Chapter 13 Visual Communication: Drawings, Renderings, and Models 471 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Mixed Media Again, no one media does everything well. Many architects and designers use a variety of media to take advantage of each tool they have. The preva- lence of digital has largely replaced hand-render- ing techniques because digital renderings make it possible to develop multiple views quickly and easily. Many proficient professionals who render perspec- tives, however, use multiple media techniques. With minimal effort, they can take a flat, uninspiring export image created with a computer and create a drawing with more depth, texture, and human detail than is always possible using strictly digital means, Figure 13-43. The overall goal is to sell the design and tell a story. Rendering Papers The way paper takes the media impacts how the render- ing appears. Matching the paper with the correct media guarantees a certain success. Following are several types of paper used for different media. ■ Bond paper. This paper is inexpensive, readily available, strong, and durable. You can use it for pencil, colored pencil, and marker—or a combination. Marker can soak the paper if you are not careful. Rendering directly on bond photocopies of illustrations has become popular in design offices. Designers also use bond paper for printing and plotting CAD work. Bond paper also comes in colors and creates an effective rendering if used with colored pencil. ■ Bristol paper. A highly absorbent paper, Bristol comes in variety of weights, can go through a photocopy machine, and takes marker well. Many professional illustrators prefer this paper or Bristol board. ■ Kraft paper. Inexpensive, brown paper found in rolls or on paper bags, this paper offers a rough, earthy quality to the design presentation. It is highly absorbent. Ink pen and colored pencil work well on it. ■ Watercolor paper. Used for working with wet media such as watercolor paint, watercolor paper is a heavier-weight paper. It consists of 100 percent cotton rag paper that comes in different textures, colors, and weights. Rendering Tips Many resources are available to illustrate different rendering techniques you can mimic until you develop your own style. Be curious and experiment with differ- ent media. As with sketching, practice is important. Jim Dawkins Figure 13-43 Using specialized software, designers may combine various media to add appeal to their visual presentations. How did the designer use the top photo to inspire the client’s designs illustrated below?