True or False: The best method for beginning elevations is to use tracing paper over the plan.

Using tracing paper over the plan is indeed a highly effective method for starting elevations. This technique allows architects to maintain the integrity of the original design while easily overlaying their elevation ideas. Tracing paper provides a semi-transparent surface that enables designers to view the underlying floor plan and simultaneously sketch the elevation, ensuring that the proportions and alignments are consistent with the plan.

This method supports the exploration of various design options without altering the original drawing directly. It's particularly beneficial in the preliminary stages of design where iterations and adjustments are common, allowing for a fluid creative process. Additionally, using tracing paper encourages the development of a clear representation of how the design will look from different viewpoints, which is critical in architectural design.

Alternative methods, such as starting elevation design directly on digital platforms or relying solely on a single architectural approach, may not provide the same tactile and iterative advantages that tracing paper does. Thus, employing tracing paper can be considered one of the best practices for conceptualizing elevations in architectural design.