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Illustrator
UCI Series Concepts
Class Specifications - D.15
Principal Illustrator - 6111
Senior Illustrator - 6112
Illustrator - 6113
Assistant Illustrator - 6114
June, 1976
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SERIES CONCEPT
Illustrators perform or supervise the drawing or painting of plates for
purposes of scientific, technical or non-technical illustrations used in
publications, slides, film strips, posters, maps, charts, exhibits or other
visual aids; draw freehand or with instruments, using common art media and
techniques such as pencil, carbon dust, crayon, pen-and-ink, lettering,
tempera, scratch boards, oils, wash or air brush; understand and apply the
advantages and limitations of reproduction methods including letter press and
offset lithography; and perform other related duties as required. Incumbents
understand and use instruments and equipment such as but not limited to any of
the following: Camera lucida, slit lamp, scanning or translucent electronic
microscope and dioptic graph.
The series consists of four levels which are distinguished by (1) the degree
of complexity involved in the illustrations and (2) the level of supervision
exercised over others.
CLASS CONCEPTS
Principal illustrator
Under direction incumbents perform a wide variety of scientific or technical
illustrative work requiring a high degree of skill in the use of the
instruments and media; may work from rough drawings but give form and
substance to highly theoretical constructs; reduce complex ideas to simple
diagrams or schematic concepts; make original contributions to research
projects of academic supervisors by providing independent interpretation of
material being illustrated; and may supervise Illustrators in the production
of illustrations.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and
responsibility are:
Makes detailed scale drawings of insects, and parts of insects showing
external and internal structure in larval, pupal, and adult stages after
choosing the scale of magnification, determining the size and composition
of plates, and selecting the characteristic features to be emphasized
based on subject-matter knowledge.
May instruct graduate students in the use of the media and instruments for
illustration by demonstrating various techniques and criticizing the
illustrations of graduate students.
The Principal level is distinguished from lower levels by less need for review
of the final product or intermittent stages of a drawing; by a closer working
relationship with faculty members; and by a more advanced use of scientific or
technical knowledge of the subjects being illustrated.
Senior Illustrator
Under general supervision incumbents lay out and prepare illustrations;
establish the style, color treatment, format, and medium of illustrations;
recognize scientific or other subject matter terms in the layout of work; are
assigned responsibility for the accuracy of illustrations; design and produce
teaching displays; and prepare three-dimensional models using various media
such as wax or latex.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and
responsibility are:
Makes scale drawing, with emphasis on characteristic features, of fossil
bones and skulls after consulting literature and published drawings for
size, shape, and features of similar fossils.
Makes sketches showing typical ecological community of various species
of animals referring to field notes and sketches of faculty who collected
the specimens and to literature on the location, habitats, and social in-
tegration of the species under study.
The Senior level is distinguished from lower level Illustrators by the greater
emphasis on interpretation of illustrative material rather than factual
representation and by less technical guidance or review.
Illustrator
Under supervision incumbents prepare illustrations, posters, graphs, charts
and displays; lay out illustrations under a format and-style established by a
higher level Illustrator; and make tracings and freehand drawings for simple
duplication processes.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and
responsibility are:
Lays out lettering, drawings, coloring, and shading work involved in
the preparation of charts, maps, diagrams, and signs.
Paints background and letters for exhibit screens or posters.
Colors and retouches transparencies, maps, and photographs and letters
captions for photographs and illustrations by use of leroy lettering,
lettering machine, or freehand lettering.
Reproduces posters and other materials using silk screen methods.
Prepares layouts for bulletins, film strips, visual devices for
television, transparencies, catalogs and pamphlets, including text
material and covers.
Designs, constructs, and installs visual education exhibits.
Assistant Illustrator
Under close supervision, in a training capacity, incumbents perform simple
illustrating tasks; and receive specific instruction in illustrating
techniques, practices and work methods.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and
responsibility are:
Applies shades or color with various media to posters, drawings, and
charts.
Draws simple charts, graphs, diagrams and illustrations.
Letters by hand or by use of templates.
Traces charts, graphs and does detail or background work on
illustrations prepared by higher level Illustrators.
Assists in the preparation of designs for posters, signs, and
announcements.
Assists in the design and production of exhibits.
Assistant Illustrators carry out assignments under the guidance of higher
level Illustrators. The work is reviewed for accuracy and adequacy during and
upon completion of assignments.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Principal Illustrator
Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, and four years of
progressively difficult illustration experience;-or an equivalent combination
of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the
successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Senior Illustrator
Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, and three years of
progressively difficult illustration experience; or an equivalent combination
of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the
successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Illustrator
Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, and two years of
illustration experience; or an equivalent combination of education and
experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful
performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Assistant Illustrator
Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma; and knowledges and
abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to
the position.
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