Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: leeneia
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 01:21 PM

I would use graph paper, myself.

Don't forget to allow room for stallholders to get in and out of their areas.

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: Rasener
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 05:10 AM

I agree with JohnInKansas & Geoff The Duck

So many people spend hours and days trying to design things on the computer, when they could have done it by hand in 5 or 10 minutes.
If you only have half a day to do something, the biggest way to get stressed is use the computer, and chances are you won't have it done in time.

Why do they do that?

The exception is, if you have to do these sort of things on a very regular basis, then its worth learning how to create such things in a program and then when you have to do a real project, it should be dead easy.

By the same token, if you are doing something like that to gain computer experience, and you enjoy doing it, thats also good.

I have done quite a few things like that in Excel becuase I knew what I was doing and it was dead easy.

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 03:29 AM

I would avoid the computer.
Something such as this can be done by hand with a ruler and pencil a lot faster than a computer will ever manage it (Usually in several dayd less time).
If you want a final computer output, scan the finished hand drawing.
If you REALLY want typed computer text, print it on a sheeet of paper, then cut and paste (Scissors and glue, of course) between documents, then scan or photocopy the "master sheet".
In fact, you can easily draw labelled boxes using something such as excel or word, then cut those out and glue labelled "stalls" on a plan of the field. This is known as "Hybrid technology".
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 10:31 PM

I vote you start in the pub!

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 09:28 PM

"but one must be careful about how many people know that you're good at the less "fulfilling" things"

I've been 'lucky' so far - at least lucky enough that no one wants to pay me for doing them.... :-P

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 08:59 PM

The important thing is that you pick a method that works for you, that doesn't cause you a lot of pain and frustration, and that produces a result that will meet the need.

Of course, the best way to do that is to play around with doing lots of different things in different ways before a "special project" comes up, so that you have an idea of what methods suit your talents and meet the requirements of the tasks at hand.

It also ranks high on the scale of ultimate goodness if you can have fun doing it. It's not really absolutely true that you shouldn't be good at some things you don't enjoy a whole lot, but one must be careful about how many people know that you're good at the less "fulfilling" things.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 08:48 PM

"If you have a reasonably good illustration program like Illustrator or Photoshop."

???? These are reasonably good? LOL.

The real work here has to be done in your head.

The area you have is x by x, tables are x long and x wide.. opens space is x big. Get the picture in you mind and then find some way to draw it, lots of options there and it sounds like you are on the way. Graph paper, they still make it and it works. I do use design programs all day long, but often do rough layout on bar napkins. Might be you need to start at the pub.
Nick

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: GUEST,patty o'dawes
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 08:01 PM

Ye gads you're a fine bunch! Have mastered the art of little boxes in paint and will have a bash at Word tomorrow. It's looking good though!

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 01:29 PM

I'd use the draw facility in Word and set the grid to an appropriate size provided that I didn't want anything too accurate - you did say simple.

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 12:56 PM

A CAD (computer assisted drawing) program is exactly what you're seeking. There are several freeware ones available--try googling CAD free download

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 10:29 AM

One crude but fairly simple way is just to use Excel (or another spreadsheet), enlarge the cells and put borders on them to make your rectangles. Fill in the boxes with the names of the stalls, etc.

Getting things to accurate scale can try one's patience, but you should be able to twiddle with things to get close enough - if I understand your description of what you need, and if your layout isnt' too complex.

You can also do the same in Word by creating a table, borders, etc.

If you have a reasonably good illustration program like Illustrator or Photoshop, or even Paint, it's of course pretty easy to draw lines, circles, etc, although not so easy to draw to an exact scale with many of them. If your rectangles aren't in nice "squared up" rows, this might be easier than using tables in Excel or Word, even if you have to settle for "optical accuracy"¹.

You can probably find a "drawing" program, either freeware or fairly cheap, but even the simple ones may require some learning to figure out how to get what you want. There are quite a few pretty cheap ones for landscape layouts, office and furniture placements, or even "organization charts" that could be pressed to do the job if it's not too complex.

¹ Optical Accuracy = scoot things around until it looks right - also called eyeballing it.

Another old-fashioned way is to cut out little rectangles (perhaps after you've printed the text/content on them) paste or transparent tape them to a bigger page, and take it to your nearest print shop and make a copy.

I'm sure more suggestions will follow.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: MMario
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 10:13 AM

the paint program - you should find it under "accessories"

Subject: Tech: DESIGNING LAYOUTS HELP?
From: GUEST,patty o'dawes
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 10:09 AM

Help needed please - I need to design a lay out for a Summer Fete. Just a simple diagram of the size of our area and what stalls etc will go where.

I would like to do it on the old computer and end up with lovely rectangle shapes in scale.

Wha the heck do I use to do such a thing? If all else fails I'll use me ruler. Thanks in advance.