliminary plan about labeling. (Design by James Herndon)
254 Appendix B PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Figure B-7 Preliminary. Great detail and balance. Very good line weight variation. Lettering is acceptable. (Design by Sarah Thornby)
PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Student Design 255 Figure B-8 Master. Clear and visually interesting. Notice how the absence of line weight on driveway weakens that part of the drawing. (Design by Sarah Thornby)
256 Appendix B PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Figure B-9 Preliminary. Good, clean drawing. Easy to read. Could be improved by adding ground plane texture. (Design by Jay Culbreath)
PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Student Design 257 Figure B-10 Master. Still good line quality. Mulch texture acceptable, but not great. Great effect on overhead canopies. More line weight on house! (Design by Jay Culbreath)
258 Appendix B PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Figure B-11 Preliminary. Symbols decent. Line weight very weak. Poor print. (Design by Jay Culbreath)
PRELIMINARY AND MASTER PLANS Student Design 259 Figure B-12 Master. Much better symbols. Line weights much, much better (except house). Mulch texture acceptable, but not great. (Design by Jay Culbreath)
260 Appendix B MASTER PLANS Figure B-13 Master. Good clean lines. Good heavy line weight for house outline. Labeling well placed.
MASTER PLANS Student Design 261 Figure B-14 Master. Labeling well placed. Depth of field could be improved with shadows. Ground textures have room for improvement.
262 Appendix B MASTER PLANS Figure B-15 Master. Nice since use of shadows, provides good sense of depth. Good line quality, sharp and clean. Easy to read.
MASTER PLANS Student Design 263 Figure B-16 Master. Good line weights. Nice sample technique. Decent lift on overhead canopies. Good lettering.
264 Appendix B MASTER PLANS Figure B-17 Master. Great line quality! Excellent print. Very easy to read. Lettering good. (Design by Melinda Altovilla)
MASTER PLANS Student Design 265 Figure B-18 Master. Very good line quality. That’s what the house and property lines should look like. Lettering is very good. Easy to read. (Design by Sandy Plance)
266 Appendix B MASTER PLANS Figure B-19 Computer-Aided Design. Creating a quality design with a decent depth of field requires significantly less time on a computer than drawing by hand. The editing process is greatly simplified. While symbols are easy to apply, it takes time to develop skill at rendering flowing lines.
267 Index A Adobe Photoshop, 212 Additional tools, 28 Alphabet labeling, 168, 169 Ames lettering guide, 37, 57, 137. See also Lettering guide for wood and pavers. Analysis in landscape design, 6 Angles, drawing difficult, 79 Architect scale, 35–37 in plan drawing software, 228 for site plan, 160 Area estimation in plan drawing software, 237 AutoCAD, 209 B Beam compass, 34 Bedlines, drawing, 33 Binding for plan drawing, 152 Bird’s eye view, 92, 93, 172 Blacklines, 20 B lead, 26 Bleeding color, 183 preventing, 48 Blender, 184 Block letters, 66 Blueprint, 20 Blueprinting company, 22 BMP (Bitmap), 213 Boards, lettering guideline in drawing, 137 Bond paper, 22, 167 Borders drawing, on plan drawing, 150–151 predrawn, 153 Border tape for plan drawing, 152 Boulders, 143 drawing, 205 Branched plants, 90 detail, 92 outline, 91–92 Branched trees, 201 Bricks and pavers, 137–138 lettering guideline in drawing, 137 Brightness/contrast, 221, 223 Broadleaf plants, 81 details, 81, 83 outlines, 81, 83, 86 Brush, 38 Bubble diagram, 7 Bumwad, 19 C Carrying tubes, 21 Center dot, 71, 72, 78, 79, 82, 88, 89, 91, 93, 94, 100, 101, 165 Centering of site plan, 159, 171 Chicken pox as stippling flaw, 126 Circles, drawing, to scale, 34 Circle template, 32, 33, 40, 73 for water ripples, 142 Client, 1 interview with, 6 Cloning, 215 Close objects, drawing, for sectionelevations, 198 Cloud storage, 244 Cobblestone, 138 Color, 175–188 bleeding, 183 markers and, 176, 183 overhead symbols with, 187–188 pencils and, 175 in plan drawing software, 228 technique, 175, 187 Color development, 176–182 general, 176 perimeter, 177–178 rhythm, 178–179 surface, 176–178 value, 178–179, 181 of the ground plane, 179–180, 185 perimeter, 179, 185 wash, 179, 181 moving lines, 180 overhead symbol, 187 of symbols, 181, 185 highlights, 187 outline, 181, 187 shadows, 181, 183, 186 underneath detail, 188 wash, 179, 181, 183 Color pencils, 175–176, 179–181 Color printers, 212 Color sticks, 180 Common scale, 37 Compass, 33–34 sharpening lead for, 34 Compass extender, 33 Complexity of symbol, 97 Computer design, See Computer graphics Computer graphics, 209–242 advantages of landscape design software in, 211–212 cost-estimator software, 228, 238 creating ground plane with imaging, 223–228 finished product, 227 ground plane objects in, 224 painting with texture, 226 economics, 210 history of, 209 imaging process and techniques in, 213–223 acquiring image of site, 213–214 defining and filling area with texture, 223 moving and manipulating objects, 212–217 opening image of site, 214–215 using image database, 216 imaging software in, 212 plan drawing software, 228–232 area and volume estimation, 237 color, 237 dimensions, 29 ground plane, 223–224 labels, 233 line, 228 objects, 212, 217, 224 scale, 228 site plan, 229–230 printing, 238 productivity and efficiency, 210 skill and cost, 210 software products, 239 when to make the switch, 210 Concept plan, 7 Concrete and exposed aggregate, 134, 135 Connecting dots of massed symbols, 101 Consistency in case, 59 in leader lines, 164–165 in line quality, 43–44 Construction details, 10, 11
268 Index Contour plans, 11 Corners, 47 Cost-estimator software, 238 Cropping, 214 Cross-hatching, 105, 106, 108, 127 for boulders, 143 for fill in shadow, 105 in mulch texture, 136 Curves, 38–40 Cut line, 13 vertical elements and, 192, 193, 198 Cut stones, 138, 139 D Dash detail, 87 Dashing outline, 79, 86 Decking, 138 Depth, drawing, 101, 198 Design process, 2, 6–14 Details branched, 92 broadleaf, 81, 83 construction, 10–11 dash, 87 foliage, 81 needle, 97 spiking, 87 symbol, 80, 83, 87, 104 zigzag, 87 Diazo production, 20 Digital images, 212–213 Direct labeling, 168 Distance, perspective in, 221 Distant objects, drawing, for sectionelevations, 198 Distorting, 219 Drafix Software, Inc., 211 Drafting, formal, 55 Drafting desktops, 19 Drafting dots, 22–23 Drafting mat, 19 Drafting tables, 19 parallel rule on, 24 Drafting tape, 22 Drafting tools, 17 Drawing pencils, 25 Drawing surface, 18–19 color and, 176 Drawing tip, 44 Dry cleaning pad, 37 in avoiding smudging, 47 Dry-erase markers on vellum, 151 Duplicating, 219 symbols, 232 Dynascape, 232, 239 E Electric eraser, 29 Engineer drafting, 55 Engineer scale, 36–37 in plan drawing software, 156, 157 Erasers, 28–29 Eraser shield, 29–30 Essential tools, 17 Exposed aggregate. See Concrete and exposed aggregate F File format, 213, 214 File size, 214 Fill in shadow, 105 cross-hatching, 105 hatching, 105 Flagstone, 138, 139 Flattened position, holding pencil in, 176, 177 Flex curve, 38–40 Foam board surface, 178 Foliage detail, 81, 92 Form, in section drawings, 192 Formal drafting, 55 Formal lettering, 60 45/90-degree triangle, 25 Foundation plants, 95–96 4H lead, 26, 53 drawing shadow outline with, 105 penciling in border with, 151 Four-letter key, 168, 169 French curve, 38, 39, 40 Functional diagram, 7 G Generic symbols, 80, 110 GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), 213 Google Earth street view, 244 Grabbing, 217 Grading plans, 11 Graphical scale for site plan, 156 Graphics only aid presentation, 3 Grass symbols, 119 Gray markers, 183, 186 Green, need for additional variations of, 175 Grid paper, 20–21 boards and bricks, as guide for drawing, 140 lettering, as guide, 59 Groundcover, 132–133 clumps, 133 curling, 133 mounding, 133 shingles, 133 static, 133 texture of, 121–122 Ground line, in section elevation, 196 Ground plane, 121–148 color development of, 179–180 perimeter, 124–125 wash in, 179, 181 components of, 131–143 boulders, 143 bricks and pavers, 137 concrete and exposed aggregate, 134, 135 groundcover, 132–133 hardscapes, 134–143 mulches, 135–136 plant material, 131–132 stone, 138–139 turf, 131 water, 141–143 wood, 138, 140 creating, with imaging, 223–228 limiting shadows to, 106 line weight for details, 48–54 objects in, 141 mulches as, 136 plants as, 132 perspective and, 212 in plan drawing software, 163 textural drawing techniques, 124–130 contrast with symbols, 130 cross-hatching, 127, 128, 136 defining the perimeter, 124 hatching, 127, 128, 136 lighter line weight, 124 pattern, 122, 128 sampling, 130 scale, 129 shading, 128–129 stippling, 125–126, 131, 132 textures representing, 121–122 labeling, 163 visual interest, 122 Guidelines drawing, 57–58 lettering, 37, 55, 57–58 line weight for, 53, 124 for people, 206 shadowing, 106–108 for symbols, 73, 91 for textures, 124 Guideline template, 58 H Hand, speed of, 44 Hardscapes, 134–143 boulders, 143 bricks and pavers, 137 concrete and exposed aggregate, 134–135 mulches, 135–136 stone, 138 water, 141–142 wood, 138–140 Hatching, 105, 127, 1238, 136 for boulders, 143 for fill in shadow, 105 in mulch texture, 136 HB lead, in stippling, 125 Heaviest weight lines, 51 Heavyweight lines, 48, 51 for trees, 199
Index 269 High-gravity letters, 65 Highlights pencil, 187 and shadows, 103, 104 stippling, 187 H lead, 26 for lettering, 58 Horizontal axis, 60, 64, 65 I Image database, using, 216 Imaging process and techniques, 213–223 acquiring image of site, 213–214 defining and filling area with texture, 223–228 moving and manipulating objects, 217 opening image of site, 214–215 using image database, 216 Imaging software, 12, 212 Informal letters, 64 Ink erasers, 20, 29 Ink lines, 45 preventing bleeding, 47–48 quality of, 45–47 Ink triangle, 48 Irregular outline, 81 Irrigation plans, 12 J JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), 213 K Kneadable erasers, 54 in lifting line weight, 54 L Labeling alphabet, 168 avoiding, 170 direct, 168 of ground plane, 163, 174 leader lines in, 164–165 in plan drawing software, 232, 236 of symbols, 164, 174 technique, 247, 252–253, 260 LandCADD, 209 Landscape contractor, 1, 3, 11 Landscape design, 2 advantages of software in, 211–212 client interview in, 6 concept plan in, 7 imaging in, 212 lettering for, 56 master plan in, 7–11 other plans and drawings in, 11–14 preliminary design in, 7 site inventory and analysis in, 7 Landscape designers communication tools of, 1 lettering style preferred by, 64 Layering, 184 Color, 237 of images, 212–213 Layout plans, 11 Lead, 26 B, 26 4 H, 53, 57, 77, 105, 151 harder, 26, 48, 80 HB, 26, 51, 52, 78, 88, 125, 198 sharpening, 26, 34 compass, 33–34 softer, 26, 47, 48 types of, 26 Leader lines, 52, 164–166, 247 consistency of, 164 Lead-holders, 25 Lead pointer, 27 Legends, 95, 170 Lettering, 55–67. See also Ames lettering guide art of, 55–56 guidelines to good, 56–63 case consistency, 59 drawing guidelines, 57–58 guidelines, 56–58 hierarchy of size, 61 H lead for, 58 horizontal axis, 60 letter height, 61 letter size, 61 pencil hold, 58 printing of words, 56 spacing between letters, words, and lines, 60 vertical axis, 60 visible guidelines, 58 word placement, 62, 63 medium weight for, 52 styles of, 60, 64–67 block, 66 high-gravity, 65 informal, 64 lowercase, 66 low-gravity, 65 numbers, 66 slanting, 65 stylistic, 65 Lettering guides, 57 Letters axis of, 60 height of, 61 size of, 61 spacing between, 60 Lifting of line weight, 54 Lightweight lines, 48, 52, 53 for texture, 124 for trees, 198 Line quality, 43 consistency, 43 ink, 45 pencil, 45 Lines, 43–54 corners, 47 moving, 180 in plan drawing software, 228–231 redrawing, 46 smudging, 47–48 solid, 45 spacing between, 60 straight, 46 tracing, 46 Line weight, 48–53 heaviest, 51 heavy, 51 lifting, 54 light, 52–53 lighter, 52–53, 124 lightest, 53–54 medium, 52 Looping outline, 81 Lowercase letters, 66 Low-gravity letters, 65 M Markers, 30, 183 in drawing borders, 151 dry-erase, 151 gray, 183 ground plane with, 185 for heaviest weight lines, 51 round tip, 51 in stippling highlights, 187 for symbols, 185 Masking tape, 22 Massed symbols connecting dots of, 101 overlapping, 99 simplifying, 101 Mass plantings, 100–102 Master plan, 7, 11 Mature width, symbols at, 73 Mechanical pencils, 27 leads for use in, 26 Medium weight lines, 52 Midrange objects, drawing, for section-elevations, 198 Mirror image, 217 Mortgage survey, 158 Moving lines, 180 Mulches, 135–136 as ground plane objects, 224 Mylar, 20, 26, 149 N Needle plants, 84–88, 90 details, 87 outlines, 86 Non-photo blue pencil, 27 North arrow on plan drawing, 155 Numbers, 66
270 Index O Objects ground plane, 224 perspective, 221 in plan drawing software, 228–229 On-site presentation, tablets and phones, 211 Onionskin, 19 Organic mulches, 136 Ornamental grasses, drawing, 98, 204 Outdoor lighting, 226 Outlines, 181 branched, 92, 202 broadleaf, 81 in color development of symbols, 181, 182, 87 dashing, 86, 87 irregular, 81 line weight for, 52, 124 looping, 81 needle, 86 shadow, 105, 106, 107 spiking, 86, 87, 97 of symbols, 82, 102 trees, 192, 199, 200 umbrella, 81 zigzag, 86, 87 Overhead canopies, 97 Overhead symbols with color, 187 Overlapping massed symbols, 100 P Painting, with texture, 226 Painting tool, 226 Palms drawing, 205 symbols for, 119 Paper, 19–20 for plan drawings, 152 squaring, 24 Parallel glide pattern, 128 Parallel glider, 39 Parallel rule, 24 use of, as straightedge, 24, 151 Pastels, 180 Pattern ground plane and, 130 parallel glide, 128 texture and, 121–122 Pavers. See Bricks and pavers Pencils, 25 color, 175 drawing, 24 highlights with, 187 holding, 58 in flattened position, 176 in upright position, 176 line quality and, 45 lines with, 46–47 mechanical, 25 non-photo blue, 27 shading with, 128–129 Pencil sharpener, 27 People, 206 posing, 206 proportions of, 206 Perimeter, defining in color development of ground plane, 179 in general color development, 176 texture and, 125 Perspective, 12 distance in, 221 ground plane, 217, 225 with landscape design imaging, 228 object, 223 size in, 221 Perspective drawings, 197 Photography, 244 Pigment liners, 31, 45 Plan drawings, 3 colored, 237 details on, 172 elements on binding, 152 border, 150–151 border tape, 152 paper, 149 predrawn border, 153 labeling ground plane, 163 inside the design, 166 label placement, 166 leader lines, 164–165 legends, 170 plant, 167–168, 171 symbols, 164 layout site plan, 158–162 title block, 154, 155 north arrow on, 155, 156 plant list, 171–172 building, 167 location, 171 sketches on, 172 word placement on, 62, 63 Plan drawing software, 228–231 area and volume estimation in, 237 color in, 237 dimensions in, 229, 231 ground plane in, 229, 231 labels in, 232, 236 line in, 228 objects in, 232 scale in, 228 site plan in, 229, 230 Planimeter apps, 245 Plant database customization, 232 Planting plans, 11 Planting schedule, 171 Plant label, 167–169 number of plants, 167 plant name or key, 168–169 Plant list, 171–173 building, 167 centering of site plan with, 162 hand-drawing, 167 location of, 171 printing, 167 sticky back, 167, 172 Plant material, 131–133 groundcover, 132–133 symbols reflecting, 80–94 branched, 90–92 broadleaf, 81–83 existing trees, 92 generic, 80 miscellaneous, 92–93 needle, 84–87 turf, 131 Plants, 198 branched, 90–92 broadleaf, 81–83, 110–115 forms of, 99 foundation, 95, 96 needle, 84–87, 115–118 as objects in ground plane, 224 specimen, 95–96 Plastic leads, 26, 39 Plat, 160–1661 Plot plan, 158 PNG (portable network graphics), 213 Posing of people, 206 Postal tube, 21 Predrawn border, for plan drawing, 153 Preliminary design, 7, 8, 11 symbols in, 77 Presentation graphics, 3–7 Prints, 20, 22 Prismacolor Premier®, 175, 183 Professional markers, 30–31, 176, 183 Property lines, medium weight for, 52 Protractor, 38 R Radial detail, 82–83, 88 Radial symbol, 88–90 Rag vellum, 20 Range value, broadening, 188 Redrawing lines, 46 Reflect, 107, 108 Reprographer, 20, 22 Reprographics, 20, 22 Rhythm establishing in texture, 127 in general color development, 176, 179 Right-of-way, 158–160 Rolling the drawing, 21 Round tip marker, for heaviest weight lines, 51 S Sampling, ground plane and, 130 Sandpaper paddle, 28, 34, 45
Index 271 Scale, 35–37. See also Architect scale; Engineer scale drawing circles to, 32, 34 ground plane and, 129 in plan drawing software, 228 in section elevation,192, 196 of symbols, 71–72 Scale test, 159 Scratch paper, 47, 184 in avoiding smudging, 47 Section drawing, 191–208. See also Section-elevation locating, on plan drawing, 192–194 vertical elements, 192 form, 192 spatial relationships, 192 topography, 192 views, 192 Section-elevation, 13, 195–198 boulders on, 205 elements of, 192–206 drawing vertical elements, 192 ground line, 196 people, 206 plants, 192 scale, 196 ornamental grasses on, 204 palms on, 205 quick, 197 shrubs on, 203–204 trees on, 199–204 Sections, 12 Shade of color, 175, 178, 181 Shading color and, 181 in color development of symbols, 181 ground plane and, 128 limiting, to symbol shadows, 128 Shadow effect, shading for additional, 105 Shadow lift, 106 Shadows anatomy of, 103 in color development of symbols, 181 details with shadow weight, 104 direction of fall, 107 drawing, 105 drawing outline with 4H lead, 105 in integrating objects into site image, 221 with landscape design imaging, 212 length of, 107 lift for, 106 limiting, to ground plane, 106 shape of, 108 of symbols, 102, 104 Shrubs, drawing, 203–204 Simple label, 94 Site, for site plan, 158–160 Site inventory, 7 Site plan, 158–162 centering, 159, 171 centering of, with plant list, 171 in plan drawing software, 229 right-of-way and, 158 size of, 162 template for, 159 tracing, 230 onto paper, 159, 163 Size perspective in, 212 of symbol, 72 Sizing, 218 Sketches, 6 on plan drawings, 172 Slanting letters, 65 Slashing, 126 Smudging, 47–48 Software programs, 209, 212, 246 Software Republic, 239 Solid lines, 45, 59, 64 Spacing, between letters, words, and lines, 60 Spatial relationships, in section drawings, 192 Special effects, with landscape design imaging, 212 Specimen plants, 95–96 Spiking detail, 87 Spiking outline, 86 Standard leads, 26 Stick eraser, 29 Sticky back, 167, 172 Stippling flaws in, 126 ground plane and, 125 simplifying, 132 Stippling highlights, 187 Stone, 138 Straightedge, 24, 25 in drawing straight lines, 46 use of T-square or parallel rule as, 24, 151 Stylistic writing, 56 Symbol library, 234 Symbols, 69–120 adding shadows to, 102–108 anatomy of shadows, 103 drawing, 105 guidelines, 106–108 basic elements of, 71–77 center dot, 71–72 scale, 72–73 size, 74–75 color development of, wash in, 185 contrast with ground plane, 130 detail, 80 drawing, 77–79 guideline for, 77 outline of, 77–78 duplicating, 232 generic, 80, 110 labeling, 164, 232 line weight for, 52, 53 markers on, 185 at mature width, 73 miscellaneous, 92–93 overhead, with color, 187 in the preliminary design, 77 reflecting plant material, 80–94 branched, 90–92 broadleaf, 81–83 existing trees, 92 generic, 80 miscellaneous, 92–93 needle, 84–88 role of, in design, 95–102 complexity, 97 form, 98–99 mass plantings, 100–102 overhead canopies, 97 specimen and foundation, 95–96 texture, 98 within time frame, 74 at two-thirds maturity, 77 Symbol shadows, limiting shading to, 128 T Tape, 22 border drafting Technical pens, 31–32 Template circle,32, 73 guideline, 58, 77 for site plan, 159,162, 229 Test print, 22 Textural drawing techniques, 124–130 contrast with symbols, 130 cross-hatching, 127 defining the perimeter, 124 hatching, 127 lighter line weight, 124 pattern, 128 sampling, 130 scale, 129 shading, 128 stippling, 125–126, 132 Texture(s) abstract, 122 defined, 121 defining and filling area with, 223 literal, 122 mulch, 135–136 painting with, 226 pattern in, 121–122 representing the ground plane, 121–123 labeling, 123 visual interest, 123 stone, 138–139 symbol, 98 water, 142 wood, 140
272 Index Texture rhythm, 127 30/60-degree triangle, 25 Three-dimensional modeling, 232 TIFF (Tag Image File Format), 214 Time frame, symbol within, 74, 77 Title block, 154–157 horizontal drawing, 154 information in, 155 orientation of, 154 scale for, 156–157 vertical drawing, 154 Tools, 17–39 Ames lettering guide, 37 brush, 38 circle template, 32–33 compass, 32–34 curves, 38–39 drawing surface, 18–19 dry cleaning pad, 37 erasers, 28–30 eraser shield, 29–30 ink, 30–31 lead, 26–27 markers, 30 paper, 19–20 parallel glider, 39 pencils, 25 pencil sharpener, 27 prints, 20–22 protractor, 38 sandpaper paddle, 28 scale, 35–37 tape, 22 Triangles, 25 T-square, 23–25 Topography, in section drawings, 192 Topography maps, 11 Tracing lines, 46 Tracing paper, 19 Transparency tool, 221, 222 Trash paper, 19 Trees distorting, 219 drawing, 199–202 duplicating, 217 existing, 92–94 center dot designation, 93 legend, 94 no symbol, 93 simple label, 94 simplify symbol, 93 layering, 184 sizing of, 217–218 symbols for large, 75, 76 Triangles, 25 in drawing straight lines, 46 ink, 45 pennies under, 48 Trimming, 217 T-square, 23–25 in drawing straight lines, 46 holding, 24 in place, 151 squaring the paper with, 24 use of, as straightedge, 151 Turf, 131 Two-letter key, 168 Two-third maturity, symbols at, 77 U Umbrella outline, 86, 87 Upright position, holding pencil in, 175, 176 V Value color, 178 range, 178 Vellum, 20, 149 dry-erase markers on, 151 Vertical axis, 60 Vertical elements in section drawings, 192 drawing, 198 form, 192 spatial relationships, 192 topography, 192 views, 192 Viewing, 214 Views, in section drawings, 192 Visible guidelines, 58 Visual interest, texture and, 122 Volume estimation, in plan drawing software, 237 W X Y Z Wash in color development of symbols, 181, 182 in color development of the ground plane, 179 Water features, 141 ripples, 142 texture, 142 Wave texture, 142 Weeping symbols, 119 Wood, 138 Ames lettering guide for, 137 Words placement of, 62, 63 printing, 56 spacing between, 60 Written scale, for site plan, 156 Xerographics, 22 Zigzag detail, 87 Zigzag outline, 86 Zoom box, 214, 215 Zoom tool, 214
THIRD EDITION Waveland Press, Inc. www.waveland.com Also available from Waveland Press: Basic Elements of Landscape Architectural Design Norman K. Booth ISBN 978-0-88133-478-4 Many professional landscape architects and designers embrace the practice of rendering plan drawings by hand as an artistic approach that supports the design process. Tony Bertauski uses abundant illustrations to train aspiring designers in the essential drawing techniques used to craft presentation graphics while learning the essentials of design. He guides students through the tools and techniques of drawing that are often overlooked in the classroom so that students can complete assignments on their own outside the lab. Student designers will learn to create plans that not only appeal aesthetically, but communicate effectively with clients. • design process overview • essential drawing and drafting tools • drawing techniques for line quality, ground plane textures, and symbols • lettering fundamentals • color rendering with pencil and markers • extensive symbol appendix • additional color development examples • essential elements of a plan drawing • the how and why of section elevations • computer design techniques and products • tips on working with digital copies Plan Graphics for the Landscape Designer ISBN 13: 978-1-4786-3726-4 ISBN 10: 1-4786-3726-9 9 781478 637264 90000