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The form of the surface on which the plane of the shadow falls. Shadows are parallel to the
line making the shadow when the line is parallel to the plane receiving the shadow.
The shadow of any plane figure on a parallel plane is identical in shape, size and orientation with the
figure. Shadows of parallel lines are parallel when they fall on the same plane or parallel planes. To
determine the shadow cast by a complex form:
Break down the complex form into its simplest geometric components.
seen as a point, then the shadow cast by that line appears as a straight line, regardless of the form of
the surface receiving the shadow.
The shadow of any straight line on a plane surface can be located by finding the shadows of the ends
of that line.
Shadows of curved lines can be determined by 45 degree projections of critical points. The purpose of
shades and shadows in the rendition of site plans is threefold:
Shadows are used in plan drawings to aid our perception of the depth of the space being portrayed.
The intent is not to render the actual condition of sunlight at a specific point in time. The shadows cast
by the cut elements and objects within the space merely give us an indication of their height above
the floor or ground plane.
In section drwaings, shadows are cast by wall, floor and roof elements, which are cut, as well as by
projecting elements within the space. The depth of the shadows cast by the cut elements depend on
how far the cut is in front of planes receiving the shadows.