This assignment asks students to generate a series of digital vector drawings illustrating the iterative form exploration process from Assignment 1 using Rhino and Adobe Illustrator. Students will create hidden line axonometric drawings of their subtraction geometry at a scale of 1/3 using parallel projection views. Drawings will be exported to Illustrator with layers and line weights to convey depth, arranged on letter-sized artboards, and printed for grading. Extra credit involves an additional "exploded" view drawing saved using named object positions.

1. ARCH1291 - Visual Studies II
FALL 2013
Assignment 2: Cube Vector Drawings
ASSIGNMENT INTRODUCTION
This assignment will examine the generation of digital, vector-based drawings from digital 3D models. Traditional drafting concepts
like line weight, scale, and orientation will still apply here, but new skills in managing Rhino views and object positions will be
introduced.
Assignment 2 asks that students generate a series of digital, vector-based drawings to illustrate the step-by-step iterative processes
they devised when exploring form through subtraction in Assignment 1. Hidden line axonometric drawings will be used with proper
line weight, style, and color to create a sense of depth in the 2D drawings.
New Rhino skills introduced:
• Viewport properties management and camera position manipulation
• Named Views and Named Positions panels
• Make2D command
• Exporting objects as Adobe Illustrator files (AI)
Visual Studies I skills for review:
• Artboard
• Layers
• Stroke
• Color
• Pen Tool
New Adobe Illustrator skills introduced:
• Multiple Artboard Management
• Stroke styles (dashed line, arrowheads)
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES
Rhino Primer
• http://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/12101291coordination/primers/
Video Tutorial(s) for Assignment 2
• http://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/12101291coordination/assignment-2-cube-vector-drawings/

2. INSTRUCTIONS
1. Select the iteration (and all of its corresponding steps) from Assignment 1 you thought to be the most successful in terms
of creating a dynamic space.
a.
2. Using the Viewport Properties menu, position a camera on the first object/step. Projection Mode should be set to Parallel
to ensure that you’re producing axonometric drawings that can be scaled. A recommended workflow for this is to:
a. Draw a line from one corner of the cube to the opposite corner creating a 3D diagonal line through the cube.
b. Move this line from its start point to its end point so that the curve projects beyond the cube.
c.
d. Set the camera to the end point of the translated curve and the camera target to its start point.
e. Because we’re in Parallel mode the same camera can be used to generate axonometric drawings for all objects
in the chosen iteration.
3. Save the camera in the Named Views panel so you can always access it later should your camera move.
4. Select each cube object one at a time and run the Make2D command.
a. In the options select Show Hidden Lines and Maintain Source Layers.
b. Always group (Ctrl+G) a drawing after it’s been generated to make it easier to select and move.
5. Repeat step four with the difference objects.
a. Align the difference object drawings with their respective cube drawings.

3. 6. Generate the outline drawings for each object (this will be your darkest, most prominent line weight).
a. Hide the difference object layers.
b. On a new layer draw rectangles around each drawing and use the Curve Boolean command to generate
outlines.
c.
d. You may need to create additional outlines in the interior of your drawings based on your geometry.
7. Export the drawings as an Illustrator (AI) file at a scale of 12” = 4” (a scale factor of 1/3) so that it will fit comfortably on a
letter size (8.5 x 11”) sheet of paper.
8. Open the Illustrator file and create letter size Artboards, then align objects to the centers of the Artboards.
a. Create multiple Artboards using the Document Setup to size and align the first Artboard, then duplicate with the
Artboard palette.
b. Center drawings to the Artboard using the Align palette.
c.
9. Apply stroke widths, styles, and colors per layer (the Make2D layers from Rhino should have come through to Illustrator)
in order to create appropriate line weight for hidden line drawings in order to create a sense of depth.
10. Export drawings as PNG files with transparent backgrounds (exporting as a JPG would force an unwanted solid white
background) at 300dpi resolution and print the results onto letter size paper.
a. These drawings are to be pinned up by the start of class 3.
11. EXTRA CREDIT: Choose one step and use the Named Positions panel to save the positions of the difference objects
(spheres and ellipsoids) in both their original positions and in an “exploded” position.
a. An exploded position would typically be a translation of the object by the vector between the cube’s volume
centroid and the sphere or ellipsoid’s center.
b. Repeat steps 4 – 10 above to create an additional drawing.

4. GRADING
To receive a grade, your Illustrator (AI) file must be submitted to your Dropbox folder and your printed drawings pinned up in the
hallway by the beginning of the next class.
Assignment 2 will be graded as follows:
1. Followed file naming convention 10%
2. Clearly illustrated step-by-step Boolean process with drawings 20%
3. Correctly set up drawings in Parallel view with consistent camera placement 10%
4. Exhibited good layer and camera/view management 10%
5. Exported drawings to correct scale and file format 10%
6. Achieved depth in the hidden line drawings through proper line weight, style, and color 20%
7. Exported image files as proper format with 300dpi resolution 10%
8. Printed drawings pinned up prior to start of class 10%
9. EXTRA CREDIT: Completed exploded axonometric drawing 25% EC