I think i'm doing something wrong

[Blacklord]

Well i am new here am didn't read the rules. I am a amateur designer and i feel that i just don't... get the drift of designing. A little help? I'll post some of my artwork.

[cjoe]

1. Well really you should have read the rules

2. If you had read the rules then you would discover that the place to post work is in the showcase

3. Design has no purpose without context, what are your designs for?

4. I am of the school of designers that believe everything in a design should have purpose, rather than 'arts for arts sake'. Frankly your designs do suck, the quality is poor, you don't display any concepts of shape, colour, form, composition. The style is outdated, basically they are horrible and offensive. I am obligated to be constructive so i will attempt to be constructive: To be a designer you cannot simply be proficient in using software to create images. You must understand the concepts behind good designs, what their purpose is, how to communicate the idea behind that particular design best, while maintaining a reasonable aesthetic standard and quality of final product. Either you are born with this skill or learn this skill with experience (which will only be gained by immersing yourself with good design). I suggest that if you want to take design seriously then you seek education, because you obviously have little natural talent for producing high-quality, aesthically pleasing design, that has a real purpose. If this is just a whim that you are fulfilling by whacking together some photoshop effects then please quit right now, because i find it offensive that you call yourself a designer.
I mean for you to be mildly offended by my comments because this is a harsh business (thats right, design is a business), you will not survive on what little talent you posess. However i fully support you improving your design, through observation and education if you are serious about this choice of career. I have little natural talent for football, but i realise that i can improve on my current skillset by observing and training myself and i also accept that it will be very hard for me to reach the skill of a naturally talented player.
To conclude: if you are serious please learn everything you can and work hard because you will eventually succeed.

Wow i haven't ranted like that for a while. But seriously you have basically used the chrome filter in photoshop with a gradient fill and a bevel effect. Maybe some radial blurring in there, even some brush work.

[typographics]

blacklord,

i have good news and bad news. the bad news is that you must delete all your photoshop filters as soon as possible. the good news is that you must delete all your photoshop filters as soon as possible.

cjoe - lol, nice rant...do you feel better with that off your chest?

matthew~

[defjoe]

3 words for you...

less is more

keep practicing... we have all been there.

[TheBluePanda]

That first one is potentially the worst thing I've ever seen. The rest are pretty close. Having said that, stop using filters to do all the work and keep practicing.

[reuber1]

If you want to do logos, get an illustration program like Adobe Illustrator. If just regular artwork, I would learn about Photoshop by purchasing some books to learn the software...most books I have seen don't even talk about Filters for more than a few sentences, and possibly in the section where it says WHAT NOT TO DO.

The problem with filters is that they make doing special effects so easy, and they look nifty at first because I suppose it gives that feeling of "Look what I just did with the click of a button!", but most people can spot Photoshop filters right away; not just designers, though we would probably be the only ones who are conscious of it. Point is, most people can tell a generic looking effect when they see it.

[Drorain]

wow...are they really so offensive...I havent even clicked the links

are they safe for work?

maybe I should just turn around and um go lol

[Navian]

The first one is the avatar. *shudders*

[balou]

My suggestion is to go the the GDF Showcase and read, read, read. You will learn a lot about design right there.

[Birdie1483]

Try to pick up a few design books in the bookstore. Read through those, do some work, and maybe try again. Only use filters with the concept dictates a design that cannot be hand produced.

[morea]

you should read the rules. It took me a long time to write them up! :(


*sob*

[Blacklord]

But i didn't use filters i used blending effects. I am not offended i knew i wasn't good. I read photoshop for web 3 times!

[Silence04]

you need to start your ideas on paper, not the computer.

that should get you going in the right direction

[Blacklord]

Well i do a lot better in 3ds max couse it is easier to come up wit ideas.

[tZ]

I'm not going to harp on like I normally do but your design is limited to that of software.

This is a bad thing.

There is no software that creates concepts- at least yet.

Above all else your work lacks any sign of a concept.

Once you find a concept through that is what design is about.

Communicating that concept in a visual form.

- arranging parts on a page.

In order sucessfully manipulate the page I would suggest books on basic design- f**k the software.

I'll start you off....

If you learn one thing (well actually three)

Learn these three core ideas/prnciples:

1.)repetition
2.)contrast
3.)emphasis

I wrote something afew months back that you may find usefull about design:

-merry christmass
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13048&page=2&pp=10

On last thing is that you must first know what you are designing before you can design anything are the parts associated

For instance- if your designing say... a childrens menu.

Well you wouldn't just start by jumbing on the computer- would you.

You need to gather at the least- menu items and the information within first correct.

Of course there is much more to it then that but, hopefully you get what I'm saying. You need to know what you going to arrange before you can arrange it.

and vice versa- know how to arrange before you can arrange it.

[flutterby nut]

originally posted by tZ:
I wrote something afew months back
i read this...very helpful and informative!...can't come up with the link however...

[Navian]

Please get this book: "The Universal Traveler (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1560526793/ref=sr_11_1/103-7790846-4885404?%5Fencoding=UTF8): A Soft-system guide to creativity, problem-solving and the process of reaching goals" (ISBN: 1-56052-679-3)

It looks wierd, the typography looks wierd, but that book is a guide that will help you.

[Blacklord]

@ Tz- very usefull thanks.
@ Navian- I live in Romania so the shipping and handeling would be murder. I'll get it this summer when i'm going to the states:)

[morea]

for book purchases, check out www.half.com

very reasonable prices and shipping.

[EC]

Welcome to the GDF Blacklord. ;) I'm glad to see you're still hanging in there after all that.

You know, I do believe that some people are born with a stronger inclination toward creative endeavors -- kids that spend their time drawing and doodling rather than watching television. That wasn't me. lol But I also believe that design can be learned. I hate the word "talent" because I think that's such a hard thing to define. If you catch the fever for design by playing around with photoshop filters, then you come to a graphic design forum and acknowledge you're just starting and have a lot to learn, that's ok by me.

We all start somewhere. I certainly know I did, and I'm one of those people that has to work really hard to improve. Good luck to you.

Another good book is The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Willams.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1566091594/104-1492470-5838334?v=glance&n=283155

[reuber1]

What EC said. I remember when starting college towards a degree in web design with ZERO background in Photoshop and what have you, as soon as I got a copy of Photoshop I did all sorts of stuff that then I thought was cool, but realize that now they weren't very great! Study hard and work at it, and you'll do yourself a lot of good. The Robin Williams non-designer's design book and non-designer's type book are excellent for those new to the design world.

[Blacklord]

Just read the ignore at ur own risk thing. I think i love u guys:D
And i did get the non disgners book:)

[morea]

I've heard lots of people say that book is a great resource. Just remember, in design, everybody is always learning. Don't get discouraged, and just keep at it!

[cjoe]

sorry about the rant earlier, i was fuelled by self-pride after a lecture with a professor that was particularly concerned about preserving the standard of design.

[EC]

sorry about the rant earlier, i was fuelled by self-pride after a lecture with a professor that was particularly concerned about preserving the standard of design.

haha those lectures can be dangerous for your health!

I've been in a lecture like that, and having a communications background -- I often butt heads with design instructors on this topic. I think that it's GOOD to hold design in high regard, and to challenge the "collective aesthetic" of the population by not cow-towing to the lowest common denominator. The world would be an ugly place if nobody thought this way.

But, end of the day, it's just not possible for everybody to produce and/or appreciate great design. We can all do our best though.

[rockem]

1. Well really you should have read the rules

2. If you had read the rules then you would discover that the place to post work is in the showcase

3. Design has no purpose without context, what are your designs for?

4. I am of the school of designers that believe everything in a design should have purpose, rather than 'arts for arts sake'. Frankly your designs do suck, the quality is poor, you don't display any concepts of shape, colour, form, composition. The style is outdated, basically they are horrible and offensive. I am obligated to be constructive so i will attempt to be constructive: To be a designer you cannot simply be proficient in using software to create images. You must understand the concepts behind good designs, what their purpose is, how to communicate the idea behind that particular design best, while maintaining a reasonable aesthetic standard and quality of final product. Either you are born with this skill or learn this skill with experience (which will only be gained by immersing yourself with good design). I suggest that if you want to take design seriously then you seek education, because you obviously have little natural talent for producing high-quality, aesthically pleasing design, that has a real purpose. If this is just a whim that you are fulfilling by whacking together some photoshop effects then please quit right now, because i find it offensive that you call yourself a designer.
I mean for you to be mildly offended by my comments because this is a harsh business (thats right, design is a business), you will not survive on what little talent you posess. However i fully support you improving your design, through observation and education if you are serious about this choice of career. I have little natural talent for football, but i realise that i can improve on my current skillset by observing and training myself and i also accept that it will be very hard for me to reach the skill of a naturally talented player.
To conclude: if you are serious please learn everything you can and work hard because you will eventually succeed.

Wow i haven't ranted like that for a while. But seriously you have basically used the chrome filter in photoshop with a gradient fill and a bevel effect. Maybe some radial blurring in there, even some brush work.

ditto

[MD]

sorry about the rant earlier, i was fuelled by self-pride after a lecture with a professor that was particularly concerned about preserving the standard of design.

There is no need to apologize, your rant was justified and right on the mark. He has broken just about every graphic design commandment in just 1 post.

1) You shall not swear falsely by the title of Graphic Designer

2) Thou shall not use the rainbow gradient in any form or fashion.

3) Do not covet thy neighbors layer effects. Use them wisely and sparingly.

4) Thou shall not commit bad typography. Freehanded Photoshop letters, Comic Sans, Pioneer, etc. are not fonts and should not perpetrate as such,

5) Thou must understand the concepts behind good designs, what their purpose is, how to communicate the idea behind that particular design best, while maintaining a reasonable aesthetic standard and quality of final product. (cjoe)

6) Thou shalt not steal photoshop.

[tZ]

...nice MD

I like

I vote for a sticky

commandments of design

lol

With that said, ditto- no need to apologize.

Direct and to the point.

A bit harsh maybe... but exaggeration adds emphasis and there's nothing wrong with emphasis.

We have all created unsucessfull work at once but, that is how you learn and grow. Through expieriece and practice- no shame in that.

Therefor, its nothing to be ashamed about. Unless of course your getting paid for it but, thats an entirly seperate story alltogether.

by the way typographics- nice site and work. Kept me occupied for quite a while,lol.

[typographics]

Moses would be proud...

[cjoe]

lol. okay i retract previous apology, i shall never show weakness again, lol. Also i second tZ's idea for a ten commandments of design. Someone should set up a poll...

[MD]

Sound good but we need to add a few more to make it 10. Here are a couple more ideas.

7. Honor thy prepress technician.

8. Logos shall be created in vector format

[cjoe]

9. Thou shalt poach all excess drop shadows, they SHOULD be a rare species

[rockem]

drop shadows are used all the time, using them correctly is a different matter, the quick effect drop shadows usually suck

[cjoe]

okay then just: Thou shalt poach all excess drop shadows.

[Blacklord]

Wait, wait... Using rainbow graidient is that bad? I heard this before:
Will u remove those rainbow colors? they look like they came right out of a gay parade.XD
So what ur suggesting is that logos should be done very flat? In corel draw even? Sounds good. i'll try that and let u see how it turned out.:D

[tZ]

Not nessecarly

A logo(like any piece of design) should be created in a fashion to effecivly communicate.

There are no "exact" rules of design/ arrangement.

Just guidlines.

Rules and guidlines can be broken.

However, you can't teach a dog to walk backwards that you don't own- correct?

So by learning the "rules" or "guidlines" better manipulation can be gained.

purposefull manipulations with intent are key.

However, you can't give purpose to something you know nothing about.

On the otherhand, technical aspects should not generally be broken. Incorrect formating and technical execution can make a piece unproducable and in the end waste of money- regardless of how "cool" it looks.

This brings to mind the most important attribute with design- function. If it doesn't function regardless of how sucessfull the commuication is the design is no better then trash.

There for, getting back to your question logos anything which will need to be scaled should be done in a vector format. Since, vector manipulations are scalable without loss in quality. I could create a logo the size of one inch in a vector program. Then scale it to 20 feet with ease and without loss in resolution.

Like wise do the same in a raster prgram (photoshop, paint, etc) and well.... you'll see.

Now you may be saying well... I can allways up the resolution to make up for the increase in size (pixels per inch, dots per inch, etc). While this is partially true you want to allways plan for the future.

For instance, A client just want a logo for thier website. There for, the only restrictions you have is to create a functionable logo at 72 px per inch in order for it to be technical proficent. However, at this point its up to you the designer to save the client from them selves and plan for the future. Realizing that they may now just want something for the web but, what if later done the road they expand and need print collateral and need to apply thier logo to a vast range of products.

If you created the logo in photoshop then that design would almost render them useless. They may be able to get it on a couple of items but, generally speaking the printer would need a vector file to print the logo accuratly and consistently on each item of collateral.

In the end, its just better to plan for the future. The client may not know what the difference between a vecor and raster file is and may not be able to open it. However, when circumstance deems nesecarry they will have it right at hand for the priner or other designer to use.

In the end, the technical rules are set in to place by production because without the ability to generate a mass amount of the same the commercial art industry would almost be inexistent.

With that in mind. Here are geberally safe resolutions which correspond to the given press. The universally "correct" resolutions at which to produce per the given press. So you don't get a a 72 dpi call,lol.

72 ppi - web/internet
150dpi+ digital
300dpi+ offset

As for logos:

Anything applied to a vast range of contrasting products or scalable-vector format only. As this gives you abiliy to easily scale without loss in resolution.

With those technical rules in mind you should be good to go technically to start out. I could start talking about process and match colors but, will leave that one for another time.

Now as far as design goes the key concept (i think) is hieracy.

Knowing the "philosophy" behind controling HOW the viewer precives any given image..

Being able to say "ok I have my information now how do I want the viewer to see it or more precisly in what ORDER.

That is the key idea that design revolves around. By learning how to do that you can effectivly create sucessfull design which communicates.

off course that is very brief but, all and all that is the major concept beind design. Arrangement for communication and telling the viewer where to look through use of three principles I mentioned earlier:

repetition
contrast
emphasis

I'll expand on this a bit further before we part ways.

Control is achieved through contrast - its that simple.

regardless of subject matter.

Think of a black box with a smaller white box inside. This is the largest form of contrast.

Now lets say we take the white box and make it a 50% black. Now we have lessoned the contrast in correspondance to the negative and positive.

There for, the box somewhat falls back.

With this ind mind lets take this idea to a canvas adn say the canvas is all black with the white box in one corder and the 50% gray box in another.

What box will the veiwer see first?

The white box off course because it is in the highest amount of contrast to the negative(black) space. While the 50% gray box is lower in contrast and not as evident.

Its quite a simple idea when you think about it. Think about scale. Are you going to see something that is larger before you see something smaller- without regards to color?- yes.

Control is all about contrast- whether in the most cmplex or simplest of forms.

Repetition is about unity. repetition pretty much assures unity.

Repetition and contrast used effectivly together assure balance. Since, repetition is basically the complete opposite of contrast. Where on is repeting something and the other is doing the exact opposite- not repeating.

Emphasis is about using repetition but using contrast to bring out individual parts so they are the predominat forms.

Its that simple...lol

The key is applying these "algebraic" thoughts in a visual form to arrange parts on a page. Which is soly achieved through practice and expierience alone.

Color is a whole other subject which I'm not going to elaborate on much just to say in the most simplest of forms contrast dictates color also. If be fill in the black square with a dark yellow and the smaller one with a comp.... oh forget it I'm going to start confussing you,lol. This is alot to take in.as it is without introducing color.

hopefully I didn't confuss you to much but, I'm on a caffein high from completion of my current project last night... or this night- either one,lol.

So hopefully you pulled something usefull out of my design speil.

[Jason Fraker]

One of the biggest things you can do to improve your eye is to look at magazines and other publications to see what big clients are actually PAYING for. Usually, you will find very simple, but effective, ads in those publications. The type is almost never beveled, and the photos are dominant (if the ad even has photos). Less = more. If you have 1200 items in your piece, then you are diverting attention to too many areas, especially if they are all roughly the same size. If you have three items in the piece, now we're talking. Also, remember that design = CRAP
Contrast
Repitition
Alignment
Proximity


Read the Robin Williams book (actually anything by her is great), and check out Scott Kelby if you want some great (i.e. non-cheesy) photoshop effects, Deke McLelland for an EXHAUSTIVE look into how these programs work, Bert Monroy for photoshop/Illustrator nirvana, and Dave Cross for good Illustrator tips. I'll think of more later, but this should get you started.

[Blacklord]

Wow.... just.... wow.

[morea]

be sure to read tz's post thoroughly. It's very good information.

[cjoe]

I was taught (am being taught) that the principals all boil down to the acronym; CRAP.

Contrast
Repetition
Alignment
Proximity

[PersonasBinar]

MY EYES!!!!!!! The goggles do nothing!!!!

[balou]

I'm on a caffein high from completion of my current project last night... or this night- either one,lol.

tZ always has good info in his novellas. Sometimes I picture him as that googley eyed caffeine infused guy on Saturday Night Live (or is it Mad TV?) madly typing away that whole post in about 3 seconds :D

[cjoe]

tZ always has good info in his novellas. Sometimes I picture him as that googley eyed caffeine infused guy on Saturday Night Live (or is it Mad TV?) madly typing away that whole post in about 3 seconds :D

i thought he might have been one of moreas children (morea is infact a sentient A.I.) that has inherited all the knowledge of design theory from moreas vast library of design articles. lol. Good work tZ.

[PersonasBinar]

She's an AI ? Now it all make sense!!!!! I'm so stupid I shoulda seen it.