[agla]

Handling canopy layers over other plantings in plan views is a subject that I got thinking about today.

In the thread by Hamons about a non-artist's attempt at color, Rick posted a nicely rendered color courtyard that featured a tree canopy that was shown as transparent outlines. It made me wonder what most of you guys who use color use as a graphic technique to show the canopy.

Being a B&W guy, I used to use thinner line weights on the canopy trees and thicken the plants below to get them to read. Some time ago I reversed it at the suggestion of a more graphically inclined person. Now I thicken the tree and fine line the under plantings. That was counter intuitive to me, but it made a big difference.

I was taught that our brains tend to work from general down to detail unless we are coaxed into going straight to the detail. Once we get to the detail, we don't easily back away and see the big picture. That is often the case when people look at plan views, so is it a good idea to emphasize the big and make them work their way down to the detail? Or do you think it is better to show the detail below in a strong way?

Graphics were never my strong point, so somehow I missed applying that concept to drawing layered plans until someone pointed it out to me. In my case I understood what I was drawing to the point where I did not notice that the trees were not easily noticed by others. I was showing very big trees on a plan without them being noticed very well. Has anyone else done the same thing, seen the same thing, or have some techniques that work well for these situations?

[Chris Heiler]

Like you, I've done this both ways in the past. These two renderings show how I represent trees now.

[papercutter]

I was always taught that because a plan is essentially a representation of us looking down on the site, the tree canopy gets colored and not the plants underneath. Going along with that thought process, I'll use a lighter-weight penline under the canopy than I do on the part of the plant not covered. Actually, the same with everything uder the tree, be it grass, patio, whatever.

These things are never absolute, though. If I'm doing a shade garden, for example, where it's important for the individual plants to read, I'll just pick up the edges of the canopy with color and spot in some "leaves" here and there to make certain it's obvious that the canopy continues over all.

I think a lot of it depends on scale and the intent of the drawing. If it's an overall site plan, it's more about the detail and the massing and spatial relationships. If it's an individual bed or garden, and especially if you're working at a big scale like 3/8 or 1/2, it's all about the detail.

[papercutter]

and by the way- nice renders, Chris!

[papercutter]

One last thing, since we're discussing rendering... I was just ordering more art supplies from Carpe Diem Store - Art,Architecture,Hobby Supply, and they're still cheaper than almost anyone else, even Dick Blick! $1.85/ea for chartpak markers is a smoking deal.

[Chris Heiler]

Thanks for the source Papercutter- that will come in handy for me.