How to Draw Symmetrical Objects in Adobe FrameMaker

Granted, Adobe FrameMaker is not designed as the mother of all illustration programs. Its graphic capabilities are limited but still plenty for most general purposes if you know how to use FM’s graphic tools. Here is an easy method I use to draw symmetrical objects in FrameMaker. 1) Make a line drawing by using the…

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How to Draw an Induction Coil Symbol with Adobe Illustrator

Induction coils are one of the most frequently used components in electronics. If you are documenting any electronics equipment or system, you may have to draw an induction coil symbol at some point. Here is how to do it. 1) Draw a circle. 2) Pick the Selection Tool (V). Press the Alt button (Windows) and…

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Shortcomings of Line Graphs (or Line Charts)

Line graph or line chart is one of the most frequently used types of graphic displays in technical communication. Here is an example: Consumption of Fiber by U.S. Apparel Industry, 1994-2001 (Millions of pounds) (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security) The most important aspect of a line graph is its use of “categories”…

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How to Visually Express 7 Different Processes

Trainers, public speakers, and technical writers always look for a visually attractive way to present abstract ideas. One way to do that is to use PROCESS CHARTS. Here are 7 such ideas (all created with SMART ART tools of MS Word 2007 and 2010): 1) BASIC TIMELINE 2) TIMELINE WITH TASK LIST 3) TOP-DOWN VERTICAL…

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