The Pixel
Much like molecules are made up of atoms which in turn are made up of even smaller components, the elements of design can be further broken down into more basic bits - a drop of ink, a dot made with the tip of a pencil.
Sheetfed vs. Web Press
Both sheetfed and Web presses are used for some types of commerical printing.
Put it on the Pasteboard
Many page layout programs use a pasteboard analogy.
Take Pictures for Inspiration
Get out your digital camera and take random pictures with a purpose.
Cook Up Inspiration with Graphic Design Cookbook
Use the Graphic Design Cookbook to brainstorm layouts and stir ideas.
Get Ideas from Onine Image Searches
Online image databases are good for finding specific images but they're also good for brainstorming and getting the creative juices flowing.
Avoid Default Indent Settings
The default indent settings in most software are not a good choice. Get tips on when to use smaller or larger paragraph indentations.
Use Indents or Spacing, Not Both, to Separate Paragraphs
Be consistent and stick with just spacing or just indents for separating paragraphs of text.
Resize Screen Shots in Page Layout Software
The rules are different for screen shots. They often look better when resized within a page layout program and not in your graphics software.
Resize Screen Shots Proportionally in 25% Increments
It's usually best not to resize screen shots but when you must, do it carefully to avoid distortion and blurriness.
Change Screen Shots to100% Black After CMYK Conversion
One method of preventing the fuzzy text that comes with some printed screen shots is to use 100% Black in place of a CMYK composite black in text and other fuzzy areas.
Change Screen Shots to100% Black Before CMYK Conversion
One method of preventing the fuzzy text that comes with some printed screen shots is to use 100% Black in place of a CMYK composite black throughout the image.
Convert Screen Shots to Grayscale
Make screen captures look better by converting them to grayscale - but experiment first.
Avoid Compression When Printing Screen Shots
For screen display you want low resolution and small file sizes for faster downloads. For print you'll want to keep all the resolution and pixels you can get.
Avoid Exotic Color Schemes for Screen Shots
For most uses, the standard Windows color scheme or other tame color combinations are best in screen shots.
Eliminate Unnecessary Elements in Screen Shots
Improve your screen shots by eliminating unncessary elements and emphasizing key elements.
Keep Resolution and Window Size Consistent Among Screen Shots
A series of creen captures online or in print will look better if consistency is maintained among all the images.
Set Up Your Screen With Printing in Mind
Print better screen shots by planning and rearranging what's on your monitor before doing the screen capture.
Clean Up Digital Files
Clean up extraneous info from digital files.
Map Out the Job
Before delving into the software or creating designs, layouts, and graphics, plan out the job.
Find Out What File Formats Your Service Provider Can Accept
Before sending your file for printing insure it is in a format your printer or service bureau can handle.
Drop the Quote Mark with Initial Caps
Setting type with an opening quote and want to use an initial cap? Try this.
Printing Photos for Photocopying
Don't have a PostScript printer? Try these tips for getting photos that will photocopy decently.
Finding Clients for Marketing Newsletters
Newsletters can provide repeat business. Use these tips to find clients.
Provide Comfort for Readers with Repetition
Readers gain comfort from having certain elements repeat themselves at consistent intervals or in the same position. It is much easier to flip to the desired page of a magazine if the reader knows that the page number will be in the same location on every page, for example.
