Whether you have been designing jobs for several years or are a newbie, you probably wish you could streamline some of the mundane aspects of the design process—and you can, very easily. However, it will require an added level of discipline in creating and filing your work. From now on, think of every "common" graphic element, cross-section or detail as an individual graphic that can be brought into a drawing, rather than redrawing it. If you don't have a graphics library established, this article will help you get started.

Here is my first channel letter cross section that I still use today. This is a pretty basic, simple, easy-to-understand cross section without all the fancy shading and details that could be shown. I chose to keep it simple so that modifications can be made quickly and easily for those unique applications that come up often. I also included a couple of other cross sections, such as the Dual Halo effect and the RPC Halo Backer on a Raceway.

I know, nobody likes to hear that, but just as the sales people listen to tapes, read up on selling techniques or attend seminars on their own time to better their skills, so you also should take time to "build" your graphics resource file. There just isn't enough time during the day to work on this exclusively, and, besides, coming in on your day off makes you look real good to the boss.

STEP ONE: CREATE IT ON YOUR OWN TIME

I started creating graphic files years ago. When I started, I didn't know how important it would be to correctly build these files with the ability to be edited later down the road. Without the ability to edit them, they are just pretty pictures. I'm talking about editable, working files that allow you to modify them quickly and easily as the design evolves.

EXAMPLE: CHANNEL LETTER CROSS SECTIONS

We've all scanned them from spec sheets and or drawn them from scratch 100 times. This method of "make it as you need it" is very time consuming and costly to your company. As a group (you, your supervisor and sales manager) should sit down and decide just how detailed these cross sections must be. I've even seen 3-D color versions that will knock your socks off, but how practical are they?
Only you can be the judge. It's a good idea for everyone to agree on what you will show on your drawings. It also may help your supervisor be more understanding if you are working on your "graphics library" during slow times.

MAKING IT HAPPEN

One day, I sat down and committed myself to making these files truly workable. I developed a format that I liked and could build upon for each and every type of channel letter cross section I might need.

Here is my first channel letter cross section that I still use today.

Notice this is a pretty basic, simple, easy-to-understand cross section without all the fancy shading and details that could be shown. I chose to keep it simple so that modifications can be made quickly and easily for those unique applications that come up often.

I also included a couple of other cross sections, such as the Dual Halo effect and the RPC Halo Backer on a Raceway. In these examples, it was pretty easy for me to add a few components, move some screws and that was that. I selected it, named it and saved it as an independent graphic that I can pull into any drawing.

Since it, too, is editable, I can create yet another cross section from that and so on.
 

TREES, GRASS AND SKY FROM PHOTO OBJECTS BY HEMERA

Another time-saving idea is to create an Artwork file that is filled with artwork designed for presentations. Trees, grass, rocks, bricks – the possibilities are endless. I found a valuable resource in a 50,000-image collection called “Photo Objects” by Hemera. They have done all the hard work by digitally removing backgrounds from thousands of images. This drag-and-drop collection also features a powerful visual search engine that brings up images based on what you type (a lot like Romcat for Corel).

I also take every opportunity to capture my own photographic elements for use in my presentation drawings. Elements that can be imported and worked with easily – rocks, trees, sky, horizons – you would be surprised how easy it is to create your own bitmap graphics. Plan your shots and the Photoshop cleanup won't take much time at all.

Remember, time is money, and the faster you can produce dynamic presentation drawings, the better. If you put your mind to it, how many more standardized graphic elements can you think of that will help you produce your drawings faster? Do you have other resources for graphic elements? Send me an e-mail. I'm always looking for more ideas.