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 ideascharles.cave@ir.com

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!