Cutaway drawing

A cutaway drawing, also called a cutaway diagram, is a 3D graphics, drawing, diagram and or illustration, in which surface elements of a three-dimensional model are selectively removed, to make internal features visible, but without sacrificing the outer context entirely.

According to Diepstraten et al. (2003), "the purpose of a cutaway drawing is to allow the viewer to have a look into an otherwise solid opaque object.

The goal of this drawings in studies can be to identify common design patterns for particular vehicle classes.

This cutaway view originates in the early fifteenth century notebooks of Marino Taccola (1382 – 1453).

In the 16th century cutaway views in definite form were used in Georgius Agricola's (1494–1555) mining book De Re Metallica to illustrate underground operations.