2.2: Standard lettering
The letters and numbers on a drawing or sketch are as important as the lines. Scribbled, smudged, or badly written letters and numbers can become impossible to read. This may lead to time-consuming and costly errors. Lettering is necessary to describe:
- the name or title of a drawing
- when it was made
- the scale
- who sketched it
- the dimensions
- the special notations that describe the size
- the materials to be used
- the construction methods
The American Standard Vertical letters, Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\), have become the most accepted style of lettering used in the production of manual drafting. This lettering is a Gothic sans serif script, formed by a series of short strokes.
Font styles and sizes may vary in computer drafting. Note that all letters are written as capital (upper case) letters. Practice these characters, concentrating on forming the correct shape. Remember that letters and numbers must be black so that they will stand out and be easy to read. Lettering and figures should have the same weight and darkness as hidden lines.
Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) shows a simple drawing. Notice that the dimensions are given between arrows that point to extension lines. By using this method, the dimensions do not get in the way of the drawing. One extension line can be used for several dimensions. Notice also that the titles require larger letter sizes than those used for dimensions and notations. It is important that the title and sketch number stand out, as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\). When you begin lettering, you may wish to use very light lettering guidelines to ensure uniformity in lettering size and alignment.