Graphics – Day 1

Why use graphics Different learning styles Many things are hard to explain in text Provides interest

Use relevant graphics Graphic draws the eye First thing the reader will see on a page Choose graphics that support and expand upon the text Give the graphics the same look & feel Use graphics appropriate to the audience

How relevant Questions to ask is: What does the graphic add? Why bother? How does this enhance the material? What happens if a large, but not relevant graphic is put on the page? If the graphic is placed too low on the page what happens to reading the material?

Same look & feel Give the graphics the same look & feel

All images are similar

Inserting graphics into text Place after first text reference Always use a caption Figure captions go below Table captions go above Don’t leave excess white space either before or within the graphic Minimize use of boxes or lines around the graphic

Placement on the page Graphic draws the eye First thing the reader will see on a page If the graphic is placed too low on the page what happens to reading the material?

White space around graphic

Figures fit within the margins

What is perception difference?

Graphic numbering Figures and tables are numbered separately (If it’s not a table, then it’s a figure) Start both at 1 and continue to end of document Folio numbering (1.3, 4.2) are only used when the document contains chapters

Graphic captions 3 parts Figure or table number Title Descriptive text Fig 3. Enrollment from 1990-2000. Numbers were based on first day enrollment.

Good caption examples Figure 1. Average grade point by major. Fig 1. Average grade point by major. Figure 1. Average grade point by major. This data was collected by analyzing scores of graduates from 1995-1999.

Bad caption examples Figure 1. Figure 1. This data of average grade points was collected by analyzing scores of graduates from 1995-1999. Figure 1. Bar chart showing the change of enrollment. Figure 1.4 Bar chart of number of students

Color

Color in graphics Web has lots of colored figures, but most technical documents are produced in black and white. Loss of color can create a gray blob. Convert the graphic to BW with a image program, do not let the copier do it.

Parts of color Hue – Difference in the color Blue vs yellow, light red versus dark red Value – lightness or darkness Saturation – intensity of a color

Gray scale 9 steps of gray Eye is best at lighter shades of gray False color is really gray scale Grays are converted to color Easier for eye to see/compare colors

Color and BW graphic

Changing images to grayscale Turn on picture toolbar.

Color in printing Each color requires a separate printing step 2 colors doubles the cost Full color Uses 4 inks Most expensive printing process Crisp color requires coated paper (more $$$)

Color touching color Eye is very good at comparing two colors when they are close Very poor at subtle differences when it cannot see the them or they are separated Touching colors can be close to the same The more separation, the more contrast If not see at same time, use different color

Color contrast illusion Diagonal rows are the same color

Color blindness About 10% of male audience is colorblind Must watch the color choices, especially on graphs Normal Red-green Blue-yellow

Line drawing vs. photos

Line drawing or photo Line drawing Photo Emphasis on specific parts Can remove extra material Photo Gives better overall image Contains lots of extra material

Power window switch

FedEx sort facility

Line drawings

Ethernet card images Note how shading helps Take a picture of a Ethernet card

Bitmapped graphics Word uses graphics that are bitmapped. You can reduce, but not enlarge them without losing clarity. Bitmapped means they are made of lots of little pixels, with each pixel being one color.

Resizing Programs can resize proportionally or not. Means both dimensions change equally. In Word, use the corner handle bars.

Enlarged bitmapped graphic

Resize example

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