Introduction to Graphics Designing

• Elements of a Design
• Lines, Shapes, Forms, Textures
• The Rules of Thirds and Frame Balancing
• Pixels and PPI & Resolution
• Colour theory – CMYK & RGB
• Science of Proportion and Golden Ratio

     Software 1: Adobe Photoshop

• Overview of the Photoshop interface
• Essential image navigation shortcuts
• The Marquee tools
• Adding and subtracting selections
• Automatic selection using the wand tool
• Automatic selection using the-quick selection brush

• Manual cut-out technique
• Transforming a selection
• Understanding selection edges
• Refining selection edges
• Saving and reloading a selection
• Overview of the Photoshop toolset
• Brushes and brush types adjusting brushes
• Choosing colors by eye
• Layer Masks in Photoshop
• IAn overview of layer masks’ power
• Creating a layer mask from a selection
• Modifying a layer mask using the paintbrush tool

• Modification techniques for mask edges in cut-out
• Photoshop Layers – Combining Images
• Layer blending modes
• Layer opacity
• Transforming and distorting layers
• Working with multiple layers
• Layer blending options
• Using adjustment layers
• Levels explained
• Color balance and color balance considerations

• Hue and saturation
• Selective adjustments using masks
• An overview of Photoshop filters and their uses

• Pixel (100%) view and what it means
• Advantages of using smart filters
• Image sharpening
• Image blurring
• Selective filtering
• Cropping and sizing (the quick way)
• Image adjustments using levels, color balance and hue/saturation

• Further correction to images using Shadow/highlight

• Re-touching using the clone tool
• Re-touching using the healing tool
• Considerations when choosing a file format
• Common file formats explained

     Software 2: Adobe Illustrator

• Selection Tools & drawing tools
• Using a pen and pencil, sketch and adjust simple shapes to make trails.
• Adjusting paths
• Using paintbrushes
• Utilizing the Pathfinder panel to construct intricate objects
• Selection tools and options
• Using Color Applying Stroke and Fill colors
• Mixing and picking RGB, CMYK & Pantone colors
• Using ‘live color’ panel to create color schemes
• Re-coloring artwork with ‘live color’
• Gradients and blends, gradient mesh
• Saving and modifying colors for later use, and then importing them

• Using ‘live paint’ Working with Text
• Typing straight onto the page and importing text from a text file
• Creating columns of text
• Setting text attributes (font, color, size, kerning, etc.)

• Copying text attributes from other text
• Wrapping text around objects or flowing along a path

• Working With Images
• Placing photographs and other artwork into Illustrator

• Choosing whether to link or embed image files
• Creating borders around images
• Using a path to mask an area of an image
• Modifying image colors and appearance
• Using ‘live trace’ to create vector art from photographs

• Working with Layers Creating layers – setting layer properties

• Viewing, hiding, and locking layers
• Moving objects between layers
• Documents Page setup
• Looking over the document and creating art or preview modes

• Navigating around your document
• Grids, guides, and other features to help you accurately position objects

• Implementing and adhering to guidelines: precisely placing, locking and unlocking
• Getting information about the document and contents
• converting artwork to a DTP or Photoshop format
• Tools & Panels
• Using the Info Panel & the Transform Panel to maintain accuracy

• Moving, aligning, & grouping objects
• Transforming and warping objects
• Using envelope distortions
• Using filters – Vector and bitmap filters
• Using effects and utilizing the appearance Panel

• Creating symbols and altering how they are applied and their appearance

• Creating 3D objects in Illustrator using Blend