ABSTRACT
The most dominant line in orthographics is the line of the exposed cut in plans and sections. The thickness of this line is determined by the scale of the drawing and, therefore, by the scaled thickness of the plane that is being sectioned. Referred to as "poche work" (from the French for "pocket"), this line is usually rendered meticulously in black or a dark tone. The abstraction of the linear footprint of floor plans represents a slice made in the horizontal plane through a building design. This linear slice is made close to eye level, i.e., at a height that will expose window and door openings (a). If applied in the vertical plane, this slicing results in a section. Vertical sections can be taken anywhere along the length (longitudinal section) or the width (cross-section)—their ultimate location being determined by what will expose the most useful information (b). Generally speaking, sections are made in one continuous plane, but if necessary, they can be offset to follow a jagged line. The same kind of cutaway line can also appear in elevation (where only its edge is seen) and in paraline projection drawings. When inserted, however, such lines should take on a character that contrasts with that of the body of the drawing. For instance, cutaway lines such as these are picked out boldly or drawn to follow meandering, curving routes so that any confusion between external envelope and exposed internal information is minimized (c, d).
