Introduction

to Graphic
Design

Akinwande .D
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1 Introduction

Table of 2 Basic Principles of Design

Contents 3 Design Tools and Software

4 Understanding Color in Design

5 Products and Services

6 Introduction to Photoshop
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Introduction
Graphic design is a creative field that
involves combining visual elements,
typography, images, and other design
elements to communicate ideas or
messages. It's a blend of artistry and
technical skills used to create visuals that
convey information, evoke emotions, or solve
problems.
Visual Hierarchy:
Layout: Arrangement of elements on a page or
screen for aesthetic and functional purposes.
Typography: Selecting fonts, sizes, spacing, and
arrangement of text to enhance readability and
visual appeal.
Color Theory: Understanding how colors interact,
evoke emotions, and convey messages.
 Page 4 Basic principles of Design
There are several fundamental principles of Hierarchy: Hierarchy establishes the
design that serve as guidelines for creating order of importance within a design. It
visually appealing and effective designs. guides the viewer's eye to the most
These principles apply across various design important elements first. Size, color,
disciplines, including graphic design, interior contrast, and placement are used to
design, architecture, and more. Here are create hierarchy.
some of the key principles: Contrast: Contrast emphasizes the
Balance: Balance refers to the differences between elements in a
distribution of elements within a design. It design. This can be achieved through
can be symmetrical (equal weight on variations in color, size, shape, texture, or
both sides) or asymmetrical (unequal typography. It helps create visual interest
distribution creating equilibrium). and makes certain elements stand out.
Balance helps create visual stability and By understanding and applying these
harmony in a design. principles, designers can create visually
engaging, well-structured, and effective
designs across various mediums and
purposes.
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Design Tools
and Software
Graphic designers use a variety of tools
and software to create their designs,
ranging from traditional tools to digital
software.

PhotoShop
CorelDraw
Figma
Adobe Ilustrator
Canva
 Page 6 Understanding colors in Designs
Color is a powerful tool in graphic design, Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow—
influencing emotions, perceptions, and the these colors are the building blocks of all
overall impact of a design. Understanding other colors.
color theory and its application is crucial for Secondary Colors: Colors created by
creating effective designs. Here are key mixing two primary colors—purple (red +
aspects to consider: blue), green (blue + yellow), and orange
(red + yellow).
Color Wheels Tertiary Colors: Mixing a primary color
with a secondary color results in tertiary
colors like red-orange, yellow-green,
etc.
Complementary Colors: Colors opposite
each other on the color wheel (e.g., red
and green, blue and orange). They
create contrast and make each other
appear more vibrant.
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Product and Services

Graphic design encompasses
a wide range of products and
services across different
industries and sectors. design.

Here are some common products and

services within the realm of graphic design:
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Logos and
Branding
Designing logos,
brand identity
systems, and style
guides that
represent a
company's image
and values.
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Print
Materials
Creating printed
materials like business
cards, brochures, flyers,
posters, banners,
stationery, packaging,
magazines, and books
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Merchandise
and Apparel
Designing graphics
for merchandise
like T-shirts, mugs,
bags, etc.
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Digital
Graphics
Designing graphics
for websites, social
media platforms,
digital ads,
infographics, and
email marketing
campaigns.
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Introduction to
Photoshop
Photoshop is a powerful and versatile
software widely used in the design
industry for various purposes, including
photo editing, graphic design, digital
painting, and more. Developed by
Adobe, Photoshop offers an extensive
range of tools and functionalities. Here's
an introduction to its key features and
capabilities:
Page 13 Introduction to PhotoShop
Key Features:
Interface Image Editing: Photoshop excels in manipulating
Workspace: The main window where you and enhancing images. It offers tools for cropping,
work on your images or designs. resizing, adjusting colors, brightness, contrast, and
more.
Tools Panel: Contains various tools for
Layers: Working with layers allows you to stack
selection, painting, retouching, and more. elements, edit them independently, and control their
Menu Bar: Offers access to different visibility and blending modes.
commands and options. Brushes and Painting Tools: Offers a wide array of
Layers Panel: Allows you to work with brushes for digital painting and drawing.
Filters and Effects: Apply various filters and effects
multiple layers, enabling non-destructive to images for creative enhancements.
editing. Text and Typography: Create and edit text layers,
apply various fonts, styles, and effects to text within
your designs.
Masking and Compositing: Use masks to selectively
show or hide parts of an image, enabling complex
compositing and blending.
Smart Objects: Import and manipulate external files
without losing quality, allowing for non-destructive
editing
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Page 15 Photoshop offers a comprehensive array of tools that cater to various
design, photo editing, and artistic needs. Here are some of the key tools

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available in Photoshop:
Selection Tools:
1. Marquee Tool: Selects a rectangular or elliptical area.

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2. Lasso Tool: Allows freehand selection.
3. Magic Wand Tool: Selects areas based on similar colors.
4. Quick Selection Tool: Automatically selects areas based on edges and

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colors.
5. Crop Tool: Crops images to specific dimensions or ratios.
Painting and Drawing Tools:

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1. Brush Tool: Applies brush strokes of various sizes, shapes, and opacities.
2. Pencil Tool: Creates hard-edged, pixelated lines.
3. Eraser Tool: Erases portions of an image or layer.

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4. Clone Stamp Tool: Samples pixels from one area and duplicates them
elsewhere.
5. Gradient Tool: Creates gradual blends between colors or
transparency.
Page 16 Retouching and Adjustment Tools:

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1. Healing Brush and Spot Healing Brush: Removes imperfections or
blemishes from images.
2. Dodge and Burn Tools: Lightens (Dodge) or darkens (Burn) specific

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areas.
3. Blur and Sharpen Tools: Adjusts the sharpness or blurriness of an
image.

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Text and Typography Tools:
1. Horizontal Type Tool: Adds horizontal text to images.
2. Vertical Type Tool: Adds vertical text to images.

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3. Type Mask Tools: Uses text as a mask for image layers
Transform and Editing Tools:
1. Move Tool: Moves selections, layers, or guides within an image.

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2. Rotate Tool: Rotates selections or layers.
3. Scale Tool: Changes the size of selections or layers.
4. Free Transform Tool: Allows scaling, rotating, skewing, and distorting
selections.
Thank
You!