Graphic design

Materials, techniques and

processes

Introduction to:

Pencils

There is a variety of pencils such as HB, 2H and 2B that you may have heard of. Try as many as you can to see what the differences are.

Use softer pencils for sketching (they rub out easily and blend well). Mechanical pencils are ideal for technical drawing as they are always sharp.Make sure that you sharpen your pencils – and never throw them because if the lead breaks then you may as well throw it away!

Pencils - task

Use pairs of pencils to create a range of colours. (e.g. use red and yellow to create a range of reds, oranges and yellows)

Try to blend as seamlessly as possible.

Marker pensThese are harder to use well than you may think. Task - Try to colour a square approx 10cm² without making any one part darker than the rest and without going over the edges.

Use felt pens sparingly – they should be used as a presentation medium, not for sketching or writing in.

Charcoals and PastelsThese are great for sketching, blending

and creating presentation drawings.

However, they can make a mess. Make

sure that you use a fixative on the

finished drawings and wash your hands

frequently.

Printing Processes• Offset

lithography• Gravure• Letterpress• Photocopiers• Plotters• Laser printers• Inkjet Printers

In school you may have some of these processes available to you, where as others are used mainly in industry.

Cyan

Magenta

Yellow

Black

Colour printing

What four colours are used in printing?

Modelling• Presentation models are used to show what finished

products will look like.• Sketch models are quick models roughly showing what

something will be like (think Blue Peter)• Demonstration models show how something works (e.g.

use Lego Technic®)• Virtual Prototyping is using 3D drawing programs on a

computer to show a high quality representation of a potential product.

• Rapid prototyping uses computer generated 3d images and uses computer controlled lasers to create solid models from materials such as foam.

• Computer simulation is used for products to test products in certain situations (e.g. how much weight can be put on a chair before it collapses)

Pictures from www.turbocad.co.uk

Paper, Cards and Boards

A1 – 594mm x 841mm

A2 – 420mm x 594mm

A3 – 297mm x 420mm (coursework pages)

A4 – 210mm x 297mm (standard school printer size)

A5 – 148mm x 210mm

A6 – 105mm x 148mm

A8 – (business card)

Paper comes in a variety of standard sizes as well as off the roll.

Paper, Cards and Boards - taskResearch a range of papers, boards and cards.

Try to find out what each is used for, its weight and cost.

e.g.

Tracing paper

Corrugated card

Whiteboard

Cartridge paper

Sugar paper

Cardboard

Foamboard

gsm = grams per square metreStandard writing paper = 80gsm