The scale should be appropriate to the site and marked on the plan. Photocopies from other sources tend to be of variable quality. They can be difficult to read and detract from the authority of the brief. A consistent format for maps, plans, illustrations and photographs will boost the accessibility of the document and consequently its credibility. The use of colour will help to convey complex information in some cases but it should be borne in mind that the brief is likely to be photocopied, whole or in part, by users.
Photographs can be very helpful in explaining the site and aspects of the brief.
Photographs of key buildings or features to be retained will help to explain why and how they define the standard of development which the brief seeks in response. Commissioning aerial photography can be expensive but many local authorities have occasional aerial surveys of much or all of their area, and they may be available, subject to copyright restrictions, from other sources. If a planning brief includes illustrations, the standard of presentation must be capable of communicating the advice being provided and the quality of response sought. It helps if illustrations are in black and white as copies taken will be easier to interpret. If colour is used in original illustrations, it should be reproduced in the planning brief.