REQUIRED PRINTOUT
CITT Graphic Standard
RECOMMENDED PRINTOUTS
ABTT Graphic Standard ZIP file
USITT Graphic Standard
USITT LIGHTING Graphic Standard
ADC Standards and Working Procedures for Designers in the Live Performing Arts Industry in Canada
AIA Layer Standard Methodology
AIA Layer Standard
STANDARDS YouTube video on using Standards DWS files
Autodesk Student portal (free software)
Autodesk Student portal video
AutoCAD Home
AutoCAD for MAC video help
Cadalyst Forum
Cadalyst Tip Videos E-mail Sign-up
Cadalyst Tip Videos
AutoCAD Users Group
TurboCAD Professional [http://www.imsisoft.com]
Visual CADD drafting software [http://www.tritools.com/]
WYSIWYG Lighting software [http://www.cast-soft.com/wysiwyg/overview]
DRAFTSITE 2D CAD FOR LESS [https://www.draftsight.com/]
VectorWorks Spotlight Drafting and Lighting software [https://www.vectorworks.net/en-CA/spotlight]
VectorWorks Student Portal for FREE software [https://student.myvectorworks.net/]
VectorWorks Spotlight add on tools [http://www.autoplotvw.com/]
VectorWorks Spotlight plugin tools [http://www.landrudesign.com/DefaultFrameSet.htm?VWPlugIns.htm~LandruMnFrm]
VectorWorks Spotlight plug-in templates [http://www.fieldtemplate.com/soft/softcopy.html]
The AutoCAD section of this site provides over 40 original tutorials. [http://www.cadtutor.net/]
Fundamental 3D design tutorials. [http://www.3d-cadcea.co.uk/]
Modelbox is the UK's leading theatre orientated CAD specialist. It maintains a database of CAD drawings of over 250 theatres and other venues throughout Britain and around the world. [http://www.modelboxplans.com/]
AutoCAD Shareware Clearing House [www.cadalog.com]
Learn AutoCAD 3D in LESS THAN ONE HOUR ...! Using this THREE PART tutorial video . No need to spend hours of training in the class room ......
3D Part II
3D Part III
Easy 3D using mostly AutoCAD controls
SketchUp home page for free software and 30 day free trial software.
Free SketchUp for the web in your browser.
Learn SketchUp FAST using your AutoCAD skills.
University of Alberta
UofA Drama
My work at the Jube
Jubilee Auditorium [http://www.jubileeauditorium.com]
Tech Info and My Drawings
SAVETIME | Set SAVETIME so that AutoCAD saves your drawing every five or ten minutes (depending on how much of your work you're willing to lose) |
Backup | The filename of the automatically saved file ends with .ac$. If you have a catastrophe, look for this file and rename it to .dwg to get your drawing back (or most of it). Look in OPTIONS on the file tab to learn where AutoCAD is putting your backup file. |
SCALE | If you need to convert a file from imperial to metric measurement (Inches to Millimeters), a SCALE factor of 25.44 will do the trick. Back the other way (Millimeters to Inches) requires a scale factor of ..03937. If you need to convert Feet to Millimiters use a scale factor of 305 and from Millimiters to Feet use 0.00328 |
VIEWRES | With today's faster computers, a setting for VIEWRES of 5000 (max = 20000) will give you a nice apparently round circle and not slow your machine down much on the projects we work on. Remember that when AutoCAD plots your file it will always plot at 20000. VIEWRES only impacts what you see on your monitor. |
Navigation | This summary of AutoCAD's coordinate entry methods might be of some help.
|
Files |
1/ Save your files to your USB stick. 2/ Be courtious to other lab users and remove any of your files from the desktop. 3/ Make backup copies of all of your work! 4/ Remember, the University often wipes these workstations and "re-images" between one class and another so, copy your work to your USB drive before leaving or you will lose it! |
![]() Plotting |
Plot your drawings to PDF files to take to the plotters in FAB and the Timms.The UofA requires that all plots be black & white only. Use Monochrome or Grayscale settings in the Plot Style Table. |
Paper Sizes |
This summary of the most common paper sizes you will be plotting:
Attribution: By Schmidt455 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia.org |
More Comprehensive Paper Sizes |
This a more complete list of paper sizes - including metric..
|
A Brief List of File Types |
This an incomplete but useful list...
|
Track | A theatre drafting standard linetype that is not available in AutoCAD's aclt.lin is the Traveller Track. Until recently this linetype was included in the ABTT standard, thus the name of the file, even though the standard has now changed. Download ABTT.lin and save it in the same folder as aclt.lin. You will then be able use Format-Linetype-Load-File-abtt.lin to load the Traveller Track linetype |
![]() BOOK |
Mastering AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
by George Omura Published by Sybex | (Autodesk Official Training Guides) [Paperback] |
![]() BOOK |
Mastering AutoCAD for the MAC
by George Omura Published by Sybex | (Autodesk Official Training Guides) [Paperback] |
![]() BOOK |
AutoCAD Pocket Reference
by Cheryl Shrock (Author), Gargi Sanati (Author), Steve Heather (Author) |
![]() BOOK |
Designer Drafting and Visualizing for the Entertainment World
by Patricia Woodbridge (Author), Hal Tine (Author) - Paperback – Apr 23 2013 In the second edition of Designer Drafting and Visualization for the Entertainment World, Patricia Woodbridge, a highly experienced art director of feature films and a long time teacher of scenic drafting and set design at the graduate level teams up with nationally-renowned scenic designer and SCAD professor Hal Tine to give you a dynamic glimpse into the world of designing for mainstream entertainment including theatre, film, tv, and corporate events. Drawing on designs from real Hollywood and Broadway blockbusters, this book provides you with the basic tools and principles of scenic drafting and rendering, beginning with pencil drafting and culminating with the latest information on CAD drafting, digital 3D modelling, digital and hand/digital rendering, and digital graphics for sets. |
![]() BOOK |
Drafting for the Theatre
by Dennis Dorn and Mark Shanda, Paperback – Feb 23 2012 In this newly revised second edition, veteran stage designers and technical directors Dennis Dorn and Mark Shanda introduce industry-standard drafting and designing practices with step-by-step discussions, illustrations, worksheets, and problems to help students develop and refine drafting and other related skills needed for entertainment set production work. By incorporating the foundational principles of both hand- and computer-drafting approaches throughout the entire book, the authors illustrate how to create clear and detailed drawings that advance the production process. |
![]() BOOK |
|
![]() BOOK |
Expert LISP
by Reinaldo N. Togores, Paperback Visual LISP for AutoCAD 2019... Time goes on, and now in 2018 I felt that an update to my book on Visual LISP programming for AutoCAD was demanded. During these years we have gained experience with the new non-Com Property System which in many cases make it possible to obtain results that previously demanded the use of ActiveX properties and methods which are only available under the Windows platform. This accounts for most of the 40 new pages added to the book. The new version is identified as the Release 2019 Edition. |
![]() BOOK |
A Handbook for Theatre Users
by David Ripley, Paperback AutoCAD - A Handbook for Theatre Users: 4th edition. From ‘Setting Up’ to ‘Drawing in Three Dimensions’ via ‘Drawings Within Drawings’, this compact and fully illustrated guide to AutoCAD covers everything from the basics to full colour rendering and remote 3D plotting. Fourth, completely revised edition, March 2018. |
![]() Perspective |
Click on the image below to download a DWG file that you can use to give perspective to your Section and Elevation drawings. |
![]() Ergonomic |
The attached DWG file is a very useful set of three views of a "standard" person. You may find this person useful when you are designing/drafting furnature.
|
![]() People |
The attached DWG file is a useful set of figures.
|
Plinth project Help drawing the difficult bits!
Draw an Ogee Instructions to help with the arches project.
Four Centered Arch More instruction for the arch project.
These arches are parts of four different circles. The position of the centres varies greatly, and with them the beauty of the arch. Perhaps the most usual position is for the upper and lower centres of each side of the arch to be in the same vertical line. The four-centred arch has been considered peculiar to England; but it was common enough in Flanders at the same time it was in England.
Insert Fields Instructions for inserting Fields into a sheet set title block
Draw Existing Drawing Instructions inserting an existing drawing into a sheet set
Draw A Spiral Instructions for the most common FAQ
Draw A Golden Spiral Instructions for the most common FAQ
Wrought Iron Grille, Prague. Put your new knowledge to the test with this real challenge and earn three (3) extra points!
Bands and Borders. Need extra points? Earn one quarter (1/4) extra point per band submitted.
Example of Timms Block TIMMS for 272-672
Title Block example #1 National Ballet of Canada
Title Block example #2 Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium using Attributes
Title Block example #3 (Kevin McAllister) This is an excellent example of a designer's professional presentation and a stylish title block.
Title Block example #4 (EOA) The Edmonton Opera's title block uses variable text filled in using Attributes (with the exception of the green text, which is filled in by each act or scene's layer as it is turned on).
Title Block example #5 FAB Corner Stage title block
Title Block example #6 Vectorworks title block
Title Block example Autocad version.
Attribute Help Help with an attribute title block.
Midterm Exam Practice If you can do everything in the drawing you should have no trouble with the mid term exam. I also often include ISO drawing in the exam so you will want to review that too!
Box Set Putting this box set onto a theatre that the students have found on the internet.
Box Set Sketch Sketch.
Plan View Plan View Example
Lighting Elevation Lighting-Masking Elevation Example
LAYERS VIA LISP How to load CITT or ABTT Layers from a LISP file
CITT layers in LISP Right click to download and save this file.
ABTT layers in LISP Right click to download and save this file.
Opera Plan View When you are having trouble with layout and detail please feel free to refer to this drawing as an example of how to do it correctly.
Opera Section View Combining this section drawing with the Plan View example above should help you gain a good understanding of the information required on a lighting section.