Derwent Reduction Compass – Scale Drawings | Totenart
Derwent Reduction Compass – Scale Drawings | Totenart
Derwent Reduction Compass – Scale Drawings | Totenart
Derwent Reduction Compass – Scale Drawings | Totenart
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Derwent

Scale reduction compass Derwent

Reference: 23-2300580
The Derwent reduction compass, also known as a scale divider, lets you enlarge or reduce drawings, photographs or sketches at ratios from 4:1 to 1:4, keeping the exact proportions. It measures 34 x 2 x 1 cm closed and folds flat for storage; wood body with a metal joint, around 300 g.
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€12.59 €9.45

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A reduction compass (also called a scale divider) is a technical drawing tool that lets you copy an image from life, a photograph or a sketch while keeping its exact proportions, whether you're enlarging or reducing it. This Derwent model works at ratios from 4:1 to 1:4.

It measures 34 x 2 x 1 cm closed and folds flat for storing in a drawer or carrying in a drawing case. Wood body with a metal joint, in black or brown depending on availability, weighing around 300 g.

It works with two identical arms joined by a single pivot screw; each arm has a rack along which the pinion that sets the working ratio slides. Placing the short-side points on two points of the original, the long-side points mark those same distances enlarged (or the reverse, to reduce).

If it's your first time using one, the blog has a full step-by-step guide with video: how to scale images with a reduction compass (in Spanish).

Frequently asked questions about this reduction compass

What is a reduction compass?

It's a technical drawing tool, also called a scale divider, made of two articulated arms each with a rack. It lets you copy an image from life, a photo or a sketch, enlarging or reducing it at a fixed ratio.

What is a reduction compass used for?

It's used to transfer proportions precisely: enlarging a small sketch onto a large canvas, reducing a scene from life to notebook size, or copying a photograph while keeping the exact distances between key points. It's used in drawing, painting, sculpture and technical design.

How do you use a reduction compass?

You place the two short-side points on two points of the original and read those same distances off the long-side points (or the reverse, to reduce). The pinion slides along each arm's rack to set the ratio, from 4:1 to 1:4. You'll find the full step-by-step guide with video in this tutorial.

What are the dimensions of this reduction compass?

It measures 34 x 2 x 1 cm closed. It folds flat for storing in a drawer or carrying in a drawing case, and weighs around 300 g.

Can it be used to enlarge a photograph onto a canvas?

Yes. Mark several reference points on the photograph (corners, intersections, anatomical points for a portrait) and transfer each distance using the compass set to the enlargement ratio you need.

Is it the same as an ordinary drawing compass?

No. A drawing compass is used to draw circles and arcs with a metal point and a graphite lead. A reduction compass doesn't draw circles: it transfers and scales distances between two points using its articulated, rack-fitted arms.

Ruler type Other rulers

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