Spatial Representation in Two Dimensions: The Why and How of Projection

The perspective representation, which is also referred to as stereogram, is used when an object needs to be reproduced in a particularly descriptive and plastic way. In contrast to the technical drawing, which is defined in DIN 6 (ISO 5456-2) and divides the object into several independent views, the technical illustration combines all three sides of a workpiece in one representation. These advantages become especially evident, when the possibilities of digital photography cannot be applied for technical reasons. This happens, for example, when the object to be depicted is still in development and does not exist, yet.

ITEDO Software (2001). Articles>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration

Spec Work Can Damage Your Business

Speculative work, or free pitching, 'spec' for short, is considered unethical among leading graphic design associations around the world.

Airey, David. DavidAirey (2007). Careers>Freelance>Graphic Design>Contracts

The Squeeze Is On  

Lossy or lossless? No, the subject isn't baseball, it's file compression. Understanding it can improve your image.

Fleishman, Glenn. Adobe Magazine (1998). Design>Graphic Design>Image Editing

Standardizing File Formats

The quest for seamless file exchange in the graphic arts continues. Graphic Arts Monthly takes a look at what CGATS is doing to develop file format standards.

Strashun Whitcher, Joann. Graphic Arts Monthly (2003). Articles>Graphic Design>Standards

State of Online Graphics  

Judging from the work of fellow Help writers, the value of graphics in online Help is subject to debate. Of the more than sixty Help systems reviewed for this session (including the suites from Corel, Lotus, and Microsoft), fewer than half featured significant use of graphics. Even the Help systems of some graphics applications consisted mainly of text, broken only occasionally by utilitarian screenshots of tools and buttons. Yet, even though we have had only a few years of experience in designing graphics for online Help, many of the Help systems revealed a wealth of good ideas worth adapting for use in your own systems.

Elley, Frank. STC Proceedings (1998). Design>Web Design>Graphic Design>Online

Step-and-Repeat in Photoshop

'Step-and-repeat' is the term used for the process of duplicating an object and spacing or transforming the duplicates sequentially.

Bauer, Peter. Planet Photoshop (2006). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

A Stitch in Time  

Twelve Photoshop tips for the Web that'll make you a speed demon.

Peck, Wendy. Adobe Magazine (2000). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

The Successes and Challenges of Visual Language  

Discusses efforts to create manuals that rely entirely on pictures for communication.

Hofmann, Patrick. Intercom (2004). Design>Document Design>Graphic Design>Visual Rhetoric

Super-Easy Blendy Backgrounds

Gradients: a nutritious part of your Web 2.0 breakfast. Wouldn't it be swell if you could get all that goodness without opening Photoshop every time you needed a little gradient bliss? Matthew O'Neill explains how you can.

O'Neill, Matthew. List Apart, A (2006). Design>Web Design>Graphic Design

Superemir

Jedan kratki tutorial na bosanskom jeziku, a moze i hrvatskom jebiga.

Emir, Isovic. Superemir (2000). (Bosnian-Croatian) Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

SVG as a Page Description Language

SVG has matured into a rich, fully featured graphics language resulting in its suitability for all traditional graphics applications. The SVG working group is continuing development of various profiles for use in specific application areas, such as mobile devices. One of the most important uses of computer graphics languages is in the area of printing. Many languages used for printing are proprietary and display various feature sets. SVG in contrast is vendor neutral, contains much of the functionality of existing languages for printing and is a wonderful candidate for future hard copy devices. A new SVG profile for printing is being developed as part of the SVG standardisation effort.

Danilo, Alex and Jun Fujisawa. SVG Open (2002). Articles>Graphic Design>XML>SVG

Sweeping Views (Some Assembly Required)  

Capture the majesty of that mountain range by creating a panorama in Photoshop.

Chavez, Conrad. Adobe Magazine (2000). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop

Symbols Tutorial  

Ever wonder, "What's the deal with Symbols?" Adobe Illustrator symbols can be useful beyond creating swarms of blue fish.

Kurth, Steve. Illustrator World (2005). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

System Calibration

This section explains Linear Calibration. Linear is the same as gamma 1.0 or gamma-space 1.0.

AIM for DTP. Design>Graphic Design>Document Design>Color

Taking a Second Look at Screen Captures  

Asserts that screen captures aren't as necessary and helpful as many writers of documentation might think.

Bright, Kathy. Intercom (2001). Design>Documentation>Graphic Design>Screen Captures

Taking Advantage of Quickmask

Dave Cross shares some tips on using Quickmask in Photoshop to feather a portion of a selection.

Cross, Dave. Planet Photoshop (2006). Design>Graphic Design>Photography>Adobe Photoshop

Talking with Virginia Postrel

Postrel's new book, The Substance of Style, explores the economic, cultural, social, personal, and political implications of the growing importance of aesthetics in business and society.

MacLaughlin, Steve. Boxes and Arrows (2003). Articles>Graphic Design>Cultural Theory>Visual Rhetoric

Taming the Electronic Page

A web page will be within certain height and width limits. For the lowest common denominator, cross-platform web page, you should design to a minimum width of the Macintosh default of around 470 pixels and a maximum of 625 wide to accommodate people who have standard 14' VGA monitors.         The majority of surfer now have 800 x 600 or larger monitors. Unless you really need to accommodate the lowest common denominator, and that comes down to knowing your target audience, you can work to a more realsitic width of about 760 pixels.       Even at the larger sizes, it is desirable from a 'readability' point of view, to limit the text line width to 8-10 words.

WPDFD. Design>Web Design>Graphic Design

Teaching Information Architecture to the Design Student

What the design student needs is a design course that stresses usability, human factors, and clarity, instead of the typical branding and interpretation problems they usually encounter in their other design classes. James Spahr recounts a year of teaching at Pratt Institute that attempts to cross those boundaries.

Spahr, James. Boxes and Arrows (2002). Articles>Education>Human Computer Interaction>Graphic Design

Technical and Infographics

A collection of dozens of online resources for technical illustration and infographics.

DMoz. Resources>Directories>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration

Technical and Scientific Illustrations: From Pen to Computer  

A brief look at the 19th Century David M. Greene collection of engineering textbooks at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reveals how illustrations (1) conveyed messages to a specific audience, (2) addressed a subject, and (3) were designed for specific viewing contexts. The technology of computer-aided drawing has reestablished the importance of visual language in scientific documents.

Powley, William. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Graphic Design>History>Technical Illustration

Technical Illustration

A directory of online resources in technical illustration.

Google. Resources>Directories>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration

Technical Illustration And The Video Camera  

A video camera is an excellent tool for preparing technical illustrations and procedures. A video tape of a procedure provides chronological information. It provides visual images that can be used as the basis for technical illustrations. Visual images and details are recorded permanently so that they are not forgotten. The research information can be passed on to another author. A case study illustrates how a video tape can be used to document a procedure and produce electronic illustrations.

Schneider, Livingston S. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Graphic Design>Video>Technical Illustration

Technical Illustration Custom Fills

Custom made fills can be of significant value to technical illustrators. This article shows many custom fills and how they can be applied. There is also a free download of over 50 custom fills.

Broz and Dian (2006). Articles>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration

Technical Illustration FAQ

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (along with answers) about technical illustration.

Foley, Richard. FAQs (1997). Careers>TC>Graphic Design>Technical Illustration