Rendering Line Drawings for Illustrative Purposes

For many purposes a high-quality photorealistic image is not necessary to communicate intended ideas. “If the ultimate goal of a picture is to convey information”, as Foley et al. pointed out [FvDFH90] “then a picture that is free of the complications of shadows and reflections may well be more successful than a tour de force of photographic realism.” This is especially true for images used for purposes of documentation or as illustrations. Such images are closely related to the text they accompany and utilized to show very specific details of the observed scenario, so a more abstract presentation here often serves the purpose better. A photograph of an engine is of no use for a person in charge of repairing or maintaining it, while a line drawing — possibly a schematic or exploded view — would give the necessary insight to fulfill the task.