AWI: a workbench for semi-automated illustration design

In this paper we present the system AWI ( A W orkbench for semi-automated I llustration design). AWI provides operationalizations of illustration techniques frequently used in technical illustration. Given that pure editing systems are too low-level, and that automatically generated illustrations are often suboptimal with regard to functional and aesthetic aspects, semi-automatism seems a reasonable way to produce effective illustrations more efficiently. Within such an approach the collaboration between user and system is twofold. While the user may have the system to provide a first draft which then will be refined through post editing, a user's draft may be evaluated and improved by the system as well. After an introduction of the essential concepts we base on, we give an outline of the workbench AWI. Examples serve to show the making of illustrations with AWI in a semi-automated manner. Finally we describe potential application areas for AWI.