I posted this on my Tumblr Last month and forgot to post it on here.
A few things every Beginning Graphic Designer should know:
I have this blog and I am always posting my work on it but not really blogging about anything. So I decided that I could blog about something that I know.
I have been out of school for 2 years now and in the Graphic Design field for 3 years. I work as a graphic designer for a website, I will create graphics if needed, but my job is to manage the website and what goes on it basically. If something needs to be added to the site, the team and I update it. This post started out as a vent, but I think now it could be used more as advice or notes for starting graphic designers. These tips are from what I’ve learned/experience in school or witnessed over the years in the field, I do not claim to be an expert on them. Warning I’m not a writer, so forgive me if there are any grammar errors.
Whether you are a starting out in college or you are self taught and starting a business, here are some tips that I believe you should know or will help.
A few things every Beginning Graphic Designer should know:
- Know the difference of Web vs. Print. Just because you think that font looks nice on print it may not be as readable on the web once the image is re-sized.
- RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue
- CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black
- RGB is the color mode for Web where as CMYK is the color mode for Print
- For Web we use pixels to measure size, where as Print we use inches*
- 72 DPI (Dots Per Inch) is the standard resolution size for the web, Anything printed at 72 DPI will be pixilated.
- 300 DPI or more is the standard resolution size for Print
- Pulling images off the web is stealing! Be sure to give credit or get permission from the original owner. Purchase stock photo images. And no, cropping the watermark on a stock photo is not purchasing that is still stealing.
- Less is more. Just because you have all this white space does not mean you have to fill it all up with images and type. Use the white space to your advantage you will get your message across if you use it right.
- Just because scripted font looks nice doesn’t mean it will be readable.
- And lastly know your audience.
*I’ve had people ask me how many inches does this image need to be for the web.
So there you go, again I don’t claim to be a expert but this is just what I have learned and experienced over the years.
~Till next Time
Stars of Night 