The Great Debate: Illustrations or Photos?
When creating user manuals, one of the most important decisions is how to visually represent your product. Should you use photographs or technical illustrations? The answer depends on several factors, but illustrations often win for product documentation.
Let's explore why.
Advantages of Technical Illustration
1. Show the Invisible
Illustrations can depict:
- Internal components
- Exploded views showing assembly
- Cutaway views of mechanisms
- Simplified versions of complex parts
Photos can only show exterior surfaces. Illustrations reveal what's inside.
2. Eliminate Visual Noise
Photos capture everything—reflections, shadows, background clutter, dust. Illustrations include only what matters, directing attention exactly where it needs to go.
3. Highlight Specific Parts
With illustration, you can:
- Enlarge important details
- Fade less relevant areas
- Add callout lines and labels
- Use color to emphasize parts
4. Consistency Across Documentation
Illustrations maintain a consistent visual style. Photos vary based on:
- Lighting conditions
- Camera quality
- Product variations
- Background settings
5. Easy Updates
When your product changes, illustrations can be quickly updated in vector software. Photos require an entirely new photoshoot.
6. Translation-Friendly
Illustrated manuals work universally across languages. They rely less on text and more on visual communication that transcends language barriers.
7. Better Print Quality
Line art reproduces cleanly at any size and on any paper. Photos often suffer from:
- Pixelation when enlarged
- Poor reproduction on rough paper
- Issues with black-and-white printing
When Photography Works Better
Photos have advantages in specific situations:
Real-World Context
Photos show products in realistic settings, which can help with:
- Marketing materials
- Lifestyle contexts
- Scale reference
Complex Textures
When material texture matters (fabric, wood grain, metal finish), photos capture nuances illustrations might miss.
Verification
Photos prove "this is exactly what you'll receive."
User-Generated Content
Customer support might use photos for troubleshooting real-world issues.
The Hybrid Approach
Many great user manuals combine both:
- Photos for product overview and "what's in the box"
- Illustrations for assembly, operation, and troubleshooting
This gives you the realism of photography with the clarity of illustration.
Cost Considerations
Photography costs include:
- Photographer fees
- Studio rental
- Lighting equipment
- Product sample shipping
- Post-processing/retouching
- Reshoots for product changes
Illustration costs include:
- Illustrator fees
- CAD file conversion (if available)
- Revision rounds
- Updates for product changes (usually cheaper than reshoots)
For complex products with frequent updates, illustration often costs less over the product lifecycle.
Our Recommendation
For most user manuals, technical illustration is the better choice. It offers:
- Greater clarity
- Better scalability
- Easier updates
- Consistent style
- Universal comprehension
Reserve photography for marketing materials, hero shots, and situations where real-world context matters.
Conclusion
The choice between illustration and photography isn't about which is "better"—it's about which serves your users best. For instructional content, technical illustration usually wins.
At Waypager, we specialize in technical illustrations that make complex products understandable. View our portfolio or contact us to discuss your project.