AutoCAD Backstage.


CADvice for Theater Technicians and Designers,
by Wm W Wells.

Preface

This is an unfinished manuscript, presented here for what use it can be. I have been drafting for the theater for several decades, and drafting in AutoCAD® for more than a decade. These are some of my notes and suggestions for anyone who wants to get up and rolling with CAD, AutoCAD and drafting in general for the theater and entertainment industries.

I started working on this manuscript several years ago when I was first struggling to learn AutoCAD and figure out how to apply it to theater drafting. Unfortunately, AutoCAD is a moving target. I started using release 11 for DOS in 1988. I am now using AutoCAD® 2000, having gone through three releases in between. AutoCAD 2000 for Windows is a substantially different product. Most of the material in this manuscript has been updated.

In particular, I would like to thank David Gockley and Houston Grand Opera for the faith placed in me in instituting a large and expensive experiment. I hope that the efficiency and professionalism of the HGO technical department continues to amply rewarded that faith. I would also like to thank John West and PCIII for the patience and knowledge that allowed me to make AutoCAD a powerful tool in my work. And finally, my current employer Mike Connery and Show Fountains, Inc. for allowing me to experiment and expand the application of AutoCAD for my work.

  1. Part I: CAD and AutoCAD

    1. Chapter 1: Introducing the Blueprint
    2. Chapter 2: Drafting on Steroids
    3. Chapter 3: The Software
    4. Chapter 4: The Drafting Station
    5. Chapter 5: Stuff to Know First
    6. Chapter 6: Getting Your Bearings
    7. Chapter 7: Inside the View Window
    8. Chapter 8: 2d Primitives
    9. Chapter 9: Object Properties
    10. Chapter 10: Editing Drawing Objects
    11. Chapter 11: Create a Sample Drawing
    12. Chapter 12: Dimensioning the Drawing
    13. Chapter 13: Complex Drawing Objects
    14. Chapter 14: Cleaning Up and Archiving
    15. Chapter 15: Printing and Plotting

  2. Part II: Drafting Conventions

    1. Chapter 1: Drawing Layout
    2. Chapter 2: The Look on Paper
    3. Chapter 3: Drawing Viewpoint
    4. Chapter 4: Special Viewpoints
    5. Chapter 5: Details and Information Schedules
    6. Chapter 6: Dissecting Dimensions

  3. Part III: Drawings for Theater

    1. Chapter 1: Design Drawings
    2. Chapter 2: Construction Drawings
    3. Chapter 3: Managing the Stage
    4. Chapter 4: Lighting and Sound

  4. Part IV: Advanced AutoCAD

    1. Chapter 1: Reusability
    2. Chapter 2: Block Libraries
    3. Chapter 3: Three Dimensions
    4. Chapter 4: Calculations
    5. Chapter 5: Bill of Materials
    6. Chapter 6: Metric/Imperial
    7. Chapter 7: Programming for AutoCAD
    8. Chapter 8: Adding to AutoCAD

  5. Appendix:

    1. Appendix A: Resources on the Net
    2. Appendix B: Digitizers
    3. Appendix C: ISO Special Characters
    4. Appendix D: Plotter Pen Settings

  6. AutoCAD Backstage Index:

pointerBurning Coal Home.
copyright © 1999 Wm W Wells. All rights reserved.