Category Archives: Vector Illustration

Scientific Optical Diagrams

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Randal did a series of scientific illustrations for Dr. John Delly, scientific advisor to the McCrone company in Westmont, Illinois. This diagram of a Biaxial Indicatrix was used in a training manual for lab technicians to learn how to identify optical light refracting properties of crystals. The reason this is important is that forensic labs get lots of different “white powder” substances to identify. One part of identifying what the substance is, is by studying what happens to light as it passes through a crystal of the substance. This is often done in a forensic lab environment using sophisticated optical microscopic equipment.

Biaxial Indicatrix Diagram

Biaxial Indicatrix Diagram

“The Item Catalog” for Caterpillar, Inc.

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Caterpillar, Inc. desired to explore moving a portion of their extensive parts catalog from a paper only, to an interactive CD-ROM computer-based solution back in the early 1990′s. Randal Birkey worked with Lou Morelli in producing an interactive CD-ROM demo for Caterpillar, Inc. to evaluate. The graphics were done in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, then moved into Macromedia Director for sequencing and interactivity programming. Morelli provided the programming for the “hooks” into the parts database.

The Item Catalog - Opening Screen

The Item Catalog - Opening Screen

The Item Catalog - Main Menu Screen

The Item Catalog - Main Menu Screen

Arlington Park Racetrack Exploded View Diagram

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Arlington Park Race Track

Arlington Park Race Track - exploded view isometric diagram

The Arlington Park Racetrack experienced a major fire in 1985 that destroyed most of the main grandstand and clubhouse building. A new building was designed and constructed in 1989, and the ad agency was hired to produce new map and floor plan handouts for racetrack patrons to use in navigating the campus.

Randal Birkey was contracted by Dimeo, Rosen & Partners to produce an “exploded view” diagram of the new grandstand building, showing what was on each floor and locating major exits, restrooms, etc.

Randal worked from technical architectural blueprint scale drawings to create an isometric diagram in Adobe Illustrator.

Arlington Million - Race Logo

Arlington Million - Race Logo

Randal also recreated and cleaned up the Arlington Million race logo in Adobe Photoshop for the same ad agency.

Contact Randal Birkey for all your cutaway and exploded view architectural illustration needs.

Ameritech “Signals” Magazine

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Randal did this vector digital illustration in Adobe Illustrator for Ameritech’s “Signals” magazine in the 1980′s. It demonstrates how their wireless technology can penetrate walls and windows in buildings giving customers better cell signal reception.

Ameritech Signals Magazine - Diagram

Ameritech Signals Magazine - Diagram

PVD Remediation System Diagram

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This diagram was created by Randal in Adobe Illustrator as vector art for an engineering client who manufactures prefabricated vertical drain remediation systems. It has a cutaway section showing how the system looks and works below ground, as well as how it is laid out above ground. These systems help prevent groundwater contamination, as well as help clean up contamination when it does occur. Unlike bitmapped or “raster art,” vector art can be scaled to any size without losing any resolution.

Prefabricated Drain System

Prefabricated Vertical Drain Remediation System

Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium Floor Plan

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Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium Facility Floor Plan, Chicago, Illinois

Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium Facility Floor Plan, Chicago, Illinois

Randal Birkey was contacted by the world famous John G. Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium in 1991, to illustrate their new campus map, and new facility floor plan based upon the major building expansion project they were completing.

Based upon architecural and engineering blueprints, Randal constructed a new campus master floor plan in Adobe Illustrator, reflecting the addition of the Oceanarium, and the location of all important areas for visitors. These were printed and used by museum docents to direct visitors to areas or amenities of interest or need.

Shedd Aquarium & Oceanarium Campus Map

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Shedd Aquarium & Oceanarium Campus Map

Shedd Aquarium & Oceanarium Campus Map

Randal Birkey was contacted by the world famous John G. Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium in 1991, to illustrate their new campus map, and new facility floor plan based upon the major building expansion project they were completing.

Based upon architectural and engineering blueprints, Randal constructed a new campus master plan in Adobe Illustrator, reflecting the addition of the Oceanarium, and the connections to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and nearby parks and Chicago lake front recreational facilities.

Atlantic City, New Jersey, Map Illustration

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Atlantic City, New Jersey - Map Illustration

Atlantic City, New Jersey - Map Illustration

This preliminary city map was illustrated in Adobe Illustrator by Randal Birkey and intended for use to sell advertising to the businesses in that city. It featured all the major casinos, and shopping spots as a means to attract additional businesses to advertise on the map. Each new business would have their building and location added in 3D to the map, to match the other buildings. A key to the advertisers and additional ad space was to be added to the outside edge of this map.

Detail Area of the Atlantic City Map

Detail Area of the Atlantic City Map

The style of this map is called an axonometric projection. To create this, the 2D base map is rotated off axis (North is in the upper right corner), which allows for the building to be projected in a 3D fashion, straight up vertically from the base. The advantage is that the base map is still to scale and can be used for relatively accurate distances.