How to draw

1. How to draw an Ellipse
By: Tim Closs

2. What is an ellipse?
• Basically it is a stretched circle

3. What is an Axis?
The horizontal line and vertical that pass through the center.

4. What is the Minor Axis?
The shortest axis. Which in this case is the vertical line.

5. What is the Major Axis?
The longest of the two axis. Which is the horizontal line.

6. Tools you will need
• 45/90 Triangle or 30/60 Triangle
• A piece of computer paper
• T-Square or parallel with drafting board
• Masking Tape
• Pencil with eraser
• Compass

7. Step 1
• Line up paper with T-square parallel

8. Step 2
• Tape down Top corners

9. Step 3
• Tape down Bottom corners

10. Step 4
• Find the Center of your paper using the
cross technique (see last weeks notes)

11. Step 5
Layout vertical axis using :
• 45/90 Triangle
• T-square
• Pencil

12. Step 6
Layout horizontal axis using :
• T-square
• Pencil

13. Step 7
Mark Minor Axis
• Set compass to aproximatley 2 inches
• Mark vertical axis

14. Step 8
Mark Major Axis
• Set compass to aproximatley 3 1/2 inches
• Mark horizontal axis

15. Step 9
• Mark center O
• Mark major axis A B
• Mark minor axis C D

16. Step 10
• Set compass from O to C
• Make a mark on the right side of major
axis
• Label E

17. Step 11
• Using your triangle draw a Line from C to
B

18. Step 12
• Set compass to E B
• Set compass on C and swing an arc
intersecting line C B

19. Step 13
• Label intersection F

20. Step 14
• Bisect line F B (see earlier lessons on
bisecting a line)

21. Step 15
• Extend Bisector to make point H

22. Step 16
• Mark point G where bisector intersected
line AOB

23. Step 17
• Set compass O to H
• From O make a mark above C and label it
K

24. Step 18
• Set compass O to G
• From O make a mark to the right A and
label it J

25. Step 19
• Using your triangle draw a Line from H
through J

26. Step 20
• Using your triangle draw a Line from K
through J

27. Step 21
• Using your triangle draw a Line from K
through G

28. Tangency
• Line K J
• Line H J
• Line K G
• Line H G

29. Step 22
• Set compass to G B
• Having the center on G swing an arc to
both Tangency lines

30. Step 23
• Set compass to J A
• Having the center on J swing an arc to
both Tangency lines

31. Step 24
• Set compass to H C
• Having the center on H swing an arc to
both Tangency lines

32. Step 25
• Set compass to K D
• Having the center on K swing an arc to
both Tangency lines

33. Reference
Walker, John and Bernard D. Mathis.
Exploring Drafting. Illinois: The Goodheart-
Willcox Company, 2012. Print
Photos: Taken by T. Closs