Drawing & spatial awareness · Higher
Preliminary, production & promotional graphics
5 cards · 4 quiz · 0 exam
Graphic Communication · Higher · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about preliminary, production & promotional graphics, specifically to understand:
- the role of preliminary, production and promotional graphics, linked to a product
- manual and computer-aided graphic techniques
Success criteria WILF
- I can explain the role of preliminary, production and promotional graphics, linked to a product
- I can compare manual and computer-aided graphic techniques
Three types of graphic
| Type | What it is for | Who uses it | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Generating, exploring and communicating early ideas quickly | The designer, the design team, the client | Thumbnails, freehand sketches, annotated ideas, sketch models, rough layouts |
| Production | Giving accurate technical information so something can be made or built | Manufacturers, engineers, builders, the construction trade | Dimensioned orthographic and sectional views, assembly drawings, exploded views, building plans |
| Promotional | Advertising or selling a product, service or event | Customers, the public, the client | Posters, leaflets, magazine pages, packaging, web pages, pull-up banners, rendered CAD illustrations |
Exam questions often show three graphics and ask you to describe the purpose of each. Name the type and link it to the actual product: "Figure 2 is a production graphic: it gives the builder the sizes and position of the windows" scores; "it is a production drawing" alone does not.
Manual or computer-generated?
- Manual (pencil, marker, fineliner): quick, low cost, needs no equipment, good for early ideas and working with a client face to face; hard to edit, can't be reused or sent to a machine.
- Computer-generated (CAD, DTP): accurate, easy to edit and reuse, can be shared electronically, rendered realistically and sent to CAM; needs hardware, software and training, and files can be lost or incompatible.
- Digital sketching on a tablet mixes both: layers, undo, colour and sharing, with the speed of freehand.
Key terms
| Preliminary graphic | Quick sketches and thumbnails used to generate and explore ideas, for the designer and client. |
|---|---|
| Production graphic | Accurate, dimensioned drawing to standards so the item can be manufactured or built. |
| Promotional graphic | A graphic that advertises or sells: posters, leaflets, packaging, web pages, renders. |
| Advantage of manual sketching | Fast, needs no equipment, good for sharing ideas with a client on the spot. |
| Advantage of CAD graphics | Accurate and easy to edit; can be shared, reused, rendered and sent to CAM. |
Quick check
1. A fully dimensioned orthographic drawing for a manufacturer is a…
- Preliminary graphic
- Production graphic
- Promotional graphic
- Thumbnail
Show answer
B: Production graphic. It gives technical information for making the item.
2. Thumbnails and annotated freehand sketches are…
- Promotional graphics
- Production graphics
- Preliminary graphics
- Assembly drawings
Show answer
C: Preliminary graphics. They are used to generate and explore ideas.
3. A rendered image of a new car on a billboard is a…
- Production graphic
- Preliminary graphic
- Sectional view
- Promotional graphic
Show answer
D: Promotional graphic. It advertises the product to the public.
4. Which is a benefit of manual sketching over CAD?
- It is quick and needs no equipment
- It can be sent straight to a 3D printer
- It is more accurate
- It is easier to edit
Show answer
A: It is quick and needs no equipment. Sketching is fast and portable; CAD is more accurate and editable.
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.