![metric scale ruler 60 metric scale ruler 60](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/ceaf7675-5711-49b1-b60b-e5205fe3f95e_1.ee81669ba4d67d1c380d1f59268e18e9.jpeg)
If you are drawing with a computer-aided drawing (CAD) program you will be drawing at 1:1 and then representing your scale on a page. You can see how all this swapping between metres, centimetre and millimetres is confusing so we use millimetres.
![metric scale ruler 60 metric scale ruler 60](https://imgprd19.hobbylobby.com/sys-master/migrated/h53/h00/h00/8997500878878/561845-c_1[5].jpg)
It is important to note that architects generally use millimetres when developing their drawings, not centimetres or metres. We can either work in metric (metres, centimetres, millimetres) and imperial (feet and inches).
![metric scale ruler 60 metric scale ruler 60](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0520/1972/4454/products/rb-productions-ts32-1-32-scale-ruler-stainless-steel_800x600.jpg)
A scale drawing or model is like taking the original and shrinking it down proportionally. In architecture, we generally reduce the scale rather than enlarge it.
![metric scale ruler 60 metric scale ruler 60](https://img.freepik.com/free-vector/measuring-rulers-school-ruler-metric-scale-measure-inches-measurement-centimeter-precision-tools-length-markup-set_176411-455.jpg)
Scale in design refers to the enlarged or reduced representation of a real, full-size object in a drawing or physical model while retaining the proportions of the original.