The Art of Graphics

The RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colour model is used for digital displays. Colours are created by combining red, green, and blue light at various intensities.

The CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) colour model is used for printed materials. Colours are created by combining cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink.

The Pantone system is a proprietary colour space used in a variety of industries, primarily printing, and occasionally in manufacturing coloured paint, fabric, and plastics.

Converting colours between models can be complex as each model has a different colour range. Tools like Adobe Illustrator can help with accurate conversions.

Colour profiles help ensure that colours appear the same across different devices. They define how a device interprets a particular colour model.

When necessary, convert RGB to CMYK (or vice versa) using graphic design software. Be mindful of colour shifts and adjustments for accurate print reproduction.

In your image editing software, select the appropriate colour depth for your project's needs. Higher colour depth allows for more colours and smoother gradients but can increase file size.

Recognise how bits per channel influence the total number of colours. For example, an 8-bit channel provides 256 possibilities per channel, leading to millions of colour combinations in RGB.

Choose the correct colour model (RGB for digital or CMYK for print) before starting your project. Convert between colour models with care, adjusting for colour shifts. Select the appropriate colour depth based on the project requirements and file size considerations. Calibrate your monitor and use ICC profiles to maintain colour accuracy and consistency across devices and mediums.

Vector graphics can be resized to any dimension without losing image quality, which is a significant advantage over raster (pixel-based) graphics.

The most common vector file formats are SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), AI (Adobe Illustrator), and EPS (Encapsulated PostScript). These formats ensure that vector images can be easily shared, edited, and used across different platforms and devices.

Vector graphics are created and edited with specific software like Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape. These tools provide a wide range of features for drawing, shaping, and colouring vector images.

They are ideal for logos, icons, illustrations, and design elements that need to maintain their quality across various sizes and mediums, such as print, web, and multimedia.

SVG, a vector format, is particularly useful for web use because it supports interactivity and animation. It can be manipulated with CSS and JavaScript, making it versatile for responsive web design.

For print materials, vector graphics ensure that the design remains clear and crisp, regardless of the size. This is crucial for business cards, banners, and other printed marketing materials

Vector files are often smaller than raster images, especially for designs that are less complex. This makes them faster to load on websites and easier to share.

Bitmap graphics can represent complex images with a high level of detail and realism, which is why they are commonly used for photographs and digital art.

The most common bitmap file formats are JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), and GIF (Graphics Interchange Format). These formats are widely supported across different platforms and devices.

Bitmap graphics are created and edited with software like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET. These tools provide a wide range of features for manipulating individual pixels and applying effects.

They are ideal for photographs, digital art, and any design elements that require a high level of detail and realism.

JPEG and PNG, bitmap formats, are widely used on the web. They support varying levels of compression, which can be adjusted to balance image quality and file size.

For print materials, the quality of bitmap graphics depends on their resolution. High-resolution images can produce excellent print results, but they also result in larger file sizes.

Bitmap files can be large, especially for high-resolution images. However, they can be compressed to reduce file size, with a trade-off in image quality.

Understanding and applying the principles of typography is crucial for any design project. It not only makes your content more accessible and enjoyable to read but also significantly contributes to the overall impact and effectiveness of your design.

Choose typefaces that match the mood, tone, and purpose of your content. For instance, serif fonts often convey tradition and reliability, while sans-serif fonts are seen as modern and clean.

Ensure the typeface you choose is legible in the context it will be used, whether print or digital.

Maintain consistency in your typographical choices across different parts of your design to create a cohesive look and feel.

Use different font sizes, weights, and styles to create a visual hierarchy that guides the reader through the content effectively.

Adjust the space between specific pairs of letters (kerning) and the overall spacing across words and sentences (tracking) to create a more harmonious and legible text.

Properly set line spacing (leading) to improve the text's readability, especially for large blocks of text. A general rule is to set leading to 120%-145% of the font size.