How to Resize Drawings

To enlarge and reduce the size of a Drawing.

Divide the original piece into a certain number of squares by perpendicular and horizontal lines, making as many in the original as in the space intended for the copy ; number the corresponding squares alike, (your copy may either be larger or smaller ;) then observe what parts of each square the different marks run in the original, and draw similar ones to correspond in your copy. This is the best method for enlarging and diminishing. For oil paintings, pieces of twine or thread might be tacked across at equal intervals, so as not to injure or mark the painting ; or for small engravings you can procure a piece of stout card paper ; cut a square in it the size of the engraving you wish to copy ; divide the sides and ends into half inches ; then with a needle and thread pass through the various marks from side to side and from top to bottom, taking care that the thread always comes from the same side of the card, so as to lie close to the engraving when used. Number the threads each way. If you wish to enlarge the copy, it is necessary to determine the proportions one, two, or more inches to the half inch of the thread card.