Drafting guides, how-to videos, buying advice, glossary terms, and educational resources for students, educators, architects, engineers, artists, and design professionals.
Whether you're choosing your first drafting board, comparing architect and engineer scales, organizing blueprint storage, or building a classroom supply list, you'll find practical information here based on decades of experience helping customers find the right tools.
Getting Started
Drafting University
Learn the basics of manual drafting with our free video library covering scales, lettering guides, compasses, paper, pencils, templates, and other drafting tools.
Drafting Glossary
Definitions for common drafting tools, materials, blueprint storage products, scales, papers, and technical drawing terminology.
Manual Drafting Supplies for Architects
Learn about architect scales, triangles, compasses, drafting pencils, vellum, templates, drafting tables, and other traditional drafting tools.
Drafting Boards & Tables
How to Choose a Portable Drafting Board
Compare board sizes, parallel bars, portability, and common applications for students and professionals.
How to Choose a Drafting Table
Learn the differences between drafting table styles, sizes, materials, and price ranges.
Drafting Board Covers
Learn about vinyl drafting board covers, including discontinued Borco and Vyco surfaces and modern replacement options.
Drafting Tools & Supplies
Drafting Scales Guide
Learn the differences between architect scales, engineer scales, metric scales, combination scales, and specialty scale rulers.
Architect Scale vs Engineer Scale
Understand the differences between architect and engineer scales, when each is used, and which scale your class or profession requires.
Coming Soon
Marker Guide
Compare alcohol-based, water-based, and xylene-based markers used for rendering, illustration, design presentations, and technical artwork.
How to Choose the Right Drafting Pencil
Compare mechanical pencils, lead holders, woodcase pencils, lead sizes, and pencil grades for drafting and drawing.
Why Vellum Is Still a Big Deal
Learn why architects, engineers, artists, and designers still use vellum for drafting, overlays, and presentation work.
Blueprint Storage & Flat Files
Ultimate Guide to Storing Blueprints
Learn the pros and cons of flat files, hanging clamps, plan centers, rolled storage, and large-format document storage.
Mayline Furniture Replacement Guide
Replacement recommendations for discontinued Mayline drafting furniture, hanging clamp systems, and storage products.
Video Learning Center
Drafting University
Learn the basics of manual drafting with videos covering scales, compasses, lettering guides, pencils, paper, templates, and other drafting tools.
PlaceScapes
Landscape design and rendering videos covering site planning, marker rendering, trees, sketching tools, and presentation techniques.
PXB Board Adjustment Guide
Learn how to adjust the straightedge, cables, and alignment on Alvin PXB portable drafting boards.
Student & School Resources
Drafting Kits
Complete drafting kits for architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape design, and technical drawing programs.
School Supply Lists
Find drafting kits organized by school, course, and instructor so students can order the correct supplies for class.
Architecture Student Buying Guide
A beginner-friendly guide to the core drafting tools most architecture students need, including scales, triangles, pencils, compasses, and erasing shields.
Coming Soon
Professional Services
Custom Alumicolor Scales
Add your company logo, school name, organization, or promotional message to quality Alumicolor scales.
Custom School Supply Kits
We build custom drafting, architecture, engineering, interior design, and landscape design kits for schools nationwide.