Software Instruction Manual

IQ–MSD Turbo 1.4 Advanced IQ System Software
Page 48
3.1.2 Graphics Plate Design Principles
The following principles will help you plan and design good graphics plates:
1 Determine a clear purpose of each graphics plate.
2 Consider the abilities and needs of the people who will operate the system.
3 Determine which objects will be needed.
4 Keep graphics plates simple. Avoid unnecessary complexity and clutter.
5 Use container objects and text objects to make graphics plates attractive and easy to understand.
6 Use muted, low-key colors for most objects and reserve bold or bright colors only for those things which
are urgent or very important.
7 Use mini plates to provide help windows where appropriate. (Mini plates are container objects that can
be made to appear and disappear at the click of a button. The objects that are placed inside them, will
appear and disappear with them. See Section 4.13.)
8 If a graphics plate is too complicated, consider moving some of its objects onto a second graphics plate.
(You can jump from one graphics plate to another with a system button.)
9 Consider hiding seldom used controls on one or more mini plates.