The plan on the left in Figure 15—23 has already been rendered in black and white. The line weights, values, and textures are very well coordinated in representing the variety of items in this design. All that is missing is a series of labels identifying all the design elements. A number of landscape designers may elect to prepare their landscape design plans in this fashion. This type of plan can be copied much more cheaply than a color copy, but it does not have the sales potential of a color drawing.
When a designer decides to add color to such a plan, it is important to follow a simple yet important guideline: Use a soft touch as you apply thin and transparent layers of color so as not to lose the graphic character of the existing landscape symbols. If colors are added too heavily and are too dark, they will often eliminate the evidence of the existing symbols.
Following are some of the suggested color techniques used in the plan shown in Figure 15-23:
1. The large shade tree has very light tints of yellow and green to allow elements beneath the tree to be seen.
2. Shrubs, pavements, and ground cover located beneath the tree canopy are given just a hint of color.
3. The ornamental trees are shown with a soft tint of pink and violet.
4. Evergreen shrubs are highlighted with light blue on the top left and a darker green on the bottom right.
5. The circular hedge of deciduous plants is easily visible because of the saving of white on the top left of the shrubs.
6. The flower bed around the fountain is colored with the same line type and radiates toward the fountain center.
7. The circular flower bed was rendered with two colors and some peppering to provide additional visual interest.
8. The color of the ground cover is filled in with the same swirl line type as was used to draw the initial symbol.
9. The pavements are kept light and transparent. Varied pencil pressures were used to create highlights.
