using illustrations in technical communications
DESCRIPTION
Presentation delivered to the ASTC Conference in Sydney - October 27th 2011TRANSCRIPT
Using Illustrations Using Illustrations in in
Technical CommunicationTechnical Communication
ASTC Conference – October 2011ASTC Conference – October 2011
Charles CaveCharles Cave
Purpose of my talkPurpose of my talk
• Types of illustrations – sketches technicalTypes of illustrations sketches, technical drawings, photographs, video
• How to choose• How to choose
• How to make illustrations
• Get your feedback and [email protected]
Visual preferenceVisual preference
BaltiChicken
Illustration
SeriesOfOf
steps
Callout – two step lookupCallout two step lookup
Letters
Callout – 2 step lookup
CalloutCallout
Callout – good example (1 step)
Callout – with structureCallout with structure
http://www.youtube.com/jonakashima
Origami CraneOrigami Crane
DrawingsV
DrawingsVVs
PhotographsVs
Photographsg pg p
AnnotationsAnnotations
Electric kitchen scalesElectric kitchen scales
Care and maintenance ?Care and maintenance ?
FlowchartFlowchart
Flowchart templateFlowchart template
Swim‐laneSwim lane
Icon Libraries – Visio or PowerpointIcon Libraries Visio or Powerpoint
Uses of IllustrationsUses of Illustrations
• Show finished result (cookbook)Show finished result (cookbook)
• Label components (call out)
Sh i ( i i)• Show steps in a process (origami)
• Demonstration (cookbook)
• Visual index (bird field guide)
• Visual identification (spices birds)Visual identification (spices, birds)
Types of IllustrationsTypes of Illustrations
• Sketches (hand drawn/scan, tablet)Sketches (hand drawn/scan, tablet)• Line art (scan) • Vector art (Adobe Illustrator Inkscape)• Vector art (Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape)• Technical drawing (Visio, 2D or 3D CAD, Dia)P P i t D i d S t A t• PowerPoint – Drawings and Smart Art
• Screen captures (Snagit)• Photographs• Video – YouTube ‐ Camtasia
Practicalities
Line ArtLine Art
• Drawing by hand – scanner or cameraDrawing by hand scanner or camera
• Drawing by computer
il i• File sizes
• Easy to update
Powerpoint ‐ ShapesPowerpoint Shapes
Powerpoint ‐ Smart ArtPowerpoint Smart Art
SeasonsSeasons
Summer
AutumnSpring AutumnSpring
Winter
VisioVisio
PhotographsPhotographs• Camera, tripod, lighting, Image editor
– Photoshop, GIMP (software)
• Composition, backgroundsp , g
• Difficulty of updating or recreating
• All the steps can be seen at once overview• All the steps can be seen at once ‐ overview
• File size – image size, compression (JPG)
Image FilesImage Files• JPEG format
I i idth d h i ht• Image size – width and height
• Compression
VideoVideo• Camera, tripod, lighting
• Composition, backgrounds, action
• More effort to update or recreatep
• Quicker to create than showing steps
• User can pause rewind and replay• User can pause, rewind and replay
Conclusion
How can you develop your skills?How can you develop your skills?
1. Draw every day!1. Draw every day!
2. Storyboards2. Storyboards
• Sketches to show just enough informationSketches to show just enough information
3. Carry digital/video camera always3. Carry digital/video camera always
• Photograph what you write about itPhotograph what you write about it
• Video record demonstrations and procedures
4. Learn to use drawing s/w4. Learn to use drawing s/w
• Powerpoint – Shapes Smart Art Photo effectsPowerpoint Shapes, Smart Art, Photo effects
• Visio – Symbol libraries
i O S lik i i• Dia – Open Source program like Visio
• Open Office ‐ Draw
• Inkscape (free equivalent Adobe Illustrator) www.inkscape.orgp g
5. Befriend your Graphic Designer5. Befriend your Graphic Designer
www.designcrowd.comg
www.freelance.com
www.elance.com
Think Visual!