Colour - Don't Be Afraid

Use colour freely and find what works and what doesn't. Some colour relationships have enormous impact on a viewers mood. Work it!

Flourishing Fonts

For a beautiful effect with text you can use a font with flourishes and swirls to create more interesting type in your designs. Mix up the fonts and exaggerate the first letter as in this example.

Subtle Tone Evokes Pleasure

Tones, or variations on hue/colour, can make pleasing design statements. With experimentation, many things become possible. Shapes, text, floral and other decorative objects can be built in layers to create beautiful effects.

Emptiness

Empty space is an ally of graphic design. A lot of information can be conveyed through the use of space and placement of text or objects in strategic places within the space. This example is a powerful method for drawing attention to the text message.

The Edge

Usually, images are placed within the frame, but by placing images against the edge of the frame you can create powerful graphic design images. Try using different types of image for various effects.

Over Under Sideways Downlighting

Downlighting is not normally very attractive on models. But in this case the model is looking in a mirror and the downlight has no affect on the features of the model except to provide general lighting. Try using mirrors and light from different angles to create dramatic effects in your graphic design photography.

Less Than %100 Black

When placing dark, or black, text on a light background, if you chose about 80% of the full colour, you get a softer, lower contrast. It can make a big difference to how your readers engage with your design.

Dynamic Organisation

Visual dynamics and tension is easy to create using space and placement of objects. You can try an infinite number of positions in your graphic design to create powerful dynamic images easily.

Making Patterns & Wallpaper

You can create complex visual effects with simple techniques. This one uses only two colours. It can be used as a background, or as the basis for a repeating pattern or wallpaper for your design work on the web or on a greeting card.

Text as Shape

Text can be used to create shapes. This makes it easier to use text as a design element, not just for information.

Depth of Field

Depth of field in photographs allows a blurry background and a crisp focus on the main object.

Complimentary Colours

Complimentary colours on a standard color wheel they are the colors opposite each other (red/green, yellow/blue). They look great together and compliment each other. They make people feel good when looking at them.

Serif or Sans Serif?

A serif is slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter. Sans serif means without that stroke. When you chose text for your designs you choose between serif fonts and sans serif fonts. They both have their place and can have a big effect on how your message is read.

Contrast

Contrast can be an affective design tool. It can create a lot of interest in your designs and also add dramatic effects. In this example their are two types of contrast: shape and texture.

Drop Shadow

A drop shadow is a visual effect consisting of drawing what looks like the shadow of an object, giving the impression that the object is raised above the objects behind it.

Seeing the Light

Light is the essence of photography. Look carefully at how light falls on objects at different times of day. If you take advantage of natural light you can produce beautiful photographs that can be incorporated into your beautiful graphic designs.

Colour/Color me Grey/Gray

Grey/Gray can be a useful backdrop for a splash of colour/color. Its a great technique for creating dramatic effects and bringing a key element into focus.

Is Ragged Right?

Here are two types of column. The one on the left is aligned left, producing a ragged right edge. The one on the right is aligned justified. See the difference it makes to the look and feel of text.

Repetition

Repetition is an easy way of making backgrounds and patterns for decorative panels on cards and invitations. You can take photographs of patterns or make them in an image handling program such as GIMP which is free at www.gimp.org

Design Type

You can use type to make your design look beautiful. Just make the type size really big and choose a font that has flourishes or other decorative elements. This example is the edge of an upper case letter D.