| 30 Jul 2010 |
Designer Tips |
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Getting Started |
The easiest way to get started is to try out the Designer with one of the sample designs.
You can then make some practice changes to the text/graphic of the sample - don't forget to click on 'Redraw' to see any modifications you make.
Just click on a 'Sample in Designer' link in Available Layouts. To load a blank layout from Available Layouts , click on the 'Blank in Designer' link. Alternatively, to load a blank layout, click on Designer, then type the layout code you want into the layout code box, then click on the 'Redraw' button. |
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Showing Modifications Made |
When you're in Designer, to show any modifications made, click on the Redraw button. | |
Saving Your Design |
After completing your design with the Designer, type a design name into the 'Design name' field, and a password into the 'Password' field. You can use any Design name and Password you wish (the computer will tell you if the Design name is already used). Click on the 'Save' button. The computer will save your design, and show you the design cost. In the case of a vehicle, a 'Vehicle' link will also be shown. Clicking on this enables you to see the panels as they would appear on your vehicle. | |
Loading Your Design |
In the Designer, type your design name into the 'Design name' field, and your password into the 'Password' field. Click on the 'Retrieve' button. | |
To Change to a Different Area(Panel) of your design |
In the Designer, the design is split into different areas (panels). This makes laying out your text/graphics a lot quicker. To work on a different panel, simply choose a different panel in the 'Change to panel' pull down list, then Click on 'Redraw'. | |
Modifying Text on Your Design |
In the Designer, the basic text is given by the top right text box. This text is formatted according to the display options (eg font, size, colour). Type the required text into this box. Choose your display options. Then press the 'Redraw' button to see the changes. If you get the message '**Word*Too*Long**' or '**Not*Enough*Space**' just reduce the size of font you are using. When using the 'Emphasize Certain Words Completely' section, commas are needed to separate the numbers of the words emphasized. (See cibe02-12 for an example). When picking the '1st part' option for 'Emphasize Part Of Each Word', the 1st part of the word is separated from the rest of the word by a colon (See mbvi02-6 for an example). |
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Modifying The Graphic on Your Design |
In the Designer, to change to the Graphic area, select the 'Graphic' section from the 'Change to section' pull down list, then click on the 'Redraw' button. Select the graphic from the 'Graphic' pull down list. Click on the 'Redraw' button. Note that the 'Highlights colour' option only works for graphics whose name ends with '-2'. If you have your own logo you'd like to include, simply email it to us at info@tradegraphics.co.uk, and we'll arrange for it to be available from the 'Other' box in the 'Graphic' screen. (Also see How do I submit my own logo so I can use it in my design? in the FAQ.) | |
Modifying The Layout of A Panel |
If you have a large panel, you can split the panel into sections. The possible arrangements are 'as one', 'split vert(2)', 'split vert(2-1)', 'split vert(1-2)', 'split vert(3)', 'split horiz', and 'split h(2)v'. (As examples, 'split vert(2)' means the panel is split vertically into 2 equal sections, and 'split vert(2-1) means the panel is split vertically into 2 sections, the first being twice as wide as the second). Then select the section you wish to change to from the 'Change to (in current panel)' drop down list, and click on 'Redraw'. Note that if you have selected a graphic, it will take up the whole area of its allocated section unless there is also text for that section - in which case the graphic takes up one-third of the section, and the text takes up two-thirds. | |
The Tradegraphics symbol 1 font |
Miscellaneous useful symbols can be found in the tradegraphics symbol 1 font. To see the full mapping click tradegraphics-symbol1. | |
Vehicle Windows |
In many vans, the 2 rear doors have either panels or windows. If your van has windows, and you want lettering on the windows, white lettering is often the most visible option. The Designer can colour a window panel grey (so you can see white lettering). When you're in a window panel, simply check the 'Window' box, then click the 'Redraw' button. (Also see Why can't I mirror window graphics in my vehicle layout? in the FAQ.) | |
Mirrored Lettering (Vinyl Lettering layouts only) |
Mirrored lettering is applied to the inside of windows, to be viewed from the outside - the glue is effectively on the front of the letters. In the Designer, to mirror a panel, check the 'Mirror' box, then click on the 'Redraw' button. | |
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| Date 12092007. Copyright Elm Leaf Ltd. All rights reserved. | ||
