Destination: Graphics by Tricia Spayer.
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Determine where your graphics are going before adding to your documentation 1 Tricia Spayer STC July 2014
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Know where graphics are going to be seen before adding to your documentation.
Transcript of Destination: Graphics by Tricia Spayer.
Determine where your graphics are going before adding to your documentation
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Who am I?
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Where are you going?
• Planning trip – know your destination • Planning graphics – know your destination
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In this session
• Benefits of graphics • What makes an effective graphic • Formats • Sizing and resolution • Using graphics for multiple outputs • Best practices for graphics • Effective callouts • Enhancing illustrations and photos
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Benefits of Graphics
• Increase understanding for international users • Save space • Demonstrate spatial information • Show relationships • Show steps in a process • Show a product • Save money
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Graphics – relationship example
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Effective graphics
• Add to the meaning of text • Text and graphics are not redundant • Readable and large enough to see • Understandable • Not overused • Clean and clear
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Formats
• Vector vs. raster
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Handy Free Tools
• IrfanView –view, convert, optimize, scan & print, create slideshows, process batches, play movies & sounds, re-sample – free for home use (Windows)
• Creative Docs.net – vectors (Windows) • getPaint.net – photo editing • GIMP – photos (both Mac & Windows) • Artweaver.de - photos
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What is resolution?
• From Wikipedia: “Image resolution is the detail an image holds. The term applies to raster digital images, film images, and other types of images. Higher resolution means more image detail.”
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Exporting to different resolutions
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Sizing and resolution
• Where will the graphic be seen? • Consider the resolution, size BEFORE importing
into your documentation • Figure out maximum size you can have on a
printed page • Max size for web or mobile – depends on user’s
screen size • Single-sourcing for multiple devices • Use relative pixel sizes for mobile
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Graphics – multiple outputs
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Best Practices
• Create a drawing and photo template in your graphics programs
• Max size for print, for web, for other devices • Create a graphics style guide
– Fonts, colors, line weights, angles, callout styles
• Resize before you add to documentation
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Template example
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Effective callouts
• Easily seen – use halos • For localization, use numbers or letters • Use uniform angles and placement • Use same font, size, line weight throughout
documentation • Shade area of interest
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Callout examples
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Enhancing illustrations and photos
• Which is better? Line drawings or photos? • Hardware documentation – get engineering
drawings • Photos – grayscale vs. color • Contrast • Focus on subject (remove background clutter)
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Photo vs. illustration
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Conclusion
• Know where your graphics are going • Manipulate before adding to documentation • Use graphics templates • Be clear, consistent • Have fun!
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