Archive for the “graphic design” category
Working with Visual Weight in Your Designs
by Jacob Gube on February 3, 2011
In design, visual weight is the notion that design elements have varied weights; that is, some objects, even on a two-dimensional medium, can appear to be heavier than others. Visual weight is a powerful concept that allows us to create visual hierarchy, symmetry, balance, and harmony in designs. When applied strategically, the concept of visual [...]
JPEG 101: A Crash Course Guide on JPEG
by Jacob Gube on December 8, 2010
JPEG, a compression algorithm optimized for photographic images, is something we encounter on a regular basis. JPEG is not limited to a certain amount of color (unlike GIF, for example) and is popular due to its variable compression range, meaning that you’re able to more easily control the amount of compression, [...]
Learn Adobe Illustrator: All the Basics for Beginners
by Vandelay Website Design on March 28, 2010
A few weeks ago we published a post, Learn Photoshop, that included links to well over 100 resources for mastering the basics of Photoshop and the use of the various tools. In response to reader request, we’re publishing this post to help designers who want to get started with Adobe Illustrator, or maybe just sharpen their existing skills.
Illustrator is a powerful program, but it can be overwhelming or confusing at times, simply because of everything that is possible. If you’re new to Illustrator, taking the time to understand the basics and how to use the specific tools will go a long way towards setting you up for success. In this post we’ve categorized more than 100 resources that will teach you everything you need to learn.
Basic Intro to Illustrator and the User Interface:
Learn Photoshop: All of the Basics for Beginners
by Vandelay Website Design on March 15, 2010
We frequently publish posts on this blog that feature tutorials for learning how to do various things with Photoshop, but we have rarely focused on just the basics. This post is intended for designers or aspiring designers who either want to get started with Photoshop or have limited experience and are looking to improve.
While there are plenty of great learning resources available online, it’s often difficult for beginners to know where to get started because everything seems to be scattered. With this post you’ll find links to plenty of resources to teach you all the basics and fundamentals of Photoshop.
Most of the resources and tutorials listed in this post will focus on teaching one particular aspect of Photoshop, such as how to use a specific tool. Everything is broken down into sections so you can find exactly what you are looking for.
Intro to Photoshop’s Tools and UI:
The resources in this section will serve as an introduction for those who are new to Photoshop. They will help you to learn your way around the interface and with some of the basics of Photoshop.
Getting Started with Photoshop
35 Tutorials and Guides for Working With Wacom Tablets
by Vandelay Website Design on January 11, 2010
Wacom tablets are preferred tools for many graphic designers because they can be much easier than working with a mouse for some types of design. Learning to work effectively with a tablet can be a little tricky, but fortunately there are a number of tutorials that can help. In this post we’ll feature a selection of tutorials that will help with learning how to design specific things, and some that will help you understand the Wacom tablet and to get the most out of it.
Draw a Windy Sunset Illustration
Design Inspiration: Splatter Effects
by Vandelay Website Design on October 7, 2009
Splatters can be used in web and graphic design to create interesting effects that grab your attention. In this post we’ll showcase many examples from a variety of different types of design. One of the easiest ways to use this type of effect in your work is to take advantage of the photoshop brushes that are readily available. See 500+ Splatter Brushes for Photoshop.
