Posts Tagged ‘technical illustration’
How to Mask Images in Adobe FrameMaker with Graphic Frames
Did you know that in Adobe FrameMaker you can use a graphic frame to mask images and graphic objects? 1) First draw a graphic image with any FM graphic tool you like. Or import an image into your FM document. 2) Draw a graphic frame with your graphic frame tool. 3) Grab and drag your…
Read MoreHow to Draw Symmetrical Objects in Adobe FrameMaker
Granted, Adobe FrameMaker is not designed as the mother of all illustration programs. Its graphic capabilities are limited but still plenty for most general purposes if you know how to use FM’s graphic tools. Here is an easy method I use to draw symmetrical objects in FrameMaker. 1) Make a line drawing by using the…
Read MoreHow to Build an Isometric, 2-Point, or 3-Point Perspective in Technical Illustrations
David Herrick TCC Guest Writer & Sr. Illustrator Here are some of the most commonly used perspective types in illustrations in general: Isometric View All parallel lines remain parallel. 2 point perspective All horizontal parallel Lines recede to Vanishing Points. Vertical parallel lines remain vertical and parallel to each other. 2 point perspective In this…
Read MoreTechnical Illustration: How to Draw Crisscrossing Circuit Wires with Adobe Illustrator
David Herrick TCC Guest Writer & Sr. Illustrator The simplest way to indicate a criss-cross in a wiring diagram (or anything, really) using Adobe Illustrator. If you have a sketch or diagram already, scan it and save the scan as a JPEG or PNG, then open a new document in Adobe Illustrator. Choose “place” from…
Read MoreHow to Cross Electronic Circuit Wires Properly with Adobe Illustrator
In Adobe Illustrator, one of the most frustrating electronic circuit drawing element is two wires crossing each other likes this: However, there is no Illustrator tool to draw the crossing as above, that is, the elegant way. When you use the Pen, Pencil or Line tool, what is produced is this: Ugh! This is not…
Read MoreHow to Draw an Induction Coil Symbol with Adobe Illustrator
Induction coils are one of the most frequently used components in electronics. If you are documenting any electronics equipment or system, you may have to draw an induction coil symbol at some point. Here is how to do it. 1) Draw a circle. 2) Pick the Selection Tool (V). Press the Alt button (Windows) and…
Read MoreShortcomings of Line Graphs (or Line Charts)
Line graph or line chart is one of the most frequently used types of graphic displays in technical communication. Here is an example: Consumption of Fiber by U.S. Apparel Industry, 1994-2001 (Millions of pounds) (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security) The most important aspect of a line graph is its use of “categories”…
Read MoreHow to Visually Express 7 Different Processes
Trainers, public speakers, and technical writers always look for a visually attractive way to present abstract ideas. One way to do that is to use PROCESS CHARTS. Here are 7 such ideas (all created with SMART ART tools of MS Word 2007 and 2010): 1) BASIC TIMELINE 2) TIMELINE WITH TASK LIST 3) TOP-DOWN VERTICAL…
Read MoreHow to Express Opposing Forces Visually in a Word Technical Document
“Opposing Forces” is a fairly common idea both in life and in technical communication. Hope and Fear oppose each other. They may overlap to a certain extent but their effect is very different. In the technical field, assuring backward compatibility and keeping the code length to a minimum, for example, cannot be done at the…
Read MoreBOOK REVIEW: Excellent Project Guide for Commercial Designers and Technical Illustrators who Draw Graphs
© Ugur Akinci If you’re a beginner or amateur illustrator or designer Adobe Illustrator CS2 @work: Projects You Can Use on the Job is not for you since it does not address the nuts-and-bolts aspects of Adobe Illustrator. This how-to volume assumes that you already know the basics of using the Illustrator. What the author…
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