The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit

by Wood,Allan

• ISBN13: 9781401825874
• ISBN10: 1401825877
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-24
• Publisher: Cengage Learning Ptr

Summary

One of the most important skills in graphic design today is the ability to integrate different software programs into a seamless whole. Yet software books continue to teach one program at a time without regard to the integration issues that lie at the heart of good digital design.The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit provides a comprehensive overview of the "big three" digital design programs used in industry today- Illustrator, Photoshop, and QuarkXPress. The book then examines in practical detail how to merge results of these programs into good, workable designs.The Graphic Designer's Digital Toolkit 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 opportunity 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.

Author Biography

Allan Wood is Associate Professor in the Visual Communications Branch at McIntosh College in Dover, New Hampshire

Table of Contents

Table of Contents	iii
Preface	vii
UNIT I Getting Ready for Production	1	(72)
CHAPTER 1 Welcome to the Land of OS	3	(40)
The MAC OS X Environment	4	(12)
Macs and Windows Working Together	16	(5)
Client Assignment: Test Drive Mac OS X and Windows XP	21	(1)
Managing Files and Folders	21	(10)
Installing Applications	31	(4)
Advanced Users: Improving Your Computer's Performance	35	(3)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Burning CDs	38	(4)
Chapter Summary	42	(1)
CHAPTER 2 Designing for the Client	43	(24)
Elements of Design	44	(3)
Design Principles	47	(2)
Design Stages: From Concept to Completion	49	(3)
Typography	52	(5)
Imagery	57	(1)
Saving Graphic File Formats	57	(1)
Understanding the Importance of Color	58	(2)
Client Assignment: Designing Color in Black and White	60	(3)
Advanced Users: Identifying Design Elements and Principles in Various Ads	63	(1)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Internet Resources	64	(1)
Chapter Summary	65	(2)
UNIT REVIEW I Getting Ready for Production	67	(6)
Client Assignment: Installing Photoshop CS	68	(5)
UNIT II Digital Image Editing: Adobe Photoshop CS	73	(134)
CHAPTER 3 Adjusting Images in Photoshop	75	(34)
The Photoshop Environment	76	(6)
Client Assignment: Scanning and Basic Image Correction	82	(2)
Scanning and Correcting Images for Print	84	(5)
Using the Image Menu for Adjustments	89	(6)
Preparing Images for Web Media	95	(7)
Advanced Users: Manual Levels Adjustment and Histograms	102	(1)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Fixing a Slanted Horizon	103	(4)
Chapter Summary	107	(2)
CHAPTER 4 Working with selections	109	(22)
Photoshop's Selection Tools	110	(4)
Client Assignment: Creating a Multicolor Product Ad	114	(3)
First Selection: Changing Product Colors	117	(3)
Saving selections in Channels	120	(3)
Second Selection: Duplicating the Kayak	123	(1)
Advanced Users: Masking selections	124	(2)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Make a Better Sky Using the Paste Into Command	126	(4)
Chapter Summary	130	(1)
CHAPTER 5 Using Layers	131	(36)
Photoshop's Layers	132	(3)
Client Assignment: Creating a Multicolor Product Ad (Conclusion)	135	(12)
Creating Text Layers Using the Type Tool	147	(8)
Advanced Users: Layer Sets, Merging, and Flattening Layers	155	(5)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Creating Photo Business Cards with Picture Package	160	(5)
Chapter Summary	165	(2)
CHAPTER 6 Restoring and Retouching Photographs	167	(26)
Tools and Palettes for Editing	168	(4)
Client Assignment: Retouching and Coloring a B&W Photograph	172	(1)
Restoring the Image	173	(8)
Coloring the B&W Image	181	(6)
Advanced Users: Sampling and Applying Skin Tones	187	(1)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Take the Boys Out, Using the Extract Command and History Brush	188	(3)
Chapter Summary	191	(2)
UNIT REVIEW II Digital Image Editing: Adobe Photoshop CS	193	(14)
Client Assignment: Creating a Music CD Cover	194	(1)
Preparing the Tunnel Image	195	(3)
Preparing the Car Images	198	(3)
Creating the Titles and Cropping the Covers	201	(4)
Combining Images and Adding Song Titles	205	(2)
UNIT IV Digital Illustration: Adobe Illustrator CS	207	(158)
CHAPTER 7 Creating shapes with Illustrator	209	(30)
The Illustrator Environment	210	(4)
Client Assignment: Creating a Checkerboard forE-mail	214	(1)
Creating Checkerboard Squares	215	(10)
Creating the Checkers	225	(2)
Changing Colors of the Board	227	(3)
Advanced Users: Creating the Crowned Checkers	230	(3)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Building a Lighthouse	233	(5)
Chapter Summary	238	(1)
CHAPTER 8 Working with Brushes, Symbols, and Layers	239	(42)
Making Digital Illustrations from Drawings	240	(5)
Client Assignment: Creating a Tourist Map	245	(2)
Preparing the Map Image for Tracing	247	(5)
Tracing the Map Outline	252	(3)
Creating Brushes	255	(5)
Creating and Applying Symbols	260	(6)
Labeling the Map	266	(5)
Advanced Users: Using Symbolism Tools and the Symbol Library	271	(2)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Wine Bottle Using 3D Effects	273	(7)
Chapter Summary	280	(1)
CHAPTER 9 Precision with the Pen Tool	281	(34)
Pen Tool Basics	282	(2)
Direct Selection and Direct Select Lasso Tools	284	(1)
Path Type Tools	285	(1)
Client Assignment: Creating a Logo	286	(1)
Outlining the Template Image	287	(9)
Creating Type on Paths	296	(2)
Applying Color in a Separate Layer	298	(2)
Saving in EPS Format	300	(1)
Advanced Users: Professional Business Cards	301	(4)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Creating a Clock Face	305	(9)
Chapter Summary	314	(1)
CHAPTER 10 Integrating Photoshop and Illustrator Files for Web Use	315	(36)
Combining Illustrator and Photoshop Graphics	316	(4)
Client Assignment: Creating Web Banners	320	(1)
Integrating Photoshop Images with Illustrator	321	(12)
Integrating Illustrator Images into Photoshop	333	(3)
Creating the Guitar Graphic in Illustrator	336	(6)
Advanced Users: Understanding PDF and EPS Files	342	(4)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Creating a Graphic Type Logo by Combining Outlined Paths	346	(3)
Chapter Summary	349	(2)
UNIT REVIEW IV Digital Illustration: Adobe Illustrator CS	351	(14)
Client Assignment: Making a Promotional Mug Logo	352	(13)
UNIT V Digital Publishing: QuarkXPress 6	365	(98)
CHAPTER 11 QuarkXPress Fundamentals	367	(48)
The QuarkXPress Environment	368	(5)
Client Assignment: Creating a Bi-fold Menu	373	(2)
Setting up the Menu Project	375	(10)
Creating the Front Panel	385	(6)
Creating the Back Panel	391	(9)
Creating the Inside Menu	400	(3)
Advanced Users: Automated Formatting with Style Sheets	403	(5)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Creating an Informational Flyer: Managing Text Flow	408	(5)
Chapter Summary	413	(2)
CHAPTER 12 Packaging and Publishing Your Project	415	(30)
Checking for Errors	416	(1)
Preparing for Press	417	(1)
Client Assignment: Publishing the Menu	418	(1)
Error Correction and File Management	419	(5)
Preparing the Project for Printing	424	(5)
Providing Laser Proofs	429	(7)
Advanced Users: Publishing on the Web	436	(3)
Digital Toolkit Extra: Creating a Conversion Table Using the Table Tool	439	(4)
Chapter Summary	443	(2)
UNIT REVIEW V Digital Publishing: QuarkXPress 6	445	(18)
Client Assignment: Converting Print Projects to Web Projects	446	(1)
Setting Up the Print Project for Web Conversion	446	(7)
Converting Print Elements for Web Pages	453	(5)
Creating Hyperlinks	458	(5)
Glossary	463	(10)
Index	473