Precision Knives: These are exceedingly sharp, durable, and easy to maintain, making them ideal for intricate details. Precision knives can effortlessly cut through materials like paper, foam, fabric, thin metal, and plastic. Mylar is used to duplicated translucent surfaces, it has a higher rigidity than trace which makes it a better option for glass windows but cuts just nicely. Sheet acetate Custom scales tend to show inexperience, and must be accompanied by a scale bar, which is both unsightly and adds an unnecessary layer of complication to presentation drawings.

The second consideration in choosing a scale ruler is which scales you will be using. This will depend largely on your profession or discipline. News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates. Dezeen Events Guide

News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates. Dezeen Awards China For study or conceptual models where precision and aesthetics are less critical, chipboard, foam board, or corrugated cardboard might be preferred due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Choosing the right engineering ruler depends on the type of work you do and the units of measurement you use. For example, if you work in engineering or construction, an engineer’s scale ruler may be more appropriate. If you work in architecture or interior design, an architect’s scale ruler may be more suitable. How do I care for and maintain my engineering ruler? For large-scale urban planning, a 1:2500 scale is commonly used. This allows for the representation of large areas, but the detail of individual buildings will be quite limited.

Colored Foam Boards: If there’s a need for extensive use of a specific color, consider using colored foam boards. These boards have a white core with a colored, smooth surface. Layering and Depth: Different materials can be layered to create depth and emphasize the stratification or hierarchy of spaces within a design. When reading a scaled drawing, the scale is shown as the length in the drawing, then a colon (“:”), and then the matching length on the real object.

How to Choose the Best Ruler for your Needs

It’s very unusual for a scaled drawing to deviate away from using one of these set scales, and as architecture students you should always aim use these standards. There is a need to consider what operations of architecture or engineering you'll be using the ruler for. In other words, what kinds of measurements are you looking to achieve? This will inform the scale ruler you choose.