I have mixed feelings about the need to learn
hand drafting. On one
hand I think learning to use a pencil is possibly the only way to learn what needs to be on the drawing and how to get it there. On the other
hand, I sometimes feel that having to learn by
hand is wasted time better spend getting better at using
CAD, but a moot
point as drafting and paperwork for lighting isn't taught here at BC. Sigh....
Part of the 2nd is that I see so many poorly skilled students about to move on to becoming professionals whose
CAD skills are so weak. I just finished my 2nd show in 6
mos. with a Dept. of Theater student designing a mainstage production who had never had a class in how to draft a
light plot and create the associated paperwork (the 2nd such) This 2nd student had never had a
Vectorworks class, which in any event is only a class to learn how to draft for a scenic design and had to learn VW and Lightwright pretty much by themselves over the summer. I'd much prefer seeing them taking some training in
Light Plot in
CAD creation then doing a
hand drafting class.