...placing graphics close to the reference is more important than balancing text and graphics on the page for esthetic effect. –Robert WaiteTechnical illustrations are usually drawn as line art and are used to show what a piece of equipment looks like, how it’s put together or how it operates. Illustrations are better than photographs for showing details because, as the creator of the illustration, you can eliminate unimportant detail. Avoid including more detail than the reader needs.
Illustrations can be placed in boxes and should have a figure number and title. If appropriate, they should also have a caption. Use callouts to label the parts you wish to draw the reader’s attention to.
Illustrations are usually drawn by professional technical illustrators, either by hand or with a computer program. Some illustrations are also available as clip-art or click-art.
