Designing Illustrations

“Illustration is creating an image to communicate a message or an idea.”

It can be done in any medium as long as it is a visual representation of something. Illustration is visual imagery that is best known for interpreting, depicting, explaining, and/or decorating the words in books, newspapers, and online media.

CREATING ILLUSTRATIONS

In deciding when and how to use illustrations, remember the following guidelines:

Simplify your illustrations:

Keep your illustrations as simple as possible so that your reader has no difficulty understanding your message. Avoid distracting your reader with unnecessary details or decorative flourishes.

Use computer applications critically:

Graphics applications and clip art allow you to include a wide variety of illustrations in your document. to make sure your tables and guess are effective, however, you must evaluate this choice available. Graphics applications, for example, might crates artistic but misleading graphs, and clip art might exhibit a pictorial style that isn’t quits serious enough or detailed enough to do justice to your subject. It is your job to chooses illustrations that display your information clearly and correctly.

Considers sizes and cost:

Calculates the impact of illustrations on the expected length of your document. Illustrations will often increase the size of a document and, if printed, add to the cost of production and distribution.

Titles your illustrations:

Gives each table and figure a title that clearly indicates the message you wish it to convey.

Numbers your illustrations:

If you use several illustrations in your report, number them. Number the tables and figures separately.

Alerts your reader:

Always alert your readers to illustrations by referring to them in the text. Every time you refer to the illustration, uses the table or figures number.

Positions your illustrations strategically:

Place such illustration as close to the passage it explains as possible.

Identify your source:

If you borrow or adapt a table or figures from another sources, identify that sources (and, if necessary, permission to use it) below the illustration.

TYPES OF ILLUSTRATION

CATEGORY 1

Tables are used to display large volumes of information in an organized fashion.

• Use of headers in columns allows for the identification of information present in the columns and simplicity in design is encouraged.

• Using a border around a table will help separate it from surrounding paragraphs; omitting rows and columns will also keep the table from looking too crowded or cramped.

Bar and Column graphs serve two different purposes. Bar graphs compare two or more subjects at the same point in time, whereas, column graphs show changes in a subject at specified time intervals. Again simplicity is key with the graphs. Avoid use of unnecessary data. Do not crowd bars or columns. Limit the divisions of bars and columns. Formatting axis is also good practice, ensuring each axis is label and has a consistent interval. Color use is good practice, but going over board will cause confusion.

Circle graphs are used to display divisions of a subject of interest. Segmentation should be limited to 8 parts to avoid comprehension of the material; use of a second pie chart to segment smaller portions should be use to avoid clutter. Starting with the largest section in the upper right quadrant allows for consistency across all graphs.

Line graphs show the change and the degree of change between two variables. Again scale and labeling of each axis allows the reader to understand the changed displayed by the graph. Normally the independent variable is on the x and the dependent variable is on the y. The scale should be appropriate when trying to show the change occurring between two variables. Labeling and the use of different colors or shapes for data lines will increase clarity.

CATEGORY 2

The next three charts deal with presenting information for hierarchical purposes, process, pathways, order of processes, etc.

Organizational charts shows hierarchy in a company or committee or group. It should be arranged highest to lowest, with people on the same level in the same row. Labels should be placed in the same direction so the chart doesn't have to be rotated and lines should show clearly how each level is connected.

Flow charts show a process or pathway for a procedure. All steps should be clearly connected in a logical fashion, with equivalent steps being the same shape or size. Label ever step. Optional steps should be connected with dotted lines.

Diagrams are similar but identify parts and each parts relationship to a whole. Examples would be the water cycle or a manufacturing process or electricity distribution. Once again, simplicity and labeling rules for organization charts and flow charts apply here as well.

The last three illustrations are considered to be multimedia. These are photographs, animations and video clips. As with all other illustrations, avoid complicating things; the easier it is to understand the better.

Photographs provide a realistic view of a subject and may require labeling to increase understanding. Avoid editing photographs as this decreases the realism of the subject.

Animations show how something occurs and they share similar guidelines with video clips since both serve the same purpose. Use of titles or captions may be necessary to increase understanding of the subject matter.

Concluding Note:

In short, designing illustrations and its appropriate use not only enhances the beauty of the document but also ensure the attention of the reader towards the document making it easier for the readers to understand and making the document more interesting.

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