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On Thursday 30 October 2008 07:55, Neil Williams wrote: > I have a need for a vector graphic (no text) to make an abstract > representation of a complex idea such that it encodes a relatively large > amount of data into a series of simple images that can be enlarged up to > poster size and reduced down to A5 (landscape) and possibly smaller for > the www, without loss of impact. I'll add text and non-vector graphics > later, according to the size required. > > The basic premise is a 3D graph, using these axes and figures. All > figures are actually ranges. (Yes, there are gaps and no, there should > be no zero point.) > > x axis : Installed Size > y axis : Number of packages > z axis : Number of architectures and sub-architectures > > x 1024 - 5120 500 - 2048 6 - 200 > y 180 - 20000 180 - 15000 8 - 400 > z 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 30 > > So the second graph tracks the first, just lower down and starting > further to the left. > > See http://linux.codehelp.co.uk/graph.png http://www.lutanho.net/svgvml3d/index.html looks almost perfect and seems to have a free license. Tom te tom te tom > > In addition, I'd like the ranges to be arcs (i.e. mirrored) for purely > abstract reasons - it helps give the impression that the largest set on > the x and y axes acts as an umbrella - it mostly encompasses all of the > values within. > > Now, the arcs themselves need some detail, which is where I need to > leave the precise nature of charts behind and get into the abstract, > artistic elements that I have no idea how to implement. > > *Within* the arcs, there need to be demarcations (along the lines of > jigsaw pieces) to indicate some form of componentisation. The depth of > colour of the arcs also needs to indicate something about the number of > alternatives within each selection. For example, the bigger arc will > have graduated colour that starts pale but gets much darker than the > other arcs because part of the reason for the size is that the packages > concerned provide slightly different versions of the same functionality > - multiple GUI text editors, multiple web servers, multiple image > processing apps etc. Each arc beneath the biggest, then loses some of > that depth until the smallest arc is almost "one action, one package" > with no alternatives available within the confines of the installed size > targets. As the installed size increases, the depth of colour should > probably increase. Alternatively, the idea of alternatives can be > encoded as a series of blocks, stacked one behind another along the line > of the arc, making the top line of the arc blurred and uneven - which is > probably quite a good idea for what I need. > > If you think this can be done better in 2D, maybe encode the number of > architectures as bands within the arcs. > > Each arc should be colour-distinct - with the top arc having to be based > on various reds to signify Debian. Maybe the second arc can be based on > various tones of blue and the inner ring tones of green (although I'm > not particularly comfortable with the connotation that small == > environmentally friendly). > > The design will become a signature of Emdebian and will appear on > posters, leaflets, webpages and handouts, it will appear at conferences > the world-over and although the text around the arcs may change, the > basic design needs to remain. > > All images need to be under a licence that allows free redistribution of > the original and modified versions, unlimited modification and free > access to the underlying XML (for SVG) or similar (i.e. no requirement > to only distribute as an image). Attribution will be given and > respected. > > Any volunteers? No particular time-limit, just email a vector image to > me (SVG or similar). > > -- > > > Neil Williams > ============= > http://www.data-freedom.org/ > http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/ > http://www.linux.codehelp.co.uk/ -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html