What are Blueprints? |
|
Answer:
Blueprints are technical drawings which allow Blueprints show the architect's building plans from a number of different angles to help general contractors get an idea of precisely what the finished project should look like. Every floor of a building has its own set of blueprints, detailing precisely where builders should install utility lines, doors, interior walls, staircases, windows and other essential details. One set of blueprints may have an overhead point-of-view, while others might show exterior, side or close-up details. Blueprints are also scale drawings, so contractors must be able to convert the measurements from the page to the real project. A typical blueprint scale may indicate 1/4 of an inch on paper equals 1 linear foot in real life, for example. Other blueprints may use different scales, however, so all contractors and subcontractors need to match the blueprint scale precisely amongst themselves. The name "blueprint" refers to the original method of copying an original technical drawing to a more portable version for field use. The original schematic drawing would be traced over with India ink on semi-transparent tracing paper. Another large sheet of paper would be treated with light-sensitive chemicals. The traced drawing would be placed over the treated paper and locked down with a frame. The frame containing both sheets of paper would then be taken outdoors and exposed to sunlight. The areas covered by the India ink drawing would remain white, since the sunlight could not reach them. The rest of the photosensitive paper would eventually turn a deep blue, because of the nature of the chemicals. When the tracing paper was removed, the result was a "blueprint", with white lines and lettering over a deep blue background. Few modern blueprints are created using this labor-intensive method, however. Many are now printed with Xerox copiers or offset printing presses. Trackback(0)
Comments (0)
 Write comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Join for free or Login.
|
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
© QandAs.com, All rights reserved.
Save or Share