![]() ![]() For example, if you are drawing a portrait, draw an oval that feels comfortable for you. With a very light touch, you sketch out the basic shape you want the drawing to be. So how do you set the correct scale? It’s simple really. Using a grid is so precise it’s easy to lose any sense of spontaneity.ĭividers allow you to pinpoint the key features of your subject, such as the distances between the eyes, tip of the nose, and lips, etc, and mark them down with certainty. The great advantage of using proportional dividers, in my opinion, is how they allow you to retain the feel of freehand movement in your sketch. If you need some extra help read this: How to Plan and Compose Your Art: A Guide for Beginners The new scale will be true and accurate with every subsequent measurement. The artist measures two fixed points on their reference with one end of the dividers and, using the other end, marks out the corresponding points on their paper. Put simply, dividers are two pointed bars joined together by a pivoted slider or peg holes. If gridlines are not for you and you want to retain more of the sketchy style and feel, scale dividers will help. How to Scale Up Your Drawing Using Dividers I’ve drawn whole backgrounds in a drawing just because I was too heavy-handed and needed to disguise the grid lines I couldn’t remove! Be warned. Sounds obvious but it’s so easy to overlook. You want to avoid heavy lines that won’t fully erase and you certainly do not want to leave scorelines. If you lay your gridded photocopy onto your drawing surface you can mark the lines accurately by using the copy as your ruler.ĭraw the grid very lightly over your drawing paper. If you are going to print a photo make sure you have a large file so it doesn’t pixelate. I nip into my local library and do it there. If you don’t have a printer (and I don’t) get an instant photo printed and photocopy it, again in several sizes. Choose the copy size you’d be comfortable drawing and use that scale to draw it out, 1:1. If you have a printer, enlarge several copies to various sizes and print them off. You can draw a larger grid on your paper and work from the gridded file from your computer screen. You will never draw a more accurate grid and it will only take you a few minutes. If the boxes are too large, draw diagonals within the boxes, it’s quicker and more accurate than marking out the halfway point between two dots.ĭownload your file with a perfect grid. It’s more accurate than measuring each dot and drawing single lines. You should use the width of the ruler to draw parallel lines along both edges. Most folks miss their mark and that has a knock-on effect. For argument’s sake, let’s say you are marking out a 1-inch grid (25mm).Ī pencil dot every inch, what could be more basic? True, but it’s seldom accurate. Now try to measure out the grid using a ruler. Make a few photocopies of your reference photo. Drawing an accurate grid is more difficult than it looks. Your grid must be spot on or things will go wrong. You grid your reference, draw another grid on your drawing paper, and copy each box.Īccuracy is everything with this method. However, I only promote products I like and recommend) How to Scale Up Your Drawing Using a Grid (I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Project the image onto a wall or canvas and trace the outline.Enlarge a photocopy to size, shade the reverse side, flip it over and trace the outline.Measure two points with scale dividers, the reverse end will mark the same points on a different scale. ![]() ![]() ![]() Grid your reference, enlarge or decrease the ratio when drawing the grid on your paper,.These are the methods I use, or have used, to scale a drawing: This post will guide you through 4 practical ways to enlarge (or reduce) your image. Time is precious and sometimes you need a quick and easy way to scale up a drawing. ![]()
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