Ever since moveable type was invented, printing has become more and more accessible to anyone. Today, we are not limited to just a few printing processess, there are many different processes at our disposal. When dealing with a printer, there is always a lot to take in. Especially if you are a first timer. I built this tutorial, Printing Process, as an informational website, that gives the basic information of different processes and examples so students know what is out there.
The graphic designer and typographer use the grid for designing press advertisements, brochures, catalogues, books, periodicals, websites, etc. Grids are very helpful when organizing lots of material in limited spaces. This website, Grid and Design Philosophy, gives a history of the grid, it’s philosophy, and designers that were instrumental in its development. I’ve also attached a resources page for reference, and created some of my own grids to download.
Using type is something that designers sometimes struggle with. With so many type families at our disposal, it is amazing that we get anything done. But one thing is certain, understanding the essentials of typography will lay a strong foundation which will in turn take you far. This web tutorial, Typography Essentials, has all of the information for learning the basics of typography. From describing the parts of typefaces to suggesting helpful resources, I’ve constructed this website to be concise and clear.
Color plays an important role in design. It sets the mood and feel of your design, and is powerful enough that when we think of companies, we immediately associate a color with them (examples: Coke=red, white, Pepsi=red, white, blue, McDonalds=yellow, red). Selecting color can be intimidating for some people, choosing the wrong color can spell disaster. I created this tutorial, Elements of Color, as a foundation for color theory. On it you will find definitions of key terms relating to color, a brief summary for the color wheel, color combinations, and suggested resources that I’ve used and have helped me on projects.
It is important that graphic designers know how to take nice photos of their work. However, taking photos can be intimidating, especially for students who have never set up lighting or have limited experience using a camera. I decided this would be a nice opportunity to conduct a workshop and demonstrate how simple it really is. During that workshop, I gave a quick camera tutorial, displayed examples for lighting, and offered some quick retouching suggestions. In the aftermath, I realized a web tutorial, Portfolio Photography Workshop, would be a more effective way of communicating this information. It’s simple, clean and very easy to navigate. My intention is that instructors will use it as a teaching aid, and students will use it as a reference.
Sometimes you just want to give your photos a soft look around the edges. This is an easy 4 step tutorial that shows you how to quickly soften a photo in Photoshop.
1. Open your photo in Photoshop.
2. Duplicate the layer: Layer > Duplicate Layer.
3. Blur the top layer with a Gaussian Blur: Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set the Radius to the desired pixels (depending on the photo and how soft you want it to look, I usually stay between 10-20px.
4. Adjust the Opacity for the top layer between 60-70 percent.
It’s as easy as that! Enjoy!