Easy Vector Images For Modern-style Catalogs

It is often confusing for new graphic artists to distinguish one terminology to the next on graphic files and software programs. But how about to those who have no degree or training that goes with creating marketing materials such as the catalog printing project?

The most frustrating among business owners who don’t know anything about graphic design is that they basically are involved in creating print materials like the catalog printing pieces almost on a daily basis. And yet when they come across a certain term or file format, what they usually know goes out of the window.

And more than likely, when it comes to optimizing images for catalog printing projects, obviously, someone who is not versed with the topic would have a tough time understanding one topic to the next. What is the difference between how an image can be reduced in file size, while others have to have a huge file in order to look better? And how are images optimized? How can you design a catalog printing project with smaller images? What is a vector image? A bitmap image?

What are vector images?

Vector images may not be as popular as that of the bitmap images, but they do have their own virtues that make them very useful in catalog printing projects.

Vector images are different from bitmap images because they are made up of numerous individual, scalable objects identified by mathematical equations. The images may consist of lines, curves and shapes which you can easily edit.

Advantages of vector images for catalogs

One advantage of having vector images in your catalog printing project is that they can be rendered with the highest of quality. This is because vector images are not made up of pixels.

In addition, they are often easily edited – its color, fill and even its outline. Even if you change the qualities of a vector image, the correction you made will not affect or alter any part of the object itself. Hence, you can change any part of the vector image and yet maintain your basic catalog printing object.

Modifying your vector image in your catalog printing project can also be done by shaping and transforming your object. This is made possible by the application of nodes and control handles to the vector image.

Another advantage is that vector images are scalable that is why most of the images that you’re going to include in your catalog printing project would not be tied up with any resolution that you’d apply to it. You can either add or subtract from the size of your catalog printing image and still have the same crisp and sharp lines. What’s more, no matter where you view your catalog printing image, if its vector, they remain true to the original whether on screen or in print.

Lastly, vector images are great for your catalog printing project because they are not constrained to a rectangular form like that of the bitmap. Vector images in your catalog printing project can be placed over other objects without having to cover the object underneath it.

Article Tags: image, images, vector
Read more articles by: Janice Jenkins
Article published on May 14, 2008 at Isnare.com

Graphic Design Training

Enhancing Your Computer Graphic Design Skills

Graphic designers nowadays require not only creative abilities, but also some understanding of other graphic design-related areas such as computer graphic design.

During the 80's, the advent of desktop publishing and of design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Fireworks, put the power and versatility of the computer at graphic designers' fingertips. Designers for the first time were easily able to manipulate images and create 3D images using the computer. Computers are now considered to be an indispensable tool in the graphic design industry, though some traditional graphic designers may still prefer to use manual and traditional tools for their creative endeavors.

With modern graphic design concepts and methodologies always changing, graphic designers need to continually advance their knowledge of different graphic design techniques, innovations and graphic design software packages. At present, the basic instructions in graphic designing cannot guarantee for a competitive product anymore without the use of high technology, so that the demand for highly skilled graphic designers is higher than ever.

To become a computer graphic designer, the basic requirements include good creative abilities, good computers skills, and good communication skills.

Computer graphic design helps graphic designers complete their tasks faster and easier. They can effortlessly translate ideas into visual imagery, save it onto their computers and edit it whenever alterations are necessary.

There are great many benefits if you undergo computer graphic design training geared towards arming you with a wider range of cutting edge graphic design skills. Having computer design training also means a greater choice of employment. Computer graphic design skills are in great demand in such sectors as:

1. Advertising agencies - You can use your newly acquired graphic design skills to design appealing and eye-catching advertisements for different media.

2. Web design companies - Help design appealing web pages.

3. Design studios - Apply your design skills to photo editing such as editing the contrast and the brightness of colors on the photos.

4. Publishing houses - Perform layout design and editing tasks. Publications usually follow a distribution schedule; so make sure you are able to meet deadlines.

5. Corporate advertising departments - Design professional corporate ads.

6. TV and film companies - out of all the other jobs, this is where a graphic designer is most suited as it requires a comprehensive application of the designer's skill and ability, especially if working on animation films.

Your computer graphic design training will open new doors for you into a world of greater opportunities. Your computer design knowledge, combined with your dedication and commitment, will surely help you reach your goal.

Article Tags: computer, design, graphic
Read more articles by: Sue Jan
Article published on June 22, 2006 at Isnare.com