Graphic Design – Where Do I Start?

 For those of you interested in learning graphic design, it’s important to get well familiarized with some basic guidelines and software applications. Once you are experienced with basic design programs, it would be a good idea to start practicing by designing a few business cards.

 Design, or graphic design is defined as the art or profession of visual communication that aims to combine images, words and ideas to convey information to an audience. The designer is responsible for arranging and using elements on various types of media.

The software mostly used by graphic designers is Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. Adobe Photoshop, simply stated is a graphics editing program. The PSD or Photoshop document can store an image with support for most imaging options available. The PSD is widely used and it is supported by most competing software applications. The PSD file format has the advantage of being capable of getting exported to and from Adobe Illustrator. It also aids in non-linear editing and special effects services such as backgrounds, texts and more for the web, print, and even film. Photoshop is in fact a pixel based image editor and uses models like RGB, CMYK, binary bitmap and duotone. It can read and write raster and vector image formats such as JPEG, EPS, TIFF, PNG and many more.

 Adobe Illustrator is a companion product of Adobe Photoshop. While Photoshop is used for digital photo manipulation and computer illustration of photos, Adobe Illustrator is used more in the typesetting and logo design areas of design.

 Quark Express is a computer application used for creating and editing complex page layouts in a What You See Is What You Get environment. This application is used by designers and publishing houses to produce a variety of layouts ranging from single page flyers to multimedia projects. It is used in magazines, newspapers, catalogs and so on.

 A bitmap is a type of file format used to store digital images. Raster images are in general referred to as bitmaps in synthetic or photographic file or memory.

 Create a design portfolio of your own even when you have very little experience in this filed. Even if you have created only business cards, brochures and letterheads, use these ideas to showcase your skills and get started in the industry. Put in only those works that you are really proud of. Also remember to put together a booklet of your own sketches, if you have any.

 Use actual samples of work done by you. If you had done a four color brochure for a client, put in one of the original brochures. Showcase your skills smartly and inventively. Be confident when you present your work to clients and within a short span, you would be topping the summits of success.


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