All images are from Animation Background Layout: From Student to Professional by Mike S. Fowler. Reprinted with permission. © Mike S. Fowler 2002.

What is a graticule? Many students and people in the industry mistakenly call this the field guide. The graticule is based on a grid system that has a ratio aspect of 1:3/4. Horizontal measurements are blocked in inch sections, while vertical measurements are blocked in three-fourths of an inch. Why? This is the size and settings of most television and theatrical movies. (Widescreen and all its variations are based on a simular measurement)

Several different types of graticules can be purchased through animation suppliers with different qualities. I suggest spending the extra money to buy a professional quality graticule that will last a long time over the cheaper student guides available. Both work equally well, but the more durable of the two will last.

What is it for?
The grid system of the graticule is used to accurately create field guides in the layout department. These field guides are what the camera will see in the scene. The graticule grid system can be purchased at a 12 Field (FLD) maximum, a 16 FLD maximum and at a 32 FLD maximum sizes. There are larger units but they are rarely used in traditionally drawn layouts.

This is an example of a typical 12 Field Graticule.