The Use of Graphics and Imaging Software in Professional Writing by Scott Dillon

A lot of professional writing contains graphics such as drawings, diagrams, photographs, illustrations, tables, charts, graphs, flow charts, and so on. You should use graphics wherever the situation would naturally call to use them. Once you understand the concepts of adding graphics to your writing you should feel obligated to do so.



Use graphics to represent the following elements:

• Numbers - Tables, Graphs, Charts (Bars, Lines, Pies)
  Ex: Shows numbers of sales within a business for a given month
  Source: http://ericrichardson.com/blog_cruft/bar_graph_test4.jpg
  * Above photo is an example of a Bar Graph
  
  
  
  

• Objects - Photographs, drawings, diagrams, and schematics
  Ex: Portray step by step instructions using photographs
  Source: http://www.eisenaudio.com/diy500/schematic.jpg
  * Above photo is an example of a Schematic
  

• Words - bolding, coloring or box around it
  Ex: Bolding a key definitions
  Graphics is the presentation of information
  
  
  
  

• Concepts - Boxes or circles connected with lines that show how everything is hierarchically arranged and related
  Ex: Showing a relationship between things
  Source: http://www.cs.rpi.edu/research/gpg/stl-diagram1.jpg
  * Above photo is an example of Concept Imaging

Rules of using Graphics:

• Discuss graphics in nearby text preceding the graphic.
• Don't just throw a graphic out there unexplained.
• Graphics are appropriate to your audience.
• Intersperse graphics and text on the same page.
• Indicate the source of any graphic you have borrowed.
  

Source: http://www.sandhills.edu/english/wordguide/chartadvice.html


Use of Imaging Software in professional writing:
PHOTOZOOM PRO


Source: http://www.astrovid.com/technical_documents/PZP_man_PDF_EN_103.pdf
*Above photo is an example of PhotoZoom Pro software.

There are numerous software you can use to design, edit or create images. Imaging software allows a large array of abilities, functions and techniques for users to use for their photo creations. Some functions are resizing, coloring, fading, cropping and many more.

Some Imaging Software:

• Photoshop
• Paint
• Paint Pro
• ArcSoft PhotoStudio
• IrfanView
• BW-Plus
• CK Rename