Plan Symbols
(Template)
It is a good idea to Rename the Template file from the beginning.
Use the Save As command to create a new file name and directory.
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If you want to Create a Stationary (Template) file or make
Changes to the existing Stationary use the Save As Template Command.
If you Save, Vectorworks will prompt a Save As Dialog box. |
Vectorworks tends to save files in the VectorWorks file on the Lab Machine.
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You will want to save your file to a floppy disk, or to
Theater Lab 12 or on your personal Thinkpad.
Files on the Local Lab machines are stored at your own risk. As with any other computer files, you should have back-up copies. |
Layers allows the organization of information.
The visual analogy to layers are pieces of acetate, transparent so that you can see through the film to other drawings. If certain information is not pertinent it may be removed or made invisible. An architect might place the First Floor on one Layer, the Second floor on a second the basement on a third.
In a theater drafting one might place the Theater architecture on one layer, the First act set on another layer, the Second Act set on another and the Lighting plot on another and so forth.
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A Method of Working.
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I have selected a basic "box set" as a demonstration of a method of
working and of developing plan symbols. This is a picture of the
WFU production of The Heiress produced in 1994.
I have selected this set as it is simple, yet contains most of the "standard"
architectural elements. The design will be altered slightly to include
a couple of those features.
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So for the moment, we will draft this set in an normal rotation and only rotate the set once it is completed and grouped.
The floor for this set is 22' x 18' deep.
Set up the alignment tool to a corner of the floor.
(keep in mind that this will be made from "stock" platforms)
Center this platform on the SR side of the hall platform.
| The standard way of indicating the height of a platform is to make an light weight X and to indicate the height in inches in a circle. The outline of the platform should be a medium weight line, the cross to be lightweight. |  |
[control] +=
| Select the objects to be aligned. The align objects can be found
under the Tool Menubar or [control]+ =
In this example, the number and circle will be aligned to the center. |
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[control] + G
(The entire object must be selected to be included in the group, and remember to start the marquee off of any object or it will be selected and moved.)
It is often most efficient to create an object in aligned to an existing object in a drawing and then move the object to its location.
Create a rectangle for the first stair.
For align the corners.
Keeping the object selected, Use the [command] + M to bring up the Move Dialog box.
The stairs start 6' over (X direction) and move it -1" down (Y direction) to allow for the wall to rest on the platform.
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| While each stair tread could be designated as an individual platform it is cleaner to draw and arrow and make a note about the rise of each stair. |  |
Ramp
| For the purposes of this assignment, a escape ramp is included as part
of the escape stair system.
The ramp symbol is a similar to a platform a lower height and arrow to the upper height. Escape stairs may be labeled as such. |
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| The Platform and Stair case arrangement for this set. |  |
As we will be drawing a series of walls it is useful to change the default. A wall is a heavy weight line so increase the line width to 12.
For the purposes of clarity I am making the walls Red examples and have included the grid.
I like to use the rectangle tool as there is a range of editing tools that may be used on a rectangle and it may be extruded into a 3 dimensional object.
Create a rectangle that is 1" deep by 12' and place that wall on the back edge of the hallway platform.
Move that new rectangle 1'3" inside.
Clip surface and delete the 8' rectangle.
| Reveals give the opening a realistic thickness. Draft a 6" reveal as
a rectangle on the back of the edges of the divided flat.
Connect the front and back of the reveals with a dashed line to complete the symbol of the arch. |
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What side is the door hinged on? Does a doorway swing into a room?
What direction does a stage door swing?
| a) Create a wall at the edge of the platform by the porch.
b) Create an opening, 3'-0" wide in the center of the door. c) Add reveals. d) Add the dashed lines as in the archway. e) create a 2" by 36" rectangle, for the door itself, centered on the reveal. |
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The door hinges on the upstage side and opens in.
The drafting convention is to show the door ajar.
| Select the Rotate Tool from the Edit Palette.
Click first on the hinge point, which is the point that the object will be rotated about. (Note: this point does not need to be on the object. The next click is to the end of the door. Rotate (constrain) and click to complete the rotation of the object. |
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| Select the arc Tool
Click on the hinge point. Click on the door frame and
Make the fill [None] Click on the button to create an arrow head at the end of the arc by the door. |
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Completed
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Sight lines: Once the set is rotated, the designer will need to make sure that the back of this unit is not visible.
| The next segment to be drafted is the doors to the study.
This is a six foot flat located on the edge of the masonite floor. There are 2 foot wide double doors centered in that unit. The doors open off-stage. Draft the symbols. Adjust the attributes as required. Group the symbol.
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| a)Create a 2' deep flat for the depth of the fireplace flat.
b) The front of the Fireplace Flat is 8' wide. c)Match the depth of fireplace flat d) Make a flat to the edge of the stage. |
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While there is not a window in the original design, for the purposes of this project we will create one in the downstage flat.
| There are many different kinds of windows. This window is a casement
window type.
a) make the window opening 2' wide. b) add reveals c) draft a rectangle for the fixed half of the window 1" thick. d) draft a rectangle in front of that for the moving casement. e) draft the window sill. f) add a 9" return to the end of the wall. |
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Hearth
| This plan is a simplified version for the basics of the design so the
depth of moldings has not been included but the information of the basic
sizes should be included.
Draw a hearth stone 1'-6" deep by 5'-0" wide. Draw a Mantle, 9" deep by 6'-0" wide. |
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Polygon Tool
| To create the firebox, create two rectangles centered on the unit.
a) 3'-6" x 1'6" b) 2'6" x 1'6" Using the Polygon tool, create a new shape by snapping to the corners of the rectangles. Once the shape is complete, delete the guide rectangles. |
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In preferences, there can be a prompt to save periodically.
An example of Class might be Furniture on a set. That information is vital to a stage mangager or director but might be in the way to a Tecnical Director.
Or some elements of the Theater might be containted in a class that could be invisible if the production did not require it. An example of this might be the Annular ring or Traps.
The active class is visible in this window. An object created will automatically go into that class and asorb the class attributes.
| The class manager allows each class to be visible, invisible
or grayed.
A Line and Fill color, Pen width and arrows may be specified. Click on the Edit button to Change the Class "none" to Set
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| Click on the New button on the class manager box.
Type in the new class name "Furniture" Enter Your Class manager should now have three Classes; Dimensions, Set and Furniture. Enter |
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| The class list is just to the right of the layers blank towards the
right end of the menubar.
The active class is visible in this window. An object created will automatically go into that class and asorb the class attributes. |
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| It is best to organize a drawing and select a class at the
start of a drawing.
The best way change the Class assignement of an object is to Select the object. Selecte Object Information. [control]+ I The layer and Class assignement may be changed. This object is in Class Furniture
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Create Shapes for the fruniture that is in the photograph.
Place those objects on your floorplan.
| The basic shapes of furniture can be represented with Scaled
objects.
The rounded rectangle tool is good to give the sense of upholsted fruniture. Group the arms, back and base together. Group, rotate and place furniture so it makes sense for the audience, the actor and the set. |
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| Dimensioning allows measurements to be labeled on a drawing.
There is a specific tool palette for dimensioning. In addition there
are many options for defining the extension and arrows.
Dimensions are are a default class in Vectorworks. |
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| Select the Constrained Dimension Tool.
The first click establishes the start of the extension line. There will be a dashed line. The next mouse click establishes the end. Note that either a horizontal or vertical dimension may be selected. Drag to the location of the third click which makes the dimension appear. |
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This tool allows for "diagonal" measurements.
| The Unconstrained Dimension tool will give the actual length
of a Diagonal Measure.
The Tool works in the same way as the constrained Dimension tool of the three consecutive clicks being the start, the end and the text location. |
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| The angular dimension tool labels the angle between two
objects or a line and an object.
This tool works in a similar way, that the start, end and placement of the label are defined by three mouse clicks. |
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| Leader Lines provide a way of making notes or labeling items. |
[control] + ,
The amount that the object is moved is dependent on the screen Zoom. If you want to be precise, enlarge the zoom on the screen.
This Command may also be found under the Tool -- Move-- Nudge.
Under the File Menu
Select Save As
Enter a new filename and Click on the Save button.
| Opening a Stationary Sheet (Template)
Save As Layers Rotate (edit palette) Arc by Radius Align objects Align to grid Duplicate Linear Duplicate Default Attributes Polygon Tool Regular polygon tool. Leader Line Classes Dimension Line Unconstrained Dimension Line |
Centerline
Plasterline Architecture Convention Platform
Wall
Masking
Dimension Lines
Title block |