1. CAG Hardware and Software Tools

2. Input and Output Devices We use lots of different products when producing work on the computer. The Input and Output devices are the physical parts of the computer that we touch. This is called the Computers Hardware.

3. Input Devices Keyboard. Enters Text and Numbers into the computer. Mouse. Controls the cursor on the screen. Trackerball. Similar to a mouse. However the ball is on top and the user controls it with their fingers. Joystick. Mainly used for Computer Gaming. Gives more of a feel than a control pad.

4. Input Devices Graphics Tablet. Works with the position of the cursor. Is very useful for creating Graphics. Digital Camera. Saves images that can then be transferred to a computer for editing, Flatbed Scanner. Scans in hardcopies and converts it to electronic format for editing or saving.

5. Output Devices Monitor, Screen /Visual Display Unit (VDU). The screen we view the Computer Generated work on. Flatbed Plotter. Extremely useful for CAD Drawings. Produces a medium quality hard copy. Drum Plotter. Deals with larger Drawings than a Flatbed Plotter. The paper is supplied on roll form.

6. Output Devices Ink-Jet Printer. Reasonably priced printer that produces good quality prints. Running costs are expensive. Laser Printer. Expensive priced printer with reasonably low running costs. Produces high quality prints and are faster than an Ink- jet.

7. Storage Devices When working on a computer creating a back up of your work is a very important thing to do. Unfortunately working with computers and having access to the internet makes a computer susceptible to viruses and loss of work could occur. To ensure this does not happen we can back up our work using Removable Discs.

8. Storage Devices External Hard Drive: A large memory area that is suitable for backing up files and can be moved from Computer to computer. Like a larger version of a Memory Stick. Memory Stick/ Pen Drive. Most modern Back-up method. It is a small, strong and mobile method of transferring files. Storage capacity goes up to 80GB.

9. Storage Devices CD (Compact Disc). Can be read in any CD-ROM drive however a special drive is needed to record work. A disc that can hold up to 650 MB. DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Works in exactly the same way which a CD does. Storage can vary up to 17 GB.

10. Exam Question 1. State a suitable piece of hardware that would allow an architect firm to transfer old manual drawings into electronic format to be stored on a computer. 2.State the output device that would allow the architects firm to print out large location plans. 3.At the firm it is good practice to store your work once on the computer and then again onto a portable storage device. State the name of this method and name a suitable storage device.

11. CAG/DTP Techniques The techniques are used to create visual excitement on a page. They can add to the over feel and mood that the designer is trying to portray. They also provide the designer with a method of using stock photos and editing them to suit the scene that they want. Grid Guidelines and Columns FrameColour Fill Fonts Crop Text Wrap Flow text along a path Bleed Transparency Drop Shadow Reverse Mirror Rotate Import/Export

12. Text and CAG Font Text Wrap Reverse Flow Along a Path

13. Images and CAG Rotate Mirror Transparency Drop Shadow

14. Colour Fills Solid Pattern Texture Gradient

15. Page and CAG Grid Guidelines Frame Crop Bleed