production people to handle. You must keep in mind that this is the size
of the stock and the viewing area is smaller after applying the one-sixth
rule.
When designing a series of graphics for a single television
production, make every possible effort to keep them the same size. This
helps to eliminate the need for the camera operator to constantly refocus
the camera.
(3) Checking the clarity of the graphic.
When you design a
graphic, it is approximately 20 inches from your eyes; therefore, it
appears to have excellent clarity.
However, you must determine if it
maintains that clarity when a television viewer sees it.
At what distance must you view the graphic to have the perspective as a
television viewer? For this discussion, the basic graphic's height is 10
inches, it has a border of 1 1/2 inches at the top and bottom, the viewer
has a 14 inch monitor and is 9 feet way from it. To find the distance
you must view the graphic from, you must first determine the height of
the graphic itself by taking away the top and bottom borders (10 - 3 =
7), which leaves the graphic's height, 7 inches. Since the height of the
graphic equals half the height of the monitor, you must view it at half
the distance the viewer is away from the monitor (9 2 = 4 1/2), 4 1/2
feet. When you look at the graphic from 4 1/2 feet, you have the same
perspective as the viewer. You apply this theory to any size graphic,
monitor, and viewing distance to check the clarity of a graphic. The
point of the entire discussion and illustration is to point out that the
clarity you see at the working distance is not the same clarity the
viewer may see.
To ensure your finished graphic presents its message
clearly, constantly check your work for clarity.
d. Lettering Television Graphics. The legibility standard used for
television requires a picture, including the lettering, being legible at
20 feet when displayed on a 21-inch monitor. There are no hard and fast
rules for lettering television graphics.
You apply the lettering
techniques as discussed in lesson 1 of this subcourse when applying
lettering and combine those techniques with your experience, the
broadcasting station's capabilities, and local standing operating
procedures.
(1) Lettering television graphics criteria.
The criteria for
lettering television graphics is when the viewer can read and understand
the lettering on the monitor, you have selected lettering of adequate
size and style.
On the other hand, if the viewer cannot read and
understand the lettering on the monitor, the size and style lettering you
selected was not adequate.
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