correct framing throughout the movement. You can use the mask while
developing the graphic to ensure the completed graphic meets the
requirements of a television graphic.
(1) Line thickness. The thickness of the lines or line weight is
another important factor you must take into consideration when designing
television graphics. You should draw ordinary lines of a graphic with a
minimum thickness of 1/75 the width of the graphic layout area. The
type of graphic and the importance of each line within the graphic also
is a factor when determining the weight of the lines.
(2) Actual size of a graphic. You can design a graphic to any
workable size as long as you maintain the 3 to 4 aspect ratio used for
television graphics. Theoretically, you could design a graphic 3 by 4
inches, or 30 by 40 inches, or 9 by 12 feet, since all maintain the 3 to
4 aspect ratio. However, each of these sizes presents problems when
designing the graphic. The problem that you face when designing a
television graphic is providing a graphic with the correct aspect ratio,
in a workable size, and which presents a clear picture when displayed on
the monitor.
(a) Selecting the illustration board. When determining the
actual size of a graphic, you must consider the standard stock size of
the illustration board, file and storage space requirements, and the
complexity of the graphic. Common sense tells you to use a size that is
comfortable to work with. Television gray board comes in a standard
size of 30 by 40 inches, which maintains the required 3 to 4 aspect
ratio. You should use this board in its standard size for a graphic.
Do not let the size of the board give the impression that a television
monitor will show your finished graphic clearly. The camera must reduce
the graphics on the large gray board so it fills the monitor. When it
reduces the size of the graphic it has the tendency to lose some of its
clarity.
Consider the difficulty working with an extremely small piece of stock,
say 3 by 4 inches. Not only would you find it difficult to draw the
graphic, but the camera would have to enlarge the graphic. When a
camera enlarges small graphics to fill the screen, it also enlarges any
minor mistakes and trembles that distract the reader's attention away
from the intended message of the graphic.
(b) Advantages of 10 by 13inch size. Experienced television
illustrators cut the standard gray board into nine pieces, each 10 by 13
inches. You find gray board cut to this size is comfortable to work
with, you can store it in a standard file, and it is a convenient size
for the television
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