The Graphic Designer’s Digital Toolkit

by Wood, Allan

• ISBN13: 9781439056691
• ISBN10: 1439056692
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-06-08
• Publisher: Course Technology

Summary

Being a successful graphic designer today requires more than knowing the essential features of industry-standard software applications. It also requires an understanding of how to integrate these programs into a seamless whole while producing work that conforms to design principles and client expectations. This fully revised fourth edition of THE GRAPHIC DESIGNER'S DIGITAL TOOLKIT provides a full-color, comprehensive overview of Macintosh OS X and Windows Vista operating systems, design fundamentals, and the "Big 3" digital design programs used in the graphics industry today: Adobe® Illustrator® CS4, Adobe® Photoshop® CS4, and Adobe® InDesign® CS4. The book examines the essential features of each, then reveals in practical detail the skills and technology necessary for effective design for print and Web Media. This project-based book features a highly visual introduction to the essential tools and functions of each application from the perspective of the working designer. Readers are then given the pportunity to put what they learn to work by tackling design projects from concept to completion with assignments drawn from the everyday world of professional graphic designers.

Table of Contents

Preface

Getting Ready For Production

Welcome to the Land of OS

The Mac OS X Environment

The Windows Vista Environment

Macs and Windows Working Together

Client Assignment: Test Drive Mac OS X Leopard and Windows Vista

Managing Files and Folders

Advanced Users: Creating Electronic Slide Shows of Images

Digital Toolkit Extra: Burning Music, Photo and Data CDs

Chapter Summary

Designing for the Client

Elements of Design

Design Principles

Design Stages: From Concept to Completion

Typography

Imagery

Saving Graphic File Formats

Understanding the Importance of Color

Client Assignment: Designing in Color or Black and White Contrasts

Advanced Users: Identifying Design Elements and Principles in Various Ads

Digital Toolkit Extra: Internet Resources

Chapter Summary

Unit I review: Getting Ready for Production

Downloading and Installing Acrobat Reader

Downloading and Installing Photoshop Tryout

Design Techniques

Digital Image Editing: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Adjusting Images in Photoshop

The Photoshop Environment

Basic Image Correction: Saving to Specific File Formats

Correcting Images for Print

Using the Image Menu for Adjustments

Preparing Images for Web Media

Adjusting Image Size for Web Media

Advanced Users: Using Histograms for Manual Levels Adjustment

Digital Toolkit Extra: Using the Adobe Bridge CS4 for Retrieving and Managing Files

Chapter Summary

Working with Selections and Channels

Photoshop's Selection Tools

Client Assignment: Creating a Multicolor Product Ad

First Selection: Changing Product Colors

Saving Selections Permanently Using Channels

Second Selection: The Entire Kayak for Duplicating

Advanced Users: Using Quick Mask for Masking Selections

Digital Toolkit Extra: Make a Better Sky Using Either the Paste Into Command, or the Masks Panel

Combining Images Using the Paste Into Command

Selecting by Color Range, and Using the Masks Panel

Chapter Summary

Using Layers

Photoshop's Layers

Client Assignment: Creating a Multicolor Product Ad (Conclusion)

Creating the Three Kayak Image Layers

Adjusting Color Using the Hue/Saturation Command

Creating the Yellow Kayak Layer

Layer Style Effect: Drop Shadows

Recording States Using the Layer Comps Palette

Creating Type Layers

Editing Type

Organizing Layers and Preparing the Ad for Press

Advanced Users: Prepare Camera RAW Files: Digital Negatives

Digital Toolkit Extra: Create Photo Business Cards with Picture Package

Chapter Summary

Restoring and Coloring a Black and White Photograph

Tools and Palettes for Editing

Client Assignment: Retouching and Coloring a Black and White Photograph

Restoring the Image

Coloring the Black and White Image

Create a Custom Brush in the Tool Presets Palette

Sample and Apply Skin Tones

Advanced Users: Color Cast Correction by Neutralizing Shadow and Highlight Areas

Finding Highlight and Shadow Details Using Levels

Neutralizing Shadow and Highlight Areas Using the Threshold Command

Digital Toolkit Extra: Special Creations With CS4's New Masks Panel and Adjustments

Panel

Chapter Summary

Unit II review Digital Image Editing: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Client Assignment: Creating a Music CD Cover

Preparing the Tunnel Image

Preparing the Car Images

Creating the Titles and Cropping the Covers

Combining Images and Adding Song Titles

Digital Illustration: Adobe Illustrator CS4

Creating Shapes with Illustrator

The Illustrator Environment

Client Assignment: Creating an Electronic Checkerboard Game for E-Mail

Creating Checkerboard Squares

Creating the Checkers

Changing Colors of the Board

Advanced Users: Create the Crowned Checkers

Digital Toolkit Extra: Build a Lighthouse

Chapter Summary

Working with Brushes, Symbols, and Layers

Making Digital Illustrations from Drawings

Client Assignment: Creating a Tourist Map

Preparing the Map Image for Tracing

Tracing the Map Outline Using Drawing Tools

Creating and Applying Brushes

Creating and Applying Custom Symbols

Labeling the Map

Use Symbolism Tools and the Symbol Library

Advanced Users: Placing Logos Created by the Blob Brush Onto Multiple Artboard

Digital Toolkit Extra: Use 3-D Effects and Map the Label

Chapter Summary

Precision with the Pen Tool

Pen Tool Basics

Direct Selection and Lasso Tools

Path Type Tools

Client Assignment: Creating a Logo

Outlining the Template Image

Creating Type on Paths

Applying Color in a Separate Layer

Saving in EPS Format

Advanced Users: Create Professional Business Cards

Digital Toolkit Extra: Create a Clock Face

Chapter Summary

Integrating Photoshop and Illustrator Files for Web Use

Combining Illustrator and Photoshop Graphics

Client Assignment: Creating Web Banners

Integrating Photoshop Images with Illustrator

Integrating Illustrator Images into Photoshop

Creating the Guitar Graphic in Illustrator

Advanced Users: Understanding PDF and EPS Files

Digital Toolkit Extra: Convert Bitmap Images to Vector Artwork Using Live Trace and Live Paint

Create an Illustrative Portrait From a Photo

Chapter Summary

Unit III review Digital Illustration: Adobe Illustrator CS4

Client Assignment: Making a Promotional Mug Logo

Creating a 3-D Mug Illustration to Map the Logo

Digital Publishing: Indesign CS4

InDesign Fundamentals

The InDesign Environment

Client Assignment: Creating a Coupon Advertisement

Setting up the Coupon Advertisement

Saving InDesign Documents

Advanced Users: Preflight, Packaging, and Preparing for Press

Digital Toolkit Extra: Create a Photo Calendar with Tables

Chapter Summary

Working with Multipage Documents

Designing Multipage Documents

Client Assignment: Creating a Multipage Newsletter

Setting Up the Master Page Template

Editing the Master Page Objects and Placing the Nameplate or Masthead

Guides, Graphic Frames, and Placing Graphics

Typing and Importing Text

Automating and Applying Special Formatting Techniques

Advanced Users: Baseline Alignment and Automation with Styles and Object Libraries

Digital Toolkit Extra: Create an Interactive PDF Document

Chapter Summary

Unit IV review Digital Publishing: InDesign CS4

Client Assignment: Creating a Tri-Fold Brochure

Setting Up the Brochure Project

Designing the Front, Back, and Special Panels (Page 1)

Creating Character and Paragraph Styles

Designing the Inside Page for Introduction and Tour Info

Glossary

Index

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