Definition:
In desktop publishing, graphic design, and printing the visual component of a page is the artwork.
From the perspective of desktop publishing, artwork refers to:
- Nontextual portions of a page layout:
- photographs - pictures taken with a camera
- clip art - non-photographic images
- drawings - fanciful, editorial, or technical illustrations drawn by hand or in illustration software
- charts - image that represents data symbolically
- graphs - image that presents numerical data
- frames and borders - decorative lines or elements surrounding a page or portion of a page
- rules - lines used to organize or decorate
- decorative text elements such as initial caps and dingbats
- Mechanicals submitted for printing.
Traditionally the mechanicals referred to camera-ready artwork that includes everything, text and illustrations, ready to be photographed to make printing plates.
Outside of desktop publishing, artwork is any type of artistic endeavor including paintings, sculptures, and arts and crafts projects.
Selecting and Preparing Artwork
Except for the first item, these tips and tutorials are not addressed specifically to the use of artwork in desktop publishing but the suggestions offered can apply when you are acquiring various kinds of artwork for use in your page layouts.- Using artwork in page layout addresses topics such as how to use photo captions and pictures of people, how to modify clip art, and how to utilize decorative initial caps.
- Flow in Design - Layout and Artwork that Conveys Motion is written specifically about using artwork to suggest motion and direct the eye on Web pages. However, these tips can also apply to the use of artwork in print pages.
- Tips for Photographing Artwork and Other Flat Objects offers advice on dealing with glare, angles, and lighting if your photographing artwork for display or for use within the artwork of your page layout.
- Should I scan or photography my artwork myself? suggests professional photography and professional printing is best but suggests other methods that can yield good results.
- The Artwork and Style of Manga Comics helps you learn to recognize the distinctive characters of this style of artwork.
- Fine Art FAQs addresses questions such as what are the differences between Fine Art and Decorative Arts and Commercial Art.
- Art Glossary: Collage defines this type of artwork which can be created traditionally or digitally as standalone art or as part of the artwork for a desktop publishing document.
- Copyright for Artists covers the copyright issue from several angles, including Avoiding Copyright Infringement when selecting artwork as reference material (or to use in your page layout).
- Digital Art Techniques and Tutorials is all about creating your own artwork, digitally. Digital artwork mimics or builds on traditional drawing and painting techniques but using the computer to paint and draw.
Also Known As: art | pictures | photos | images | mechanical | layout
