Technical illustration

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Isometric Technical Illustration of an interface card conveying placement of the interface cable. Interface lg.jpg
Isometric Technical Illustration of an interface card conveying placement of the interface cable.

Technical illustration is illustration meant to visually communicate information of a technical nature. Technical illustrations can be components of technical drawings or diagrams. Technical illustrations in general aim "to generate expressive images that effectively convey certain information via the visual channel to the human observer". [1]

Contents

Technical illustrations generally have to describe and explain the subjects to a nontechnical audience. Therefore, the visual image should be accurate in terms of dimensions and proportions, and should provide "an overall impression of what an object is or does, to enhance the viewer’s interest and understanding". [2]

Types

Types of communication

Today, technical illustration can be broken down into three categories[ citation needed ] based on the type of communication:

Types of drawings

Main types of drawings in technical communication are: [4]

Techniques

Technical Illustrations.png

Technical illustration uses several basic mechanical drawing configurations called axonometric projection. These are:

Technical illustration and computer-aided design can also use 3D and solid-body projections, such as rapid prototyping.

Examples

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Technical drawing</span> Creation of standards and the technical drawings

Technical drawing, drafting or drawing, is the act and discipline of composing drawings that visually communicate how something functions or is constructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engineering drawing</span> Type of technical drawing used to define requirements for engineered items

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illustration</span> Depiction made by an artist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illustrator</span> Artist enhancing writing with images

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Graphics are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone, to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of data, as in design and manufacture, in typesetting and the graphic arts, and in educational and recreational software. Images that are generated by a computer are called computer graphics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axonometric projection</span> Type of orthographic projection

Axonometric projection is a type of orthographic projection used for creating a pictorial drawing of an object, where the object is rotated around one or more of its axes to reveal multiple sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scientific visualization</span> Interdisciplinary branch of science concerned with presenting scientific data visually

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A diagram is a symbolic representation of information using visualization techniques. Diagrams have been used since prehistoric times on walls of caves, but became more prevalent during the Enlightenment. Sometimes, the technique uses a three-dimensional visualization which is then projected onto a two-dimensional surface. The word graph is sometimes used as a synonym for diagram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visualization (graphics)</span> Set of techniques for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infographic</span> Graphic visual representation of information

Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. They can improve cognition by using graphics to enhance the human visual system's ability to see patterns and trends. Similar pursuits are information visualization, data visualization, statistical graphics, information design, or information architecture. Infographics have evolved in recent years to be for mass communication, and thus are designed with fewer assumptions about the readers' knowledge base than other types of visualizations. Isotypes are an early example of infographics conveying information quickly and easily to the masses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parallel projection</span> Projection of a 3D object onto a plane via parallel rays

In three-dimensional geometry, a parallel projection is a projection of an object in three-dimensional space onto a fixed plane, known as the projection plane or image plane, where the rays, known as lines of sight or projection lines, are parallel to each other. It is a basic tool in descriptive geometry. The projection is called orthographic if the rays are perpendicular (orthogonal) to the image plane, and oblique or skew if they are not.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Data and information visualization</span> Visual representation of data

Data and information visualization is the practice of designing and creating easy-to-communicate and easy-to-understand graphic or visual representations of a large amount of complex quantitative and qualitative data and information with the help of static, dynamic or interactive visual items. Typically based on data and information collected from a certain domain of expertise, these visualizations are intended for a broader audience to help them visually explore and discover, quickly understand, interpret and gain important insights into otherwise difficult-to-identify structures, relationships, correlations, local and global patterns, trends, variations, constancy, clusters, outliers and unusual groupings within data. When intended for the general public to convey a concise version of known, specific information in a clear and engaging manner, it is typically called information graphics.

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Graphic communication as the name suggests is communication using graphic elements. These elements include symbols such as glyphs and icons, images such as drawings and photographs, and can include the passive contributions of substrate, colour and surroundings. It is the process of creating, producing, and distributing material incorporating words and images to convey data, concepts, and emotions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multiview orthographic projection</span> Technique of illustration

In technical drawing and computer graphics, a multiview projection is a technique of illustration by which a standardized series of orthographic two-dimensional pictures are constructed to represent the form of a three-dimensional object. Up to six pictures of an object are produced, with each projection plane parallel to one of the coordinate axes of the object. The views are positioned relative to each other according to either of two schemes: first-angle or third-angle projection. In each, the appearances of views may be thought of as being projected onto planes that form a six-sided box around the object. Although six different sides can be drawn, usually three views of a drawing give enough information to make a three-dimensional object.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architectural drawing</span> Technical drawing of a building (or building project)

An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building that falls within the definition of architecture. Architectural drawings are used by architects and others for a number of purposes: to develop a design idea into a coherent proposal, to communicate ideas and concepts, to convince clients of the merits of a design, to assist a building contractor to construct it based on design intent, as a record of the design and planned development, or to make a record of a building that already exists.

References

  1. Ivan Viola and Meister E. Gröller (2005). "Smart Visibility in Visualization". In: Computational Aesthetics in Graphics, Visualization and Imaging. L. Neumann et al. (Ed.)
  2. Devis, Mae (14 May 2011). "משרביות". www.laser-group.co.il. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  3. Wendenburg, Micheal. "https://www.corel.com/content/pdf/cdtsx4/Corel_Whitepaper-Visual_Technical_Communication_IE.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-01-18.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  4. Alred, Gerald J.; Brusaw, Charles T.; Oliu, Walter E. (2012). The business writer's handbook (10th ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. p. 172. ISBN   978-0312679439 . Retrieved 14 June 2016.