RE: Vector Graphics

Subject: RE: Vector Graphics
From: Sean MacRae <sean -at- rcp -dot- co -dot- uk>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 10:21:02 +0100

Visio contains a Windows interface template, at least in the professional
version 5.0 that I use. I have used it to build paper prototype user
interfaces. However, it is not complete and does not provide a 100% accurate
representation of each widget. But it gets you up and running quickly.

Doug would have the fun job of keeping the hand-drawn version of the i/f in
synch. with the real code.

The interface diagram would then not look quite like the real one -- this
makes it a little more difficult for the user to relate the two. I recall
the NeXT interface used Display PostScript to render screen objects. This
meant screen captures were perfectly scalable -- and to my eyes, just didn't
look "real".

>From what I understand of Doug's original message, I would not want to
attempt either approach (vectorize or draw); I'd stick to bitmaps, and crop
to areas of interest to reduce the need to scale down.

I'm not sure I see the need anyway. If users zoom in on-screen, then the
characters will be blocky, but readable at well over 1:1 zoom. If the image
is zoomed out to the stage where you can't read small on-screen text, then
scalable fonts will also be unreadable at that level. If you're sizing for
print, you can scale down quite a lot and still read small print; if you do
have problems (e.g. you're using a lower res. device such as a laser
printer) then use callouts to focus on areas of detail -- simpler than
vectorising, and easier to re-do when your interface changes.

Cheers,
Sean M.

> One solution:
>
> It is possible to create all the elements needed to draw a
> Windows screen,
> and then use them to "build" a screen shot. I've done this to mock up
> interfaces that don't exist yet.

[...]
> As I said, I've done similar work using Corel Draw to mock up
> an interface for a project. It's a lot of work, and probably isn't worth
[...]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: RE: techwr-l digest: July 24, 2001
Next by Author: RE: Spelling out, was Acronyms
Previous by Thread: RE: Vector Graphics
Next by Thread: Vector graphics?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads