Art and Design 3200Introduction to Graphic Art

What is Graphic Art???• Graphic art is type of fine art that includes many different art

forms.• Calligraphy, photography, drawing, painting, digital

manipulation and printmaking are some of the forms used in graphic art.

What do Graphic Artists Do?• The first graphic artists were people who were known as

scribes. It was their job to recopy books and manuscripts, by hand, so that there would be more copies of these books. This was before the printing press was invented. The art form was mainly calligraphy and how pretty and fancy you could make your handwriting. As well, many texts became known as illuminated texts because they had very elaborate borders, initial letters or sometimes even miniature illustrations that set them apart from other writing. The term illuminated comes from the original illuminated texts that used silver and or gold inks in the decorative drawings.

Example of an illuminated text

• By the mid-twentieth century graphic artists were increasingly employed by print companies to work in magazines and advertising to use the visual image to sell goods or products. Around this time graphic artists were also being hired by television production companies to exploit the use of the moving image in advertising as well.

• Graphic artists work to create advertisements and logos for businesses. Every brand logo that you associate with was once created by a graphic designer.

• These graphic artists are hard at work in the 1960s. Do any of these jobs look familiar to you? How might these same jobs be done today?

Modern Graphic Art• Modern graphic artists are most in demand as web designers.

There are many large corporations who hire people to work solely as web designers to create and maintain their online image. There are also many people who work as freelance web designers, meaning they are hired out on a contract basis to create web sites for companies and individuals.

• Graphic Artists are in increasingly high demand as companies work harder and harder to attract customers to their brand. Advertising companies, magazine publishers, and web designers all require the skills of an expert graphic artist.

• Graphic artists are required to have a vast knowledge of computers and various software programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw and Photoimpact.

Can you guess these symbols and logos?

The Meanings of Colours• Colors are the life of any type of graphic designing. Without

effective colors it is nearly impossible to design a winning brand identity. Every color has its own meaning and each color describes different purpose and idea. One must take care of the selection of the color that it should exactly communicate about the brand and company’s mission and vision.

• Here I am going to define basic meaning of some essential colors. It is necessary to have inner knowledge of colors for perfection in graphic designing, and it is also important for a designing professional to lean the meaning of these colors.

• http://www.logoinn.net/meaning-of-colors-in-designing/

Red• Red is a color of blood, it means it is a color of life. It is one of

the most popular and warmest among all other colors. King of flowers ‘Rose’ is red, and red is chosen for the bridal dress in most countries.

• Red shows energy, strength, love, passion, romance, warmth, excitement, blood, desire, enthusiasm, danger, joyfulness, speed, courage, prominence, intensity etc.

• For businesses red can be used for portraying passion, excitement, and attention. Red can bring enthusiasm to your brand.

Blue• When you see blue, you feel relaxed and cool. Blue is one of

the coolest colors. The sky is blue, the ocean is blue. Everything which makes you feel comfortable and relaxed is colored blue by nature.

• Blue portrays creativity, wisdom, gentleness, calmness, trust, loyalty, intelligence, devotion, confidence, comfort, ideas, harmony, friendship, patience etc.

• A business can use blue to represent loyalty, confidence and trustworthiness. Most businesses use blue to build customer loyalty and brand reliability

Green• Green symbolizes the nature. Natural things which give your

mind comfort like grass, are green. Balanced personalities prefer green. Green also shows good health and fortune.

• Green typifies success, fertility, growth, endurance, freshness, nature, immortality, environment, good luck, youthfulness, safety, contemplation, joyfulness, hope, dependability, friendliness etc.

• Companies often use green for food and health products. Green can represent healthiness, plentifulness and dedication

Purple• When red and blue are blended, the purple is formed, so

purple has the qualities of both the red and blue. Purple is cool like blue and powerful like red. This color gives the essence of spiritual fulfillment, and symbolizes magic and mystery.

• Purple depicts spiritual power, knowledge, dignity, influence, royalty, mystery, enlightment, extravagance, sophistication, cruelty, arrogance, empathy, imagination, déjà vu, fame, sensuality, luxury, elegance, majesty etc.

• Purple is generally used for premium service businesses. Purple represents businesses as wise, celebrated and sovereigns.

Yellow• Yellow is a representation of brightness and purity. Yellow is

favored by intelligent people. Yellow is usually used for showcasing creativeness and intellect. Sun is the great example of yellow which lightens the earth and humankind.

• Yellow represents brightness, light, intelligence, imagination, social energy, respect, shine, happiness, optimism, purity, honor, perception, understanding, dishonesty, wisdom, betrayal, curiosity, mellowness, confidence, jealousy, mellowness, summer, philosophy, glory etc.

• For businesses yellow is a color of happiness, warmth and awareness. Companies use yellow to bestow feeling of relaxation.

Orange• Orange reflects the physical and mental comfort. It is a color of

power and healing. Thoughtful and sincere people usually admire orange. This color is a mixture of red and yellow, so it has features of both the colors.

• Orange symbolizes enthusiasm, vibrancy, vitality, balance, justice, flamboyance, attention, attraction, endurance, steadfastness, fascination, heat, determination, autumn, creativity, encouragement, social structure, uninhibited, fun, kids, youth.

• Vivacity, potency and playfulness can be portrayed through orange. You can use orange if you want to display youthfulness and liveliness to your customers.

White• White is a reflection of all the colors. It enhances the presence

of all other different colors. White means peace and prosperity. Brides wear white because it represents purity and virtue.

• White exhibits peace, purity, spirituality, virginity, goddess, innocence, simplicity, precision, cleanliness, winter, snow, sterility, fairness, safety, innovations, holiness, feminine, chastity, positivity etc.

• White can be seen in medical and health services or in women’s products. Purity, cleanliness and youthfulness can be pictured through white.

Black• Black is opposite of white, but it works like a counterpart of

white. White and black both make the greatest combination of all time. Black mostly refers to as darkness, death, fear and horror, but on the other hand it represents the corporate culture, power, credibility and seriousness.

• Black means power, formality, classy, protection, sophistication, wealth, elegance, fear, depth, sadness, compunction, empowerment, bad luck, authority, reliability, prestige, seriousness, binding etc.

• Most corporate and high-end branding is done through black. Black gives the feeling of credibility, elegance, power, and strength.