Crayon

Crayon renders a design with waxy, childlike strokes in warm, playful color. Lines are uneven, fills show the texture of the paper beneath, and color sits slightly outside the edges the way it does in a child's drawing. The feeling is cheerful and disarming, a reminder that buildings are places for people of every age.

When to use it

• schools, kindergartens, libraries and playgrounds
• pediatric clinics and family-oriented community centers
• workshops with children or families during participatory design
• holiday cards, studio anniversaries and informal social posts
• the illustrated section of a project book that tells the story to non-specialists

It works best when the audience includes kids or when the brief values warmth over polish. Children often recognize their own drawing language in it, which makes it useful for asking them what they would change.

What it does to materials and light

Crayon flattens materials into colored areas with a rough grain. Walls become solid blocks of color, roofs get scribbled strokes, and trees turn into round green clouds. Glass is usually a simple blue with a few white streaks. Light is suggested rather than modeled: a bright sun, slightly darker sides on buildings and loose shadows on the ground. The result reads at a glance, even for very young viewers.

Tips for better results

• Simple, bold forms produce the clearest crayon drawings.
• Bright daytime scenes suit the style better than night views.
• Use plain words in the prompt, like red door, yellow walls, big tree, to guide the color.
• Avoid complex interiors with many objects; the style needs space between shapes.
• Crop to one building or one room rather than a full masterplan.

Crayon is offered in Sketch to Render, Text to Render and Image to Render. For a related look with more polish, see Illustration.