What is Graphic Design
What is a Graphic Designer’s Job
A Graphic designer’s general task is to prepare concepts, sketches or layout concepts. There are several 
techniques that are generally used to do this; by hand with pencils and or Pantone rendering markers, with a computer using programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Quark Xpress or by verbal instruction to illustrative hands.
To provide a vision for the design a designer will select sound effects, colors, mechanical artwork,animation, photography, font style, and other graphic depictions for the complete design. It is a highly satisfying form of art that requires a high degree of creativity, imagination and intellect, often employing the work of a team. When you elect to use professional graphic design services you purchase the design from a designer unless otherwise stated in a license agreement. In order to ensure your message is clearly communicated to your recipients, graphic design companies are often called upon.
What Graphic Design Companies Provide that Freelancers Don’t:
- An art director with staff
- A production manager
- A computer artist / paste-up technician
- Collective problem solving
- Multiple angle original concepts
Do not misunderstand, freelance graphic designers are also very talented and useful. It’s just that full production graphic design services tend to be more encompassing with a clever integration of creative/collective thinking.
What is Graphic Design for Print?
A World of Colors to Consider
With so many colors and color combinations to choose from there are only 2 basic choices of ink applications to paper; Spot Color or CMYK color. In simple terms you can print almost any color in CMYK inks. The only exceptions that apply are metallic and fluorescents, although I do not recommend fine line art in CMYK it can be pleasing to most human eyes. If you take a loupe (magnifying glass) you will likely see that the colors do not line up…
Watch This Video of CMYK and SPOT Color Basics to Learn Why!
There are other design elements to consider besides the visual appearance.
Printed items also can have a functional purpose:
- Scratch ‘n win
- Mail order Catalogues
- opt-out/in
- Return Mail
- Unique numeric serialization
Depending on the nature of your printed piece, paper is also instrumental in design. Designing for print is a lot different tan creating web-based designs. It is a colorful, clean and crisp form of graphic design that requires a trained eye. First, you’ll have to decide whether you will print your piece in spot color, CMYK color, embossed, raised, foil stamped, die cut or combinations thereof. All of these unique printing techniques become incorporated into graphic designs to create unseen masterpieces.
Use today’s technical digital execution programs to integrate complexity and simplicity.
Popular Computer Aided Graphic Designs include:
- Composite layouts
- Video productions
- Web pages
- Interactive multimedia
- Graphic designs
- Page layouts
Print Design Architecture Tip
Headlines are key “attention getting” design features. It is best to make powerful headlines that play on your target audience’s minds. Obscure alignments of graphics and typography can put emphasis on other elements to create a transitional flow.
Tags: commercial printing, influence, printng, printing inks, color light, color business card, color matching, printing inks
