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How does hatching show planes and rounded surfaces in a drawing?
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drafting
Figure 1: Two techniques of representing an object. (A) Perspective drawing, suggesting that the object is cubical. (B) Orthographic top and front views, revealing that the object is not cubical.
In drafting and drawing, hatching is a technique that uses parallel lines to define form, shading, and structural depth where blending is not possible.12
To represent different surfaces, the orientation and shape of these lines are adjusted:
- Planes: Straight, parallel, and equidistant lines are used to mark individual body planes, which helps establish the structural or tectonic values of an object.2
- Rounded Surfaces: To suggest roundness, draftsmen use gently curved hatching lines. When rendering complex rounded parts, artists often employ cross-hatching—where layers of lines intersect—using slanted or curved hachures. This method is particularly effective for depicting spherical bodies and modeling the articulated surfaces of the human body with precision.2
By varying the proximity and number of these lines, an artist can also control the intensity of light and shadow, further enhancing the illusion of three-dimensional volume on a two-dimensional surface.12