A “rough layout” is a drawing technique that is used in publishing, film, advertising, and other artistic fields.

It is a relatively succinct drawing that allows an artist or a designer to quickly create a scene with one or more characters, a setting, a landscape, some objects … and to present an overview of an idea, a scenario, or a layout of texts and images.

This prototype is a simple outline, in black felt marker, of the character or characters, staged in their environment.

The format may vary from a regular 8 1/2 x 11-inch page down to a quarter of that size, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches, depending on the complexity of the drawing and the number of elements that need to be included.

While it is not a final product, this drawing technique requires an analytical understanding and an ability to grasp the big picture. The result will not be reproduced nor published but it will be used as the basis for creating a model that is in color and closer to the final product, called a “push layout,” or for creating the final photograph or illustration. It is also, and above all, a basis for discussion and a foundation for the dialogue between the artists and their clients.