VectorWorks Tutorial
Chapter V.  Creating An Elevation
 
Elevations
The Floorplan defines the space of a set.  The Elevations show the heights and the details of the structures of the set.  The Designer creates a set of Elevations as part of the design package.
A set of Elevatoins for a set "flattens" out each of the walls.
A quick print of a floorplan and an elevation makes the development of a white model and easy proposition for the designer to check proportions and convey the sense of the space to the director.
Preping the Page before starting to Draw.

Open up a 1/4 blank Page Template.  The scale and Preferences should already be set.

Landscape Layout
Multiple Files
Multiple Files may be open in Vetorworks.
It will be helpful to be able to toggle to an open floorplan to find dimensions. 

The checked file is the active file. 

The list shows the other Vectorworks Files that are open.

Project:
Elevation

from the floorplan of the Heiress
Layout the Flats
Layout the Flats of the interior room.  The Flats are 12' high and allow about 3' in between the segements for dimensions.
Cut the Openings
Create a rectangle for each of the openings in this set design.  A standard door is 6'8". 

The widths fo the opening are defined in the plan view of the room.

Select both rectangles and use the Clip surface tool to delete that section of wall.

The three openings are the double doors, the fireplace and the arch.

Design Choices There are many choices that the designer is making in preparing an elevation.  How high are  the walls, what is the wall treatement?  How wide are the moldings? What should the fireplace look like?
A designer has references / visual research, but still will sit with tape measure or ruler and make choices.
Cornice

The cornice is a decorative feature at the ceiling line.

This was an applied item on this set.
Draft a 12' wide rectangle at the top of each flat to indicate the cornice deocoration.
Moldings

Draft the corner Molding on the doors.
Create a 4"x4" square using the dialog box and alignment to place them outside the door and window openings.
Moldings

Draft a 4" Rectangle connecting the blocks and the blocks to the floor.

On the outside of the molding, draw a 1" edge.
Window
Moldings

The window is similiar to the door.
Draw a window sill 2" wider than the frame.
Add a bottom molding that is 1" wider on each side.
Baseboard

Draw a rectangle to represent the baseboard on each flat 8" high.

Chair Rail

Keyborad short cuts.

Duplicate
 [control] D

Object Info
[control] I

Move
 [control] M

The chair rail is a 3" wide rectangle with a 1" layer on top.

The top of the chair rail is 36".

When I created this example, I duplicated the base board.
In object info, changed it to 3"
Used the move feature, to move it 2'9".
Duplicated the item again and changed it to 1".
Mantle

Surround the opening with 8" wide rectangles.

Add a 2" high mantle that is 4" wider on each side.

Create a trim underneath that is 2.5" high and one inch wider than the surround.

 
French Doors

For the purposses of construction, create a rectangle the size of one of the doors. (2' x 6'-8")

Create an 8" bottom rail and a 5" to rail.

Create 3" side rails.

Make a 1" vertical rectangle in the center of the door.

 
French Doors

Drawing the mullions.
Create a recangle at the under the opening. Linear duplicate 4 copies with the spacing of 13.75".

 
French Doors

Join surface to combine the mullions.

Delete the backing rectangle.

Select and Group the objects.
French Doors
Once the first door is grouped duplicate and move the door over to its proper location.
Window Mullions

Copy the group over to the window flat. Send the copy to the back. Select object information and rescale the group to fill in the window mullions.

 
Completed
Project
Save File

Under the File Menu
Select Save As

Enter a new filename and Click on the Save button.

Print File
Print the File
Terms and operations from Chapter 5

Tutorial written for Wake Forest University Theater Lab by Jonathan Christman   9/20/2001