Computer programs are becoming increasingly well integrated with one another. Both Macintosh and Windows environments can support transfer of data from one program to another. When this fails to generate the desired results, programs often are able to read data files written in another program's file format. In addition, many standard file formats (e.g. .EPS, .DXF, .TIFF, etc.) exist for the exchange of information. One program's output can be another program's input.
The fifth assignment for this course will take advantage of this integration and standard file formats. Using the desktop publishing program PageMaker, you will create portfolios, advertising flyers, project proposals, or other printed presentations. You will combine text with images created by AutoCAD, Photoshop, and possibly other sources to make a coherent, unified presentation.
- To introduce the student to desktop publishing software.
- To expose the student to issues in integration and data extraction.
Produce an integrative printed presentation using PageMaker. Your project should incorporate both EPS files from AutoCAD and bitmap files (like .TIFFs, .GIFs, or .JPEGs from Photoshop). You will probably want to take advantage of the work you have done in the previous projects, but you may also want to scan new images, correct drafting errors, add to your model, etc.
If you are from a major other than architecture, you should feel free to try to slant this project toward your particular area of expertise. For example, if you are a landscape architect, you could do additional work in AutoCAD or Photoshop to illustrate a landscape design for the building you modeled earlier in AutoCAD. If you are a civil engineer, you could use AutoCAD to show construction details or import tables from Excel to show costs or structural calculations.
Be prepared to discuss the project and the software in class. Be able to point out the sorts of things which were useful or made the project enjoyable, as well as those which you felt were annoying, or hampered work. Be prepared to discuss how the techniques used in the project might be used in an office or in the preparation of a portfolio. Also be prepared to discuss how they should not be used.
The assignment is due at the start of class on Tuesday, June 15. Projects handed in after the start of class or immediately after class will be considered a day late. Do not skip class in order to try to finish your project.
Once again, this project will be graded on the quality of your presentation. You will not be counted off if you present an unrealistic design for a building, but you will be counted off if you have a sloppy presentation or haven't done all of the specified work.
In order to get 7 out of the 10 possible points, you should have a printed presentation that includes EPS files produced by AutoCAD as well as bitmap images (from Photoshop or elsewhere). Your presentation should have some sort of organization. Sections, headings, columns, or pages should follow some sort of orderly principles of composition; they should be consistent or follow some sort of orderly progression. Text should be readable. Your work should be free of stray lines and other significant flaws.
You will receive more points for a well-composed project or for demonstrating a thorough understanding of the principles of desktop publishing and the tools of PageMaker. Achieving difficult effects or exploring tools not covered in class may warrant additional points. Importing images or files from additional sources also earn you more points.
You may be penalized for work which appears haphazard or accidental Words in different paragraphs or columns should not overlap, titles and headers should be consistent, images should not be slightly out of alignment, etc. In general, follow principles of common sense and good composition.
Postscript files
Stories
Master sheets
Text wrapping
Text vs. pictures of text
Internal copies vs. external links
In-line- vs. independent graphics