prints: the language of industry

1Prints: The

Language of Industry

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.

• Identify the importance of prints.• Discuss historical processes and technologies

related to prints.• Identify and define terms related to prints.• Explain how prints are produced.• Identify two important elements of print reading.


• Identify ways in which to care for prints.• Identify and discuss options for using prints in an

electronic (digital) format.• Discuss the role of various organizations in the

standardization of drawings.


Importance of Print Reading

• Drawings are the universal language of industry• Engineers, designers, technicians, and skilled

workers all use drawings• A print is a copy of a drawing


Importance of Print Reading

• Prints provide the worker with the details of:– Size– Shape– Tolerance– Materials used– Finish– Other special treatments


Print Reading and Drafting

• Print reading is closely related to the study of drafting

• Drafting is the field of study that focuses on the creation of technical drawings

• Blueprint is a term originating from one of the earlier copying processes for technical drawings


Print Reading and Drafting

• Prints used to be called blueprints


How Prints Are Made

• Prints are basically a “hardcopy” of a drawing• CAD systems can create paper drawings using

printers and plotters– Printers and cartridge-based plotters create raster

images– Pen-based plotters create vector images


How Prints Are Made

• Cartridge-based plotters create raster images


Print Reading Elements

• Reading a print involves two principal elements: visualization and interpretation– Visualization is the ability to “see” the shape of the

object based on the various views shown on a print– Interpretation is the ability to understand the meanings

of the lines, symbols, dimensions, and notes on a print


Print Reading Elements

• Visualization is “seeing” the object based on the views shown on a print


Care of Prints

• When working with prints, observe these rules:– Never write on a print– Keep prints clean– Be careful when folding and unfolding prints– Do not lay sharp tools and parts on a print


Care of Prints

• Use care when folding and unfolding prints


Electronic Formats for Drawings

• Electronic formats are available that enhance the ability to share prints without sharing the actual CAD data– Portable document format (PDF) is a file format from

Adobe and very common– Design web format (DWF) is a file format from

Autodesk and common in environments that use AutoCAD and other Autodesk products

– Free viewers are available for both formats


Standards for Industrial Prints

• A standard is a voluntary guideline• The standardization of engineering drawings for

prints has long been established through the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME)



• The American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is the professional organization that authors and publishes engineering standards related to industrial prints



• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the umbrella organization that serves as an overseeing body for numerous American standards



• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an organization that provides over 18,000 standards on a variety of subjects in the international and global arena


• List factors that make print reading important.

Prints provide the details of size, shape, tolerances, materials used, finish, and other special treatments needed to manufacture a product


• Describe historical processes and technologies related to prints.

An early copying process was a wet process that resulted in white lines on a blue background (a blueprint). A dry process (diazo) was later developed that resulted in blue lines on a white background (a whiteprint or blue-line print). Today, prints are often output from a CAD system to an inkjet or laser printer/plotter.


• List some terms related to prints.

Print, engineering graphics, blueprint, whiteprint, vellum, visualization, interpretation, and standards, among others


• In general, describe how prints are produced.

A print is a copy of a drawing. Traditionally, a print was made with either a wet or dry process (blueprints and whiteprints), but now prints are often output from a CAD system to a printer or plotter.


• What are two important elements of print reading?

Visualization and interpretation


• List four points related to the care of prints.

A) Never write on a print

B) Keep prints clean

C) Very carefully fold and unfold prints

D) Do not lay sharp objects on prints


• How can prints be used in electronic (digital) format?

By distributing a DWF or PDF file, for example, to the print reader


• What are the two organizations that have a role in developing standards documents for engineering drawings?

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

prints: the language of industry

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