Yes, before I begin, I am not amazing at GFX, but I do have some helpful tips to get you started.
Introduction
While browsing on this site, I started to find that, sure, there are many great designers, all better than me, but on the most part, the Design section is filled with beginners, still learning their craft. This is completely fine with me, I just want to help make them a bit better at what they do.
Overview
Graphic design is the way someone manipulates and creates digital artworks or media. This can be in the form of a drawing, render, vector, logo, background, thread design, text layout, and much more. Doing design uses much more than just creativity, but a knowledge of a program and the fundamentals of design.
To start this off, let's begin by looking at some programs.
1) For the most part, PHOTOSHOP CC is the starting point for most designers.
The problem is, this software costs a lot of money. For me, many software's like, GIMP, Medibang, and other free software's do the job, but Photoshop is still the best. If you do want to start with Photoshop, getting a free trial, or cracking it (I wouldn't but you can) would be best.
Photoshop: http://www.adobe.com/au/products/photoshop.html
2) For vectors, a software named Illustrator is very useful. I don't use this much myself, but it is an essential tool to create flat illustrations, vectors, and precise logos.
Illustrator: http://www.adobe.com/au/products/illustrator.html
Let's get onto useful knowledge and information.
Before you start straight away making a design, there are a few things you should consider.
The most important is material design.
Material Design
Material design is the way apps, websites and thread designs come to life, adding depth and showing the audience how complex the design is. Although it may seem things like thread designs are flat, by intertwining aspects of material design, a 3D but simplistic style is achieved. An example of this is text shadows. By simply adding shadows, or extra boxes under the letters, you not only create a product that is visually appealing, but a product which is organised.
Here is a useful website which explains all this in an extremely detailed way: https://material.io/guidelines/
The next thing we have to think about is color.
Color
Too many times I have seen a design that has a good idea, but is ruined by its colors. Depending on what you are doing, a good color palette is necessary. Sure, if you are doing a simplistic logo it doesn't matter, but for most banners, thread designs, and web developmental projects, good colors have to be used to attract customers and please the aesthetic eye.
What I do to come about this, is either look for inspiration around us, or use a color palette generator. Seen some colors that look nice together in a plant? Use those. For a color palette generator, I use a site linked below, which is useful as by choosing a color, the site shows you all the colors that go with it. As well as this, it will give you the color # that you can directly use in a program.
Color Palette Generator: http://paletton.com/#uid=1000u0kllllaFw0g0qFqFg0w0aF
Another point we must consider, is symmetry and spacing.
Spacing
In a design, not only is the media and context important, but the way it is presented to an audience. Just like a piece of writing, if it is centered, with gaps between paragraphs, it will appeal to the eye. This is the same with design. Using good spacing, symmetry, and balancing blank areas is a great way to not only implement different things into one design, but to make it stand out.
Font
Another thing that builds up your designs is fonts. In a design, the font can make a huge difference in whether the customer picks you.
Not much else to say, just try find something that reflects your style, and is modern.
Fonts: http://www.dafont.com/
Apart from that, the two other things I have to say are:
- Always stay professional, a professional seller has much more chance than a novice rude one. Respect people's opinion of your work, accept criticism, it's the only way you will develop.
- Be creative! Yes, you may have all the skills, but always think. Try things out, sketch designs before starting, and just open your mind to new thing.
And after that, my (tutorial) is complete.
I may continue this whenever I have time, adding more in-depth tips, as well as complex program tutorials, but for now, I hope this helps someone out.
Thanks for reading, leave feedback about this thread, and have an nice day.
Introduction
While browsing on this site, I started to find that, sure, there are many great designers, all better than me, but on the most part, the Design section is filled with beginners, still learning their craft. This is completely fine with me, I just want to help make them a bit better at what they do.
Overview
Graphic design is the way someone manipulates and creates digital artworks or media. This can be in the form of a drawing, render, vector, logo, background, thread design, text layout, and much more. Doing design uses much more than just creativity, but a knowledge of a program and the fundamentals of design.
To start this off, let's begin by looking at some programs.
1) For the most part, PHOTOSHOP CC is the starting point for most designers.
The problem is, this software costs a lot of money. For me, many software's like, GIMP, Medibang, and other free software's do the job, but Photoshop is still the best. If you do want to start with Photoshop, getting a free trial, or cracking it (I wouldn't but you can) would be best.
Photoshop: http://www.adobe.com/au/products/photoshop.html
2) For vectors, a software named Illustrator is very useful. I don't use this much myself, but it is an essential tool to create flat illustrations, vectors, and precise logos.
Illustrator: http://www.adobe.com/au/products/illustrator.html
Let's get onto useful knowledge and information.
Before you start straight away making a design, there are a few things you should consider.
The most important is material design.
Material Design
Material design is the way apps, websites and thread designs come to life, adding depth and showing the audience how complex the design is. Although it may seem things like thread designs are flat, by intertwining aspects of material design, a 3D but simplistic style is achieved. An example of this is text shadows. By simply adding shadows, or extra boxes under the letters, you not only create a product that is visually appealing, but a product which is organised.
Here is a useful website which explains all this in an extremely detailed way: https://material.io/guidelines/
The next thing we have to think about is color.
Color
Too many times I have seen a design that has a good idea, but is ruined by its colors. Depending on what you are doing, a good color palette is necessary. Sure, if you are doing a simplistic logo it doesn't matter, but for most banners, thread designs, and web developmental projects, good colors have to be used to attract customers and please the aesthetic eye.
What I do to come about this, is either look for inspiration around us, or use a color palette generator. Seen some colors that look nice together in a plant? Use those. For a color palette generator, I use a site linked below, which is useful as by choosing a color, the site shows you all the colors that go with it. As well as this, it will give you the color # that you can directly use in a program.
Color Palette Generator: http://paletton.com/#uid=1000u0kllllaFw0g0qFqFg0w0aF
Another point we must consider, is symmetry and spacing.
Spacing
In a design, not only is the media and context important, but the way it is presented to an audience. Just like a piece of writing, if it is centered, with gaps between paragraphs, it will appeal to the eye. This is the same with design. Using good spacing, symmetry, and balancing blank areas is a great way to not only implement different things into one design, but to make it stand out.
Font
Another thing that builds up your designs is fonts. In a design, the font can make a huge difference in whether the customer picks you.
Not much else to say, just try find something that reflects your style, and is modern.
Fonts: http://www.dafont.com/
Apart from that, the two other things I have to say are:
- Always stay professional, a professional seller has much more chance than a novice rude one. Respect people's opinion of your work, accept criticism, it's the only way you will develop.
- Be creative! Yes, you may have all the skills, but always think. Try things out, sketch designs before starting, and just open your mind to new thing.
And after that, my (tutorial) is complete.
I may continue this whenever I have time, adding more in-depth tips, as well as complex program tutorials, but for now, I hope this helps someone out.
Thanks for reading, leave feedback about this thread, and have an nice day.
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