Mechanical Illustration

Mechanical illustration is commonly known as drafting. A drawing is made of an object to scale, and as realistically as possible. This is usually performed with technical drawing pens, allowing the artist to vary line widths allowing a more realistic image. A mechanical illustration can be created with simple tools such as a T-square, a 30°-60°-90° triangle, and a 45° triangle.

Technical Illustration

Techical Illustration has its roots in drafting. A drawing is made of an object to scale, and as realistically as possible. This is usually performed with technical drawing pens, allowing the artist to vary line widths allowing a more realistic image. A technical illustration may be as simple as a chart or graph, or the drawing may be a detailed cut-a-way shematic of a nuclear power reator.

Medical and Scientific Illustration

Medical and scientific illustration for books, magazines, and other media must comply with editorial style and format, technical parameters and specifications, and printing and "prepress" formatting requirements for the vendor(s) involved in the production process. The basic techniques used are the same as those used for technical illustration.

Patent Drafting

Formal U.S. Patent Application drafting: Every patent application filed with the U.S. Patent Office must include drawings of the parts or process for the patent according to patent office rules, regulations, and specifications.
     Parts illustrations are exact dimension and cross-section illustrations that specify size and shape. These are often used as manufacturing guides and blueprints.
     Process illustrations show a specific process or flow. These illustrations are usually in the form of graphs, charts, and flowcharts.

Computer Design and Illustration

The majority of illustration is performed digitally on a computer today, but mechanical and illustration by hand still has its place and purpose. Computer graphics and imaging software available today allows "adaptation" in creating and manipulating Images and photos. This adaptation of the image can produce the real and surreal effects within an image that truely transforms the image into another dimension of idea and thought.
     Each image or photo can be made to "tell a story" in and of itself. It is up to the individual artist to bring the thought or feeling or story out of the image. Digital imaging readily facilitates this process.