Learning the Basics of Graphic Art For Free By Rebekah Lightfoot
Posted by admin in Graphic Art on May 1, 2011
Most people think that understanding and producing quality brochures, business cards, newsletters or ads takes a trained graphic designer, an expensive software or both. This is not the case. Most people can save a great deal of cash and maximize their business advertising budgets by doing some of the graphics work themselves. There are a few basic rules of thumb that can get anyone started with graphic design and there are many many software applications that can jump start the endeavor for free.
First, lets talk about software. Most graphic artist use Photoshop to create their digital marvels, but there are comparable free software applications. GIMP is one of the better free graphic design software applications. It has most of the same tools as Photoshop and many interesting filters and features. There are many others, but this is the most comparable to Photoshop.
After you download your free software, go through the tutorials. These will teach you some of the most basic skills and identify your tools and their purposes.
After you have been through the tutorials, it’s time to try a project. I recommend that everyone start with a business card. It is small, has a defined content and will build your confidence with your new software.
The number one thing to remember with all graphic design is color. Color can make or break any graphic design content. If your business is a swimming pool business, use colors that are reminiscent of pools (ie. blue, turquoise and sandy colors). If you have a restaurant, think of the kind of cuisine you serve. Warmer colors make people hungry. Choose yellows, oranges and reds to make your cards appealing to the eye and the palette. Read the rest of this entry »
Creating Art on the Web Through Website Design By Kevin Germain
Posted by admin in Design Art on May 1, 2011
The web is a wild place. It is an art gallery without the admission fee. Web designers are artist of a different medium. Like artists not all of the website designs that they create are going to work. Some websites are truly annoying. Take for instance a painter that really likes the color blue. If it is used in every piece of art the painter makes it will visually not stimulate our eyes and we will become bored or annoyed with the artists art. The same is true for web design. As a website developer you need to make sure that your “art” is different for each client and you need to avoid common mistakes that draw attention away from the client’s product or service. There are several things to steer clear of when designing websites to ensure a perfect site for your client.
Top Five Most Annoying Website Design Techniques
1) Colors that assault the eye – If your clients insisting on using every color of the rainbow in their site design it is your job as the website designer to talk them out of it. Even though they think it adds just the right touch of pizazz to their site you know better. Colors that are too bright or morbidly dark will not be suitable to promote your clients work. Even if you are promoting a circus keep the main site colors down to a maximum of two or three. Do not give in to the more is better philosophy with color.
2) Background sounds – Nothing is worse than a site that replays the same sound bit throughout the entire site. Or worse yet a slogan that plays each and every time you click on a new page within a site. Full songs are also an absolute annoyance. It is best that the site visually provides the entertainment leave the background noise out of future web designs. Read the rest of this entry »