The most important purpose of color is to convey an accurate image to the viewer, whether the viewer is the Designer, the Client, or the CADD Operator. -- By properly choosing colors that resemble the materials illustrated, and matching those colors to appropriate line weights, both "readable color images on computer screens" and "black & white finish plots on paper" can co-exist, while actually emphasizing the same lines intended on both computer screens and finished drawings.

Full Color Palette
018	028	038	048	058	068	078	088	098	108	118	128	138	148	158	168	178	188	198	208	218	228	238	248
016	026	036	046	056	066	076	086	096	106	116	126	136	146	156	166	176	186	196	206	216	226	236	246
014	024	034	044	054	064	074	084	094	104	114	124	134	144	154	164	174	184	194	204	214	224	234	244
012	022	032	042	052	062	072	082	092	102	112	122	132	142	152	162	172	182	192	202	212	222	232	242
010	020	030	040	050	060	070	080	090	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170	180	190	200	210	220	230	240
---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
011	021	031	041	051	061	071	081	091	101	111	121	131	141	151	161	171	181	191	201	211	221	231	241
013	023	033	043	053	063	073	083	093	103	113	123	133	143	153	163	173	183	193	203	213	223	233	243
015	025	035	045	055	065	075	085	095	105	115	125	135	145	155	165	175	185	195	205	215	225	235	245
017	027	037	047	057	067	077	087	097	107	117	127	137	147	157	167	177	187	197	207	217	227	237	247
019	029	039	049	059	069	079	089	099	109	119	129	139	149	159	169	179	189	199	209	219	229	239	249

Relationship Between Screen Colors and Line Weights

. . . . Brighter Colors on Screen = Thicker Lines on Paper . . . . Darker Colors on Screen = Thinner Lines on Paper . . . .

In the drawing above, the nine (9) Standard Colors are assigned line weights according to their screen brightness or darkness and are listed along the right-side of the lines in the lower right-hand corner. Thinner line weights and colors toward the top, thicker line weights and colors toward the bottom. ( Click on image above to access the drawing in DWF format for printing and viewing in greater detail. )

Note that the line thickness numbers along the left-side of the lines shown apply to the Full Color Palette section.  Each column  of colors is assigned ten numbers, with even numbers above and odd numbers below the horizontal dividing line. The first column on the left for example contains color "10-bright red" just above the divider line.  This color is assigned "line weight .020" which is a relatively thick line.  As you follow the numbers in this column, you eventually end up at color "19-dark red".  This color is assigned "line weight .001" which is an extremely thin line.  All colors ending in "9", such as 29, 39, etc are dark colors with thickness .001 (thin) and all colors ending in "0", such as 20, 30, etc. are bright colors with thickness .020 (thick).  This is known as the Sunn-Starr Color and Line Weight System.

Gray Shades or "half-tones" are used for non-solid lines with screening applied in the percentages shown above.  These are convenient when an entire layer or group of layers in a drawing require screening in order to plot lightly. (As in background plans for engineering drawings.)  External references or Xref drawings to be used with screening must have all entities changed to "color by layer" so the engineer can easily change the layer to a color between 250 and 255, depending on how light or how dark the layer needs to be.

 

Colors and Materials - Associations and Application Guidelines

The chart below was created from the Standard AutoCad Numbered Color System and rendered with various programs to illustrate the fleeting nature of colors on cadd systems.  Even though the colors will vary from display to display, the basic logic that follows still applies.

Construction Document, 3-D Modeling and Rendering Guidelines

For Construction Documents, choose the ten color "slice" that most closely approximates materials in question, and combine thin & thick colors within that color range to simulate shadows as needed. For 3-D Models, choose a color to match the material closest, without concern for line thickness.  This can be fixed after converting the 3-D models to 2-D elevations through the layer/color settings. For Rendering, apply materials to model, only when absolutely necessary.  With most rendering software, the default colors may render well enough for schematic/preliminary design presentations. For Design Development, some rendering programs allow the rendering process to be interrupted after an intermediate pass.  This allows for rough, wide-brush preliminary presentation techniques. Finally, for Photo-Realistic Interiors and Renderings, none of these short-cut rules apply.  Lighting is everything and all materials applied to the model affect the final result.  Sky is the limit on realism.

Along with the colors listed above, heavy use can be made of Gray Shades in representing ground planes, raw concrete, non-decorative or unfinished drywall, etc.  It is usually best to isolate the Standard Colors for 2-D Construction Document and Typical Detail use only.  These standard colors are also an ideal way to blend-in existing line weight and color standards, or to stay compatible with drawings produced earlier or by outside Consultants.

In interiors work for instance, the color logic might be to assign cool colors to items close to the ground (i.e. chairs, file pedestals, etc.), assign neutral colors, gray shades and whites to mid-height items (i.e. counters, work surfaces, etc.), and assign warm colors to items close to the ceiling (i.e. overhead binder-bins, partition panels, etc.), keeping in mind the logical association that heat rises.

Staying flexible and using similar color logic for 2-D and 3-D work is desirable, but not mandatory.  Conveying material awareness and being smart about finished line weights is the name of the game.  Color and line weight logic is a short-cut, not a burden.  Eventually all of this does become second nature and fun.  Efficiency, quality and productivity are merely the side effects of using this system.  Remember: Cadd illiterate users may never understand, so your final drawings and images will have to speak for themselves. 

Rendering Materials, Color and Line Weight Examples

Allowing for client design feedback

and

Refining unique and individualized designs 

In the schematic design images below, minimum materials were applied to the model and the model's emphasis became the roofing tile.  To present these as design development images, an interrupted-pass rendering technique would be advisable (after adding a few trees or shrubs in the foreground).  A 3D paint program by the name of Piranesi that applies watercolor and paint style filters to images such as the ones below is another great presentation solution.

Sometimes allowing room for client feedback and modifications to a design is precisely the goal we should be setting for ourselves when using 3D modeling as a design tool.  Providing wireframe b&w backgrounds to an artist for manual rendering is also an effective way to take advantage of 3D modeling as a tool in the design stages of a project.  Each presentation technique has its own advantages and all should be used to refine unique and individualized designs whenever possible.  The images below were created with AccuRender.  ( Trees, people and cars are not always used in the early design development phases.)

Images courtesy of Faulconer & Carawan Architects - Ventura, California

Expressing materials on the computer screen

and

Printing readable line weights on paper 

In the construction document images below, the colors used served an important dual purpose:  First, they represented a hint of the actual materials that were specified for this building.  A very important element to see on the computer screen, as elevations evolve into wall sections, construction details, etc.  Second, and perhaps more importantly, the colors actually control the line weights that appear on the final printed drawings.

Images courtesy of  T. W. Layman Associates - Encino, California

Image above was first converted to AutoCad-2000 format, then to Express Viewer DWF format, then to Adobe Reader PDF format, and finally to JPEG Format.

The exterior elevation image above is presented here in three different formats (jpg, dwf, and pdf), illustrating the final line weights obtained on paper.  Of course, since viewers will likely be using several different display technologies to view these images (i.e. standard crt, flat panel lcd, projector, hdtv, etc.), the quality of the lines on the screen may not be as easy to appreciate as seeing the image printed on paper.  In any case, we hope that the images included are adequate to convey the way in which the dual-purpose  Sunn-Starr Color and Line Weight System  has evolved, and how it has been used in the real world.

As always, thank you for reviewing this portion of our web site.  Hope the information was useful and that you contact us with any comments and suggestions you may have on how we can improve the system.  Examples of you work using these standards is also welcome.

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