Trimble Architects

What is an architectural blueprint drawing? This article looks at the purpose of an architectural blueprint and show how they are used by architects.

What's The Difference Between A Plan And A Blueprint?

There are a few, often, unnoticeable differences between blueprints and plans in the architecture world. However, professional designers in the industry often use these words interchangeably. 

A plan or a blueprint means relatively the same thing; they refer to a technical drawing to scale, displaying a specific room or a complete house. So, which is most common and which phrase do you need to use when working in this field? The answer is, they are the same, and you may use whatever you are most comfortable with. 

Throughout your career or endeavours in the industry, you'll hear numerous contractors and designers in different cities and regions use various other expressions when getting a building permit. We would suggest referring to the technical drawing as whatever the others in your city, town or area call them, whether plan or blueprint. 

In addition to any construction drawings, your plans or blueprints will provide the contractor with all the specific information on your project and exactly how the architects believe builders and contractors should complete the job to ensure everything complies with health and safety regulations. 

WHAT DOES AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM DO?

What is a blueprint?

Many designers and contractors who have experienced plenty of building construction are most likely to understand precisely what a blueprint is. The blueprint is the most standard communication technique between workers and designers, and it is most commonly used to copy any construction and complex large architectural drawings. 

In previous years, many architectural blueprints have incorporated white lines on top of blue backgrounds; however, designers have opted for blue lines on white backgrounds in more recent years. Either option allows the number of lines and features to stand out much more in a way that is more accessible to those constructing the clients building project. 

Now we can take a deep dive into the purpose of architectural blueprints and everything you need to know about them before planning or making notes about other areas of your dream home or new build property. 

Blueprints are typically drawn to scale in either 24 by 35 or 18 by 24. Frequently, blueprints will come in a complete set, including drawings of the floor plan, plans displaying the elevation of each side of the structure, and a foundation or basement plan. 

It will also include bearing walls and footings, a full electrical layout plan, a framing plan, cross-section displays of all structural elements, all plumbing and mechanical systems drawings and finally, a roof plan and a general plot plan. Many include all necessary details of a house or property right down to all doors and windows placements. 

Why is a blueprint blue?

When making these blueprints, the printing process develops a distinct colour, aligning it with its name. The process begins with creating a drawing of the vision onto a translucent tracing paper page. 

That drawing is then placed on paper coated with potassium ferrocyanide and ammonium iron citrate, forming the blueprinting paper. The mix of these chemicals comes from an aqueous solution, and once the drawing has been accurately placed on it, it is left out to dry. 

When these two papers are put together against the exposure of bright lights, the chemicals experience a reaction that forms compounds, and these compounds are known as blue ferric ferrocyanide. Sometimes, it may also be referred to as Prussian blue. 

What is the purpose of an architectural blueprint?

The most critical and shared purpose of the architectural blueprint is to create reproductions of large-scale drawings. The reason why many use this method is due to its complete inexpensiveness. Compared to the tremendous costs of copying machines, especially large-format pictures, the blueprinting process is seen amongst many as a fantastic bargain. 

Blueprints, in past years, were entirely less time-consuming, which is why many professionals in the industry prefer them for many years. They are easily recognisable due to their white lines atop a dark blue background and are straightforward for creating accurate original reproductions of drawings. 

Do architects still use blueprints?

There have been numerous processes and technologies invented for modern-day use to take the place of blueprinting. It began in the 1940s; this was when the original methods of blueprinting began to be replaced with blue lines on a white sheet of paper as opposed to vice versa. 

Such a process has since been replicated in more current eras with the latest computer-aided printing technology. 

Nowadays, it is no longer necessary for architects or construction engineers to spend time printing their drawings onto blueprint paper, as nowadays, designers can do these drawings and display them digitally. You can now quickly transfer these digital images between builders, architects, and other professionals in the construction environment and industry. 

The blueprinting process is often termed obsolete, as we have reached an age where it has been successfully replaced with large-format xerographic photocopiers.