The Draughtsman's Handbook of Plan and Map Drawing / Including instructions for the preparation of engineering, architectural, and mechanical drawings.

by George G. André

Water.

—For water, a flat-tint of pure indigo is used. To produce the clear, transparent effect of water, there should be two coats of the tint, which, to allow of this, must be very light coloured.

Grass-land.

—For grass or cleared land, a flat-tint of green is employed. This tint is composed of indigo and gamboge, and should be of a lively hue, which may be produced by giving predominance to the gamboge. Care must always be taken in preparing greens for maps and plans, that the blue be kept subordinate to the yellow; for a predominance of the former colour produces a cold quality, which is utterly destructive of that natural appearance it is intended to give. The intensity of the tint for this and for other purposes should be such as to distinguish it clearly from others, and to allow somewhat for fading, without masking any of the details of the drawing; and it must be clear and transparent. We may here remark that all tints which are much extended should be balanced, that is, no one should obtrude itself upon the eye by its relatively too great intensity.

Marsh.

—Marsh and swamp are represented, as in line drawing, by a combination of the signs for water and grass-land. The tints are laid on horizontally, that is, parallel to the base of the drawing. They are not, however, laid on in bands or strips across the drawing, but are made to project in irregular points from each side, with here and there a long and narrow patch to represent an island. The land should cover a larger portion of the space than the water, and it should be washed in first, care being taken to make the white spaces left for the blue colour resemble the green in form, which spaces should project their horizontal points into the green as the latter projects its points into the white. The outer limits of a marsh should consist of an outline of projecting green points. The land portion of the marsh is finished by drawing a light shading line of indigo and burnt sienna along the lower edge of the green. This line must be drawn upon the edge and not against it upon the white space. In washing in the water, care must be taken not to overlay the edges of the green. A good effect is produced by introducing a tree here and there upon the land.

Sand and Gravel.

—Sand is shown by a flat-tint of yellow ochre. Sand and gravel are represented by dotting the flat-tint with burnt sienna by means of the point of the brush held in a vertical position. Stones and rocks in sand should be first outlined with the pen in burnt sienna and sepia in equal proportions, and afterwards filled in with the brush with the same colour.

Mud.

—In the survey of rivers, creeks, and coasts, it frequently becomes necessary to show tracts of mud between the lines of high and low water. For this purpose a flat-wash of sepia or Indian ink may be used dotted with Indian ink of greater intensity. The dots in this case must be very minute and thinly placed, and they should be evenly distributed. A fine-pointed pen will be found more effective in putting in these dots than the point of the brush.