Argues that technical communicators should have a working definition of icons, know when to use them, and understand some of the problems inherent in icon design. Recommends using a workable icon classification system and adhering to some practical design guidelines. (SR)

Suggests that, when creating graphics files for documents in a Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) environment, technical writers should consider the differences between bitmapped and vector file formats; be familiar with available file formats; determine which graphics format best meets the needs; and incorporate the graphic into the SGML…