The Basics Of Graphic Design

When you look at billboards, websites, magazines and posters you are seeing a combination of words, images and ideas that define graphic design. It is used to get the attention of and convey information to the consumer. There are several every day items that utilize graphic designs, such as credit cards, ticket stubs and newspapers. Similar to other forms of design, "graphic design" normally refers to both the designing process and the results created.

In graphic design work, there are elements that are used, and most often combined, in order to create the graphics that you see. This is not the same as the principles of design, such as white space and balance, but parts of the whole, such as type, color and images. Professional design companies and graphic design services are very adept at using the elements to create great graphics. Contrast is also a core element that is used to get attention or distinguish between other elements. Type is, of course, all around us but when dealing with graphic designs the goal is to not just randomly place text, but to use it effectively as another form of communication with consumers. The choice of font, size, color, spacing and alignment all come into play. Also remember that a powerful image can make or break a design. Illustrations, artwork and photographs are used to tell stories, grab your attention and support ideas, so of course the selection is important. As a graphic designer you should be skilled at creating unique, distinctive designs.

Ancient pictographs and the more modern designs logos incorporate shapes that are considered to be the basics of graphic design. Shapes are used to create patterns, build the numerous elements that are on a page and create layouts. Using shapes properly is a key part of a successful design. Soft, curved and rounded shapes are naturally perceived differently than angled, sharp shapes. Creating and changing shapes has become much easier by using a software program to create the graphics.

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Lines are also a very important part of graphic designs, as they are used to direct your eyes to a particular area. A very basic explanation is that straight lines, which are found in print design layouts, normally are used to separate content, such as in newspapers and magazines. However, it is not necessary to stick with straight lines, as you can get creative by using curved, dotted or even zigzag lines as the main element on a page, and as a basis for everything from graphics to illustrations. Texture is another one of the elements used with everything from products designs to brochure design graphics. It can refer to the actual surface of a design or just to the visual appearance of a design. The visual appearance of texture is implied through the style of the design by using rich, layered graphics.

Color is one of the most interesting elements of graphic design. In web graphic design it can be used to show hyper-linked text on a webpage, it is used to evoke emotion and can drastically change any of the other elements when applied. It is used to make an image stand out allowing the designer to create great original designs. There are also specific color models that are used depending on the media, such as the RGB model, which is used when designing websites and other on-screen designs.