Scaling Artwork
Introduction
Not all mechanicals are comprised of text only. You must know how to
proportionally scale art and photographs to fit into a predetermined space.
Scaling is calculating the dimensions for a reduction or enlargement of a
given image. You can use a slide rule, a mathematical formula, the diagonal
line method, or a scaling wheel to scale artwork. This segment will cover
the most common and easily available methods, the diagonal line method and
the scaling wheel which is often called a proportional scale.
Diagonal line
The diagonal line method reduces or enlarges the size of the original artwork
or the size of the allotted space in the paste-up or mechanical.
To use the diagonal line method, use this table:
Step
Action
1
Cover the allotted space on the mechanical with tracing paper or an
overlay.
2
Using a straightedge and a pencil, draw the outline of the allotted
space on the paper.
3
Extend the left-hand vertical line and the lower horizontal line.
4
Using a triangle, draw a line from the lower left-hand corner
through the upper right-hand corner of the outline.
5
Place the overlay on top of your original artwork aligning the left
side and the bottom.
6
Determine whether the height or width is most important for your
image.
7
Mark the line corresponding to your selection of the most important
dimension and extend this line to the diagonal.
8
Using your straightedge, draw a line from where the last line
intersected the diagonal to complete the box or rectangle.
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