How to Make a Computerized Illustrated Timeline
Make a computerized illustrated timeline by using a painting or drawing program. Several free programs let you complete this project, including a program you probably already have, Windows Paint. This program, however, doesn't allow you to easily load multiple photos. Therefore, use other free programs for this project, such as Inkscape, GIMP, or Photoscape. You can learn how to illustrate your own timeline by observing those others have made. If you use copyrighted images, be sure to get permission from the copyright's owners.
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Instructions
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1
Write a list of all the events you want to illustrate on the timeline, including the dates for each event. For example, if you're illustrating someone's life history, write a description of all the notable events in that person's life, including her birth, when she lost her first baby tooth, when she became a teenager and other events.
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2
Open your painting program, then click its "Paintbrush" or related tool to draw a thick horizontal line across the width of the canvas. This tool is often represented by a paintbrush or pencil icon. Read your program's documentation for the specific location of the tool.
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3
Draw short vertical lines extending below the horizontal line for each of the events you listed in step one. These lines represent the events.
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4
Run your program's text tool to create a text box directly under the first vertical segment. Graphics programs usually represent the text tool with a character like "A" or "T." Type in the text box the date of the first event you want to illustrate. For the biography example, you might type the person's date of birth.
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5
Use the text tool to write a short description of the event, below the date you just labeled. For example, type "Marie is born."
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6
Use your program's "Import" or "Open" command to load an image representing the event you just labeled. For the life history example, load a picture of the person as a baby.
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7
Use your program's selection and movement tools to drag the loaded photo so it sits above the first vertical segment.
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8
Use the instructions from steps four through seven to illustrate the remaining events in the timeline.
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References
- "Design Basics"; David Lauer; 2007
