Scribing (cartography)

Scribing (cartography)

Scribing was used to produce lines for cartographic map compilations before the use of computer based geographic information systems. Lines produced by manual scribing are sharp, clear and even.

An impression of the corrected compilation sheet is photographed onto scribe sheet material or drawn using pencil. While working over a light table, lines on the scribe sheet are traced with a metal or sapphire-tipped scribe tool to remove thin lines of translucent coating to produce a handmade negative image. This compares with drafting where an ink image is made on tracing paper by depositing ink using a pen to produce a positive image. Scribing produces a result superior to drafting, but is more time consuming.

The scribe sheet is made of a stable plastic base material and coated with a material which is designed for easy removal using a scribing tool to produce a cleanly cut line. Various colours are used, and orange is said to produce the least eye-strain for the cartographer.

One scribe sheet is produced for each map colour. Corrections can be made by duffing (re-coating) the scribe sheet with special duffing liquid. The detail can then be re-scribed. Printing plates are produced from the finished scribe sheets, one for each colour of the map.

Scribe tools

A tripod or trolley arrangement is used to hold the scribe stylus. A stylus of required thickness is set in the trolley and the surface material is removed by applying light pressure as the trolley is moved over the image. Care must be taken to ensure the base material is not gouged or distorted.

Either a round point or chisel point stylus may be used. Chisel points must be set at right angles to the direction of movement. As well as single line gravers, double and triple lines can be produced with double and triple graver stylus. Small circles can be produced using motorised versions of scribing tools, and symbols, figures etc, can be produced using plastic or metal templates.

Area symbols

‘Peelcoat’ is used to produce a negative of an area of detail such as a lake or forest. The border of the area is cut or scribed on the peelcoat and the coat of the sheet within the area is peeled off to produce a negative image.

A stipple pattern can be used to produce an area symbol over the peeled surface. A stipple sheet with a simple repeating symbol such as swamp, sand, etc. is combined with the area by photographing the stipple onto the peelcoat.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cartography — Cartographer redirects here. For the album by E.S. Posthumus, see Cartographer (album). A nautical chart of the Mediterranean Sea from the second quarter of the 14th century. It is the oldest original cartographic artifact in the Library of… …   Wikipedia

  • scribing — In cartography, a method of preparing a map or chart by cutting the lines into a prepared coating …   Military dictionary

  • Scribe (disambiguation) — A scribe is a person who writes documents by hand.Scribe may also refer to :* Scribe (ER) an Emergency Room employee * Scribing (joinery) a woodwork joining technique * Scribing (graffiti), an artistic technique * Scribing (cartography),… …   Wikipedia

  • map — mappable, adj. mapper, n. /map/, n., v., mapped, mapping. n. 1. a representation, usually on a flat surface, as of the features of an area of the earth or a portion of the heavens, showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships… …   Universalium

  • Map — /map/, n. Walter, c1140 1209?, Welsh ecclesiastic, poet, and satirist. Also, Mapes /mayps, may peez/. * * * I Graphic representation, drawn to scale and usually on a flat surface, of features usually geographic, geologic, or geopolitical of an… …   Universalium

  • MAP — See modified American plan. * * * I Graphic representation, drawn to scale and usually on a flat surface, of features usually geographic, geologic, or geopolitical of an area of the Earth or of any celestial body. Globes are maps represented on… …   Universalium

  • Erwin Raisz — (1 March 1893, Levoca, Hungary mdash;1 December 1968, Bangkok, Thailand) was a Hungarian born American cartographer, best known for his physiographic maps of landforms. BiographyBorn in Levoca, Hungary (now part of Slovakia) in 1893, Raisz was… …   Wikipedia

  • Orienteering map — An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area. These maps are much more detailed than general purpose… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”