Learning by doing is the best way to get to grips with new ideas, and graphic design is no different. Weaving together creative strategies and design principles with step-by-step Adobe software guidance, this unique book helps you to immediately put into practice the concepts as you're learning them so they become second nature.
Covering all the introductory topics a designer needs to know - from working with colour and layout, to editing images and designing apps - this fully updated edition of the hugely popular Graphic Design Essentials includes plenty of hands-on instruction and real-life examples to give you a thorough grounding in the fundamentals.
This new edition includes:
- Coverage of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
- Examples of designs from the UK, US, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, China, the Middle East and Australia
- Smaller supporting activities alongside major project exercises
- New design formats, including apps and infographics
- Downloadable resources to use within the software instruction
Preface
Introduction
1. Graphic Design is Everywhere
Analyze Design
Design Analysis: Environmental Graphics
Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
Design + Software Skills 1: Photoshop Layers, Lasso, ImageAdjustments
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
2. The Elements of Design
Creating Powerful Designs
Design Analysis: Elements of Design
Color
Introduction to Adobe Illustrator
Design + Software Skills 2.1: Illustrator Drawing
Design + Software Skills 2.2: Photoshop Vector vs. Raster Images
Photoshop Filters
Design Analysis: Complementary Color Grids
Design + Software Skills 2.3: Illustrator Color and Drawing
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
3. Typography
Identifying Typefaces and Making Hard Choices
Type Types: Serif Style Categories
Beyond Serifs
Formats
Type Tips
Adobe Illustrator Type and Advanced Tools
Design + Software Skills 3.1: Illustrator Typography Tools
Design Project 1: Lyrical Layouts
Design + Software Skills 3.2: Illustrator Shape and Type on a Path
Design + Software Skills 3.3: Illustrator Pen and Fill a Shape with Type
Design + Software Skills 3.4: Illustrator Pen Tool, Curves, and Type on Paths
Design + Software Skills 3.5: Illustrator Vertical Type Tool and Convert Type to Shapes
Design Project 2: Slang Type
Design Project 3: Lyrical Layouts
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
4. Images
Attracting an Audience
Illustration
Photography
Image Resolutions
File Formats
Acquiring Digital Images
Design + Software Skills 4.1: Image Banks and Photoshop Good Crop, Bad Crop
Design + Software Skills 4.2: Photoshop Crop, Image Size and Resolution, Dodge and Burn
Design + Software Skills 4.3: Photoshop Image Adjustments, Selection Tools, Hue/Saturation
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
5. Layouts
Capturing the Audience and Enhancing Communication
Path Layouts
Visual Hierarchy
Design Analysis: Path Layout
Introduction to Adobe InDesign
Design + Software Skills 5.1: InDesign Place Image and Path Layout
Design Project 4: Path Layout Advertisement
Gestalt Theory
Grid Layouts
Design + Software Skills 5.2: InDesign Grid Layout
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
6. Logos
Simple but Complex
Types of Logos
Flexible Systems
Design Analysis: Logotypes
The Creative Process
Design + Software Skills 6: Illustrator Convert Type to Outlines, Redraw Letters, and Place Symbols
Design Project 5: Logo Design
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
7. Visual Themes
Putting it all Together
Visual Hierarchy
Editorial Themes
Design Analysis: Album Cover Design
Design + Software Skills 7: InDesign Advanced Images, Type, and Layout
Design Project 6: Album Cover and Tour Poster Designs
Major Points Summary
Software Skills Summary
Recommended Readings
8. Appendix
Keyboard Shortcuts
Glossary
Credits
Color Connotations
Bibliography and Recommended Readings
Index
Acknowledgments
