A lead sharpener is a tool used to sharpen the lead on a lead holder. (Some models also double as a pencil sharpener.) Generally, lead sharpeners sharpen the tip of the lead using an abrasive medium. Typical file-type sharpeners carry a plate file

An eraser shield is a thin sheet of stainless steel or plastic with slots and holes of different shapes. They are designed to allow erasers to be used through them to erase lines and text without removing lines close by which do not need to be (or sh

A triangular scale is a ruler that has a 3-lobed cross-section with 6 different types of scales on the edges (2 on each face) used for measuring and preparing scale drawings such as blueprints and maps. It is also called an architect's scale. Some ty

A ruler is a stationery item and drafting tool used when drawing lines, as a guide for cutting, and for various other uses. It is available in different shapes and materials, depending on the type of lines the user wishes to draw. Some rulers have me

Drawing ink is produced by using pigment as a colorant mixed with a fixative such as glue in soot. It is known for its resistance to water and light and for its strong fixing properties. It is mainly used in the preparation of blueprints that are to

A ruling pen is an instrument for drawing lines of even thickness in drafting, tracing and lettering. In Japanese, it is referred to as a crow's beak and as this name suggests, it is made of two metal blades in the shape of a beak between which the i

Drafting tape is coated with a weak adhesive and is mainly used to fix paper to drafting boards and to hold lettering, etc. while designing and doing layouts. It is also used to hold photographs and stencil templates in place on mounts and painting a

The French curve is a template used to draw different types of curve. It is called a cloud template in Japanese because of its resemblance to a cloud. The French curve enables the artist to draw curves that would be difficult to achieve with a compas

A triangle is a drafting tool used to draw accurate parallel lines, vertical lines, and other angled lines. Generally, two right-angled triangular pieces of differing angles form one set. On one piece, the angles are 90°, 60°, and 30°; on the other,

The compass is a drawing instrument used for drawing circles and arcs. One of the two legs of the compass ends in a needle, which the user places gently on paper to keep the compass in place. The other leg has a writing instrument on its end. Using t

A T-square (T-shaped ruler) is a tool used in hand-drawing such things as architectural drawings. As the name suggests, a T-square is shaped like the letter T. The shorter piece at the top (the head) and the longer piece that makes up the body (the b