Graphic representation is a way to convey ideas or concepts through drawings or images. In many fields you can use the drawing as a way of artistic representation and idea transmission, but in others, you need a more accurate representation of the subject represented. A house can be represented artistically, but its construction depends on a detailed technical design.

Two forms of representation of a house: on the left an artistic representation and the right an technique representation (floor plan).

That is the main distinction between the artistic drawing and technical drawing: the first is free to represent an subject in a realistic or non realistic way. The technical drawing, on the other hand, is a schematic representation of an object or object system, ensuring no misinterpretations. The technical drawing shall contain all information for an object to be built.

To do that, we developed a language unique, in which all relevant object's information is described schematically. This information is read and interpreted the same way virtually anywhere in the world. Hence, anyone able to read and communicate through the technical representation of an object is able to read or perform a technical drawing.

Usually the process involves several steps and several professionals. The professional who plans the part is an engineer or designer, and usually records his ideas by means of a sketch, or a handmade technical drawing. The sketch is the basis for the preparation of preliminary drawing, which is an intermediate step in the process of design, which can still change.

Once approved, the drawing that represents the project's final solution will be done by the draftsman. The final technical drawing, also called implementation design, contains all elements necessary for their understanding. The design for manufacture, which can be done either on the drawing board or CAD must strictly meet all technical standards that affects the subject.

Materials

To perform a hand made technical drawing, some tools are necessary to assist the object's correct representation, as follows: the automatic pencil (or a pencil); graphite mines, a square set, a drawing board, truler (or a parallel ruler), a drawing compass, a scale, a soft eraser, a flannel, a bottle of alcohol gel, paper, and adhesive tape.

Other materials include templates (guide for ellipses, circles, etc..), protractors, French curves and a nail sandpaper. These last materials, although not mandatory, may assist you and speed up the drawing process. It is up to the designer whether to obtain it or not.