In this section we explain the aspects of the graphical design elements.
Graphical Design
Graphical Design is a wide and important discipline.
Only a clear, legible and consistent design language will make it into the people's minds!
Key elements are
Line representations including definitions for thickness, offsets, margins, hierarchies, angles, curves, numbers and labels, curves, colours, ...
Stations and stop representations including definitions for appearance of one way stations and stops, terminus stations and stops, transfer hubs, ...
Labelling including definitions for size, positioning
But also other elements such as pictograms or appearances of POIs are to be considered.
All of the above can be embedded in a consistent concept within the geo.zpheres design language.
Canvas and Containers
In general the construction of a custom pole works with defining a canvas and then adding containers to it.
Canvas: Is the baseline definition of a custom pole. It defines the size of the overall graphic and all containers are added to it.
Containers: Are the building blocks of the custom pole. Each one can be defined and placed on the canvas. They hold the information that should be visible on the custom pole (e.g. time table, stop name, line strip, an SVG, etc.).
Styles
More detailed changes to the information depicted by a container can be made in the corresponding style files.
Style files contain settings for the
graphical style of the to be depicted graphical elements (e.g. line strips).
time table and the predefined text containers (e.g. formatted text, stop name, etc.).
special definitions for additional more complex elements e.g. maps, spiders, corridors, barcodes, ...
Maps
geo.zpheres renderings can contain maps. We differentiate between geographical maps and schematized maps.
Schematized maps (our real strength!) can be differentiated ion two categories:
Static maps: You can embed maps that have been generated with geo.zpheres as a graphical element
Situational (or dynamic) maps: In this case the software automatically generates a schematize map for the involved routes or stops.
Logical Design
The logical design is the data related design of the print out. It consists of elements such as:
Timetables
Transfer information
Travel times
etc.