How to Make Geometric Constructions
Geometric constructions are a necessary skill for architects, industrial designers, fashion designers and a host of other professionals. With a detailed knowledge of geometric construction techniques, these professionals create designs that inspire and win awards. And you can too.
Things You'll Need
- T-Square
- Graph Paper
- Triangles
- Drafting Pencils
- Compass
- Bisector
- Drafting Ruler
- Divider
- Masking Tape
- Internet Connection
Instructions
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Constructions for Design Applications
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1
Get acquainted with different drafting instruments. Instruments that are used a lot for geometric construction include architectural rulers, compasses, protractors, dividers, triangles, French curves and T-squares. Also find out about the wide variety of drafting pencils. Using these instruments takes some practice. So get some scratch paper and practice drawing lines with your triangles, French curves and compass. Practice with different types of pencils with different lead grades. Check to see how well different erasers erase different types of pencil marks made with different grades.
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2
Familiarize yourself with different geometric shapes and figures. Specifically, examine ancient sacred geometry constructions. Although ancient, these constructions are essential elements for modern architecture, art and fashion design. Experiment with your compass, dividers, triangles and different pencils. Try to recreate the sacred forms. Give yourself some creative latitude. Use your tools and imagination and create your own shapes and forms. Don't follow any rules. Think and develop unique constructions that result in complex patterns.
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3
Create a list of the most-common geometric constructions. These include constructions for bisecting a line, inscribing a triangle in a circle, drawing a line parallel and perpendicular to another line parallel line, and bisecting an angle.
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4
Create a geometric construction reference collection. Find videos, animations, slideshows, blogs and books that illustrate how to create the specific geometric constructions you are interested in. Videos, animations and slides are often the easiest to follow. For the best construction resources, bookmark them and place them into folders with descriptive names.
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Start your geometric constuction learning program with simple constructions and work up. Geometric constructions range from the simple to the utterly complex. Rank the difficulty level of each geometric construction in your reference collection. Then practice each construction starting with the easiest and then progress to more complex constructions. Bisecting lines and angles is one of the easier constructions. Perspective geometric constructions, on the other hand, are often difficult.
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Tips & Warnings
For your specific interest, find out the most-common geometric constructions used and the most-used drawing instruments. If you plan to become a fashion designer, the French curve is one to consider. For fashion design, learn the construction techniques used for arcs and curves. Specifically, how to divide an arc or curve into any number of equal-sized arcs and curves.
