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- X-Last-Updated: 1997/04/05
- Organization: none
- Subject: Technical Illustration FAQ (v 1.1.1)
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Newsgroups: comp.graphics.misc,comp.answers,news.answers
- From: richard@rfitech.com (Richard Foley)
- Followup-To: poster
- Summary: Technical Illustration Frequently Asked Questions.
- Keywords: FAQ 2D 3D TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATION CAD LINE PERSPECTIVE
- Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU
- Date: 17 Apr 2004 11:27:01 GMT
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-
- Archive-name: graphics/Techill-FAQ
- Posting-Frequency: monthly
- Version: 1.1.1
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- TECHnical ILLustration Frequently Asked Questions
-
- Version: 1.1.1
-
- Please forward any comments, suggestions, additional information and =
- so
- forth, I will endeavour to include them in future versions of this
- continously updated FAQ.
-
- More FEEDBACK equals more USEFUL!
-
- richard@rfitech.com
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- INDEX
-
- * 1. Where to get this FAQ.
- * 2. What, Why, Where?
- * 3. Programs for technical illustration
- o 2D
- o 3D
- o CAD
- o Macintosh.
- o IBM/PC.
- o Other systems.
- * 4. File formats
- * 5. Internet related information, other useful resources
- o Mailing Lists.
- o Newsgroups.
- o Websites.
- * 6. Disclaimer and Credits
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- SECTION 1 - Where to get this FAQ.
-
- This latest version of this FAQ may be retrieved from the following =
- sites as
- an HTML doc. (or email me if you only want the text version):
-
- =A0
-
- The TechIll website
-
- http://www.uplex.net/mdf/techill
-
- =A0
-
- The RFI web site:
-
- http://www.rfitech.com/text/techill-FAQ.html
-
- =A0
-
- By email request from myself at (I'll send the html version unless you
- request the text):
-
- richard@rfitech.com
-
- =A0
-
- The central FAQ site:
-
- ftp to rtfm.mit.edu as
-
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/graphics/Techill-FAQ
-
- =A0
-
- The following newsgroups:
-
- comp.graphics.misc,comp.answers,news.answers
-
- =A0
-
- Back to Index
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- SECTION 2 - What, why, where?
-
- Q. What programs should I use for technical illustration?
-
- A. Check out Section 3 below, for suggestions.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. Should I use a Mac or an ibmPC or?
-
- A. People have been debating this one for a decade or more. Without =
- wishing
- to start a flame on the subject; if the people you deal with use =
- imbPC's,
- get one, if they use Mac's, get one. If you can afford it, get both =
- and
- experiment! (I use a PowerMac with a DosCard in it for beta-testing =
- and
- variety!)
-
- You might find youself running on a Sparc or something else I know =
- nothing
- about, please inform this FAQ if we can usefully add something on the
- subject. Having said that, this FAQ is aimed more at the individual =
- than the
- industrial giant.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. I'm told computers can't do 'Thick & thin'?
-
- A. This is like saying, "Cars can't do more than 30-miles/per/hour", =
- these
- days they can! Each program will have it's own way of doing it, RTFM,
- experiment.
-
- Further, in Illustrator, for example, a satisfactory method is to =
- take an
- object with a fill, and 'paste behind' the same object with a line =
- weight
- twice the width you require. So where you need a 2pt line, give the =
- rearmost
- object a 4pt line. (Try it). This is also a good way of 'outlining' =
- letters,
- the true character of the frontmost letter is then retained.
-
- Another way to do it, and commonly more used 'in the field' is to have
- everything in a thin line, then thicken up where required. This is =
- visually
- acceptable, though sometimes you can lose the traditional advantage of
- thickening up on one side of a line.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. I'm told computers can't do 'perspective'?
-
- A. Similar to above quote, they can do perspective "IN SPADES". =
- Adjustable
- perspective, turn on, turn off, fly-throughs... Technical shapes can =
- be
- drawn with no foreshortening, perhaps using 'x' & 'y' & 'z', or =
- 'plan' &
- 'elevation' & 'rear' views, then adding appropriate, mild, perspective
- later.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. What is a typical 'drawing standard' on a computer in the US or UK =
- or
- elsewhere?
-
- A. Inking 'on the board', usually requires a 0.25mm or 0.3mm pen =
- alongside
- between 0.5mm & 0.7mm for the heavier line weight. This is equivalent =
- on the
- computer to between 0.35pt & 0.5pt for thin, with between 1.0pt & =
- 2.0pt for
- thick. There may be a 'house-style' which will dictate the actual line
- weights used.
-
- Otherwise the following is a reasonable middle-ground to tread: Thin =
- =3D
- 0.5pt, Thick =3D 1.0pt, Annotation lines =3D 0.7pt
-
- =A0
-
- Q. How do I 'thicken up' a colour rendering?
-
- A. Generally colour illustrations do not use edge shadings as used in
- traditional black & white illustrating. The colour and shade is =
- usually
- enough to form the shape and 'feel' of depth.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. Computers are cheating surely?
-
- A. That's what they said about photography back in the 1840's, "Art is
- dead!" Probably what those old guys with brushes and ink said about
- technical pens and ellipse guides!
-
- =A0
-
- Q. How on earth do I draw with a mouse?
-
- A. Don't! (another area of debate) ;-)
-
- Seriously, there are 3 prime methods of digitising by hand; mouse, =
- puck, and
- pen. The good ol' MOUSE has it's limitations but if you get an =
- ergonomical
- (hand-shaped) one, it will be quite sufficient. The PUCK is more =
- accurate
- with a cross-hair on a magnifying glass and particularly suited to =
- tracing
- and plotting. The PEN, usually pressure sensitive, has a more natural =
- feel
- and is probably less likely to promote RSI.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. What is RSI?
-
- A. Repetitive Stress Injury. Incurred by (in this case) computer =
- usage with
- too much keyboard and mouse operation and unsupported wrists. I wear a
- fingerless glove to keep the wrist warm, and give a soft contact with =
- the
- desk area. Try it before you dismiss it giggling, you may look =
- stupid, but
- your hand may last longer!
-
- See also "RSI Newsletter", contact Caroline Rose =
- (crose@applelink.apple.com)
- and check the mailing lists below.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. Why are my straight lines jagged when printed?
-
- A. Sometimes the lines on the screen look straight until printed. =
- This is
- because the screen resolution is 72dpi (dots per inch), which is quite
- coarse and the screen is incapable of showing the detail, so it =
- approximates
- the line. Usually there are constraining key/s in a program to ensure =
- the
- cursor is 'snapped-to' a grid, to ensure they are 'true'.
-
- Also your printer might not have the resolution to print fine lines. =
- 300dpi
- is a minimum, 600dpi is usually OK, imagesetters at 2400dpi are of =
- course,
- the best.
-
- =A0
-
- Q. How do I set the transparency bit on my web page?
-
- Q. How do upload my illustrations to the 'net?
-
- Q. How ... ?
-
- A. These and all other Internet related questions can be answered by
- ferreting about in the appropriate FAQ, or asking in a pertinent =
- newsgroup,
- see section 5 below.
-
- Back to Index
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- SECTION 3 - Programs for Technical Illustration.
-
- There are several different 'types' of program used for technical
- illustration, which you use will depend on how you are going to =
- construct
- your drawings. 2D, 3D, CAD:
-
- =A0
-
- 2D - Illustrator and Freehand type programs are 2-dimensional, they =
- can be
- treated a bit like the 'inking' of a traditional pencil drawing, and =
- are
- responsible for much of the technical illustration done on the =
- computer to
- date.
-
- IsoDraw is a program designed specifically to replace the board, and =
- will
- tend to be more familiar for traditionally trained illustrators, who =
- may be
- unused to the 3D modelling world or 'virtual-reality' style programs. =
- Used a
- lot for tracing over photographs and updating existing illustrations.
-
- =A0
-
- 3D - A program typically working with a 'wireframe' or block shapes to
- construct a 'working model'. Dimensions can produce a 3D framework and
- simple renderings which may be manipulated further in the 2D programs =
- above.
- You might for example produce a basic shape, export it and add colour =
- or
- 'thick & thin' techniques. Complex rendering within Dimensions alone =
- can
- produce unwieldy (big) files.
-
- Form-Z is a program which can 'draw anything', from a simple =
- unfolding box,
- to a complex organic shape, to a multi-layered technical cutaway. =
- Boolean
- operations cut shapes from other shapes, spirals can be automatically
- generated etc. The results can be rendered plain or =
- photo-realistically and
- then exported in many different file formats.
-
- =A0
-
- CAD - For example: AutoCad & MicroStation, the 'big boys', are =
- designed for
- 2D drafting and producing blue-prints. These are now able to =
- automatically
- generate complete 3D perspective and rendered views of the objects, =
- based
- purely on the CAD drawings. There is a full range of CAD programs =
- from these
- 'high-end' to simpler pixel based versions, the latter working purely =
- in 2D.
-
- =A0
-
- These applications will NOT replace illustrators until companies are
- prepared to pay engineers, (rather than illustrators), to 'visualise' =
- the
- item 'in-situ', and in colour with appropriate cutaways, and so on. =
- Even
- though different skill bases are bound to overlap, engineers or =
- draughtsmen
- are _not_ graphic designers, or technical illustrators.
-
- =A0
-
- The following are programs that might be used for technical =
- illustration.
- Program name with current version number in brackets; company; typical
- usage; typical output file formats.
-
- =A0
-
- APPLE MACINTOSH
-
- AUTOCAD* (v11) from AutoDesk; 2D drafting & 3D modeling; DXF & DWG.
-
- DIMENSIONS* (v2) from Adobe Systems; 3d Graphics; Illustrator & =
- Freehand.
-
- FORM-Z (v2.8.1) from Alt-Sys-Desk; 3D modelling/rendering; DXF & EPS.
-
- FREEHAND (v5) from Macromedia; 2D illustration; EPS.
-
- ILLUSTRATOR (v6.0) from Adobe Systems; 2D illustration; EPS & PDF & =
- TIFF.
-
- ISODRAW 3.0.3 from ITEDO; 2D Illustration; EPS & CGM & IGES & DXF.
-
- MICROSTATION (v5.0) from Bentley; 2D drafting & 3D modelling; DXF & =
- EPS &
- DWG & DGN & CGM & IGES.
-
- PHOTOSHOP (v3.1) from Adobe Systems; Image manipulation; EPS & TIFF & =
- GIF &
- PICT & JPEG etc. (most formats).
-
- RAY DREAM DESIGNER (v4.0) ; 3D modelling and rendering; TIFF & PICT.
-
- EXPLODE; (V2.0); 2D Isometric style illustratione; EPS & TIFF & PICT.
-
- =A0
-
- =A0
-
- IBM/PC COMPATIBLE
-
- AUTOCAD* (v13) from AutoDesk; 2D drafting & 3D modeling; DXF & DWG.
-
- CORELDRAW (v4.0) from Corel; 2D illustration; EPS & TIFF.
-
- FREEHAND (v3.1,) from Macromedia; 2D illustration; EPS.
-
- ILLUSTRATOR v(5.0) from Adobe Systems; 2D illustration; EPS & PDF.
-
- ISODRAW (v3.0) from ITEDO 2D Illustration; EPS & CGM & IGES & DXF.
-
- MICROSTATION (v5.5) from Bentley; 2D drafting & 3D modelling; DXF & =
- EPS &
- DWG & DGN & CGM & IGES.
-
- PHOTOSHOP (v3.0) from Adobe Systems; Image manipulation; EPS & TIFF & =
- GIF &
- PICT & JPEG etc. (most formats).
-
- Micrographx Designer () Windows 3.11, Windows 95 and Windows
-
- =A0
-
- OTHER PLATFORMS
-
- Catia (v4) from Dassault (fr); 2D drafting/3D modelling; IBM6000
-
- MicroStation (v5.5) from Bentley; 2D drafting & 3D modelling; DXF & =
- EPS &
- DWG & DGN & CGM & IGES; IBM/RS 6000, Sparc, SGI
-
- INTERLEAF
-
- TI PLUS () Auto-trol
-
- =A0
-
- Further 3D drawing programs (Mac/PC):
-
- 3DStudio
-
- Infini-D
-
- Mechanisto
-
- PatchDance
-
- RayDreamDesigner
-
- RenderCadPro
-
- StrataStudioPro
-
- Truespace
-
- Vision3D
-
- =A0
-
- Further 2D drawing programs (Mac/PC):
-
- Clay
-
- Canvas
-
- MacDrawPro
-
- DanCad
-
- CadKey
-
- TurboCad
-
- GammaCad*
-
- BluePrint
-
- MiniCad
-
- Tk316e
-
- =A0
-
- Of the above program, those marked with an asterisk (*), have a review
- uploaded on the TechIll website:
-
- http://www.uplex.net/mdf/techill
-
- Back to Index
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- SECTION 4 - File Formats.
-
- Typical file formats: V =3D vector, B =3D Bitmap, V/B =3D 'hybrid' =
- format using
- both vector & bitmap together. (For an extensive explanation of image =
- file
- formats see the FAQ available from the comp.graphics.misc newsgroup =
- and from
- rtfm.mit.edu as /pub/usenet/news.answers/graphics/fileformats-faq).
-
- =A0
-
- CGM =3D Computer Graphics Metafile, V/B
-
- =A0
-
- DWG =3D AutoCad DraWinG file, V/B
-
- =A0
-
- DXF =3D Digital eXchange Format, V
-
- =A0
-
- EPS =3D Encapsulated Postscript, V/B
-
- =A0
-
- GIF =3D Graphics Interchange Format, B
-
- =A0
-
- IGES =3D International Graphics Exchange System, V/B
-
- =A0
-
- JPG =3D Joint Photographic Group format, B
-
- =A0
-
- PDF =3D Portable Document Format, V/B
-
- =A0
-
- PICT =3D Macintosh PICTure file, B
-
- =A0
-
- TIFF =3D Tagged Image File Format, B
-
- =A0
-
- Back to Index
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- SECTION 5 - Internet related information, other useful resources.
-
- Related newsgroups and mailing lists, web sites etc.
-
- =A0
-
- MAILING LISTS
-
- Techill mailing list;
- To subscribe, send "subscribe techill" to majordomo@uplex.net
- To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe techill"
-
- Technical Writers List; send an email message to
- LISTSERV@LISTSERV.OKSTATE.EDU, don't put anything in the subject =
- field, put
- "SUB TECHWR-L _firstname _lastname" in the body field. ie; SUB =
- TECHWR-L John
- Smith
-
- The health effects of computer use
- Address: listserv@iubvm.ucs.indiana.edu
- Message: sub C+HEALTH Your Name
-
- Carpal tunnel syndrom, tendonitis etc. (discussion)
- Address: LISTSERV@ITSSRV1.UCSF.EDU
- Message: subscribe sorehand Your Name
-
- =A0
-
- NEWSGROUPS
-
- =A0
-
- alt.cad
-
- alt.corel.graphics
-
- alt.industry
-
- alt.sys.intergraph
-
- bit.listerv.techwr-l
-
- comp.cad.i-deas
-
- comp.cad.microstation
-
- comp.graphics.apps.freehand
-
- comp.graphics.apps.photoshop
-
- comp.graphics.apps.pagemaker
-
- comp.graphics.misc
-
- comp.graphics.rendering
-
- comp.graphics.visualisation
-
- comp.sys.mac.graphics
-
- comp.prepress.electronic
-
- comp.publish.electronic.end-user
-
- comp.publish.prepress
-
- news.answers
-
- =A0
-
- =A0
-
- WORLD WIDE WEB SITES
-
- The TechIll website with a Forum for all of us;
-
- http://www.uplex.net/mdf/techill
-
- =A0
-
- Technical communicators resource site;
-
- http://www.rpi.edu/~perezc2/tc/
-
- =A0
-
- The International Society for Technical Illustrators
-
- http://www.epic-isti.com/epic
-
- =A0
-
- Technical Communicators site;
-
- http://www.in.net/~smschill/techcomm.html
-
- =A0
-
- A useful Graphics page;
-
- http://www.best.com/~bryanw
-
- =A0
-
- DTP tips & tricks;
-
- http://www.winternet.com/~jmg/GetInfo.html
-
- =A0
-
- CAD related web site listings
-
- http://www.webcom.com/~imt/other.html
-
- =A0
-
- Maps, cartography, DXF and Adobe Illustrator links
-
- http://www.shef.ac.uk/~sc/
-
- =A0
-
- FAQ's, (Frequently Asked Questions):
-
- TechIllFAQ http://www.uplex.net/mdf/techill or http://www.rfitech.com/
- text/techill-FAQ.html
-
- TechWrFAQ http://www.best.com/~miket/TECHWR.FAQ.html
-
- Usenet FAQ's (central site); ftp to rtfm.mit.edu
-
- Scanning FAQ http://www.dopig.uab.edu/dopigpages/FAQ/the-scan-FAQ.html
-
- Computer Graphics Journals email kouhia@ftp.funet.fi
-
- WWW info FAQ http://www.boutell.com/faq/
-
- Comp.Graphics FAQ, ftp from =
- rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/grahics/faq
-
- Graphic File Formats FAQ; by ftp at rtfm.mit.edu
- /pub/usenet/news.answers/graphics/fileformats-faq
-
- =A0
-
- For a really good place to start with Internet info try looking at =
- "The
- Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication" authored by John =
- December
- (decemj@rpi.edu), ftp to "ftp.rpi.edu".
-
- Back to Index
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
- -----
-
- SECTION 6 - Disclaimer and credits.
-
- * This FAQ is the product of it's lack elsewhere coupled with a =
- percieved
- need. Thanks in particular to Mark Foster <mdf@uplex.net> and =
- various
- other people for their encouragement. This FAQ is not affiliated =
- to any
- group or company (except my own), and all comments are mine, and =
- should
- be treated with caution, unless expressly stated otherwise. This
- document may be distributed freely so long as it is unaltered in =
- any
- way. All comments welcome, (within reason)!
- * ;-)
-
- Copyright RFI
-
- richard@rfitech.com
-
-
- Richard Foley, RFI Ingleton, LA63AN, UK richard@rfitech.com
- Maintainer of the Technical Illustration FAQ doc: "Techill-FAQ"
- http://www.rfitech.com
-
-
-