Do you want to be a graphic artist but don’t know where to start? We’ll guide you on what skills every graphic artist should learn for printed media. Do not be disheartened or overwhelmed. In this modern age, there are plenty of tools that make learning fun and easy. Take note that designing for digital material requires a different skill set as compared to print media. Although some skills required tend to overlap, some requirements are unique.
Color Management and Color Theory Mastery
You don’t have to be an expert right away. But as the saying goes, constant practice makes perfect. The same goes for mastery in color management and color theory in print media. It’s easier for you to get familiarized with the right color combination through practice. Also, make time to do a design. If time permits, you can practice at least once per day. You should be able to identify the difference between CYMK and RGB for screen viewing and printing. In addition, you need to get familiar with color calibration and tools you can use online.
- CYMK – stands for cyan, yellow, magenta, and black. If you are going to print a design into a physical form such as tarpaulins, banners, or flaglets, use this. This is also known as subtractive color profile where the ink lessens the brightness until the preferred color is reached. CYMK file types include PDF files, Adobe Illustrator files, and EPS files.
- RGB – stands for red, green, and blue. This is best for color proofing on screen. If you are designing for a website, a social media post, or any digital file, use this. This is the additive color profile. RGB file types include JPG or JPEG, PSD, or PNG files.
When it comes to color calibration, there are plenty of online software that you try such as:
- Datacolor SpyderX Pro
- Calibrite ColorChecker Studio
- DataColor SpyderX Elite
- iDisplay Studio
- X-Rite ColorMunki Display
- DisplayCAL
Typography and Font Management
There are hundreds of typography and fonts that you can choose from these days. Deciding which one to use takes time. It takes skills and experience to decide on which font is the best for your design. Think of them as human beings each having their unique characters. It could get overwhelming trying to decide which one to use right? If you fail to choose the right font, you won’t be able to effectively communicate with your audience. One needs to master the skills of font pairing, kerning, tracking, and leading. Some of the fonts you can use for your tarpaulins are the following:
- Helvetica
- Optima
- Arial
- Open Sans
- Montserrat
- Myriad
- PT Sans
- Georgia
Remember some fonts work well on digital but not on banners. Exercise caution when choosing your font style and size. Make sure that the message is visible and clear once printed. If you want to learn more about fonts, check out some training on Learning entitled, Font Management Essential Training.
Understanding Bleed, Margins, and Print Layout
If you don’t understand these terms or consider them in your design, it could lead to rework. This happens when some of the important elements get cut off during the printing. This is due to a lack of safe margins and bleed marks. This mistake could also affect the delivery time and could lead to additional costs on the client side.
- Bleed – According to GDI, bleed refers to the background color or image that extends to the end of the paper size. If your design has a bleed, it means it uses a size bigger than the final paper size. To make sure that none of your design is cut off, the important elements should be within the safety zone mark. This is 3mm away from the trim edge.
- Margin – this refers to the extra white space that separates the content. The margin is at the top, bottom, left, and right of your design. Margins are important to make sure that the design is not cut off. In addition, it also keeps the focus on the design.
- Print Lay Out – this refers to an overview of how your entire design will look. This gives you a perspective of the overall arrangement of your elements. It makes you consider the hierarchical composition of the design. Some people refer to this as the art form of mixing and matching the texts and images to make it aesthetically pleasing.
If you want to learn more about print layout, you can check out Visual Design for Beginners using Canva Pro in Udemy. You will learn the basics of graphic design and the other design subjects.
Know How in Print Materials and Finishes
There are several kinds of materials you can use for print media such as coated, silk, uncoated, matter, and glossy. Each of these materials can affect the overall look of your design once printed. For banners, the common types of materials used are either matte or glossy. When it comes to print finishes, there are several options such as:
- Foil Stamping – This type of finishing uses a heat and foil stamping machine. This will then add a metallic finish to your design.
- Embossing – This type of finishing has been practiced for decades. This creates a 3D effect and texture to your design.
- Lamination – This type of finishing provides your material with more protection from scratches. It also makes it more resistant to UV rays and moisture.
Other forms of finishes may include Spot UV varnish, Soft Touch, Machine Varnish, Die Cutting, and Custom Folds.
Communication Skills
Graphic artists need to be familiar not only with designing software but also be able to communicate well. Communication skills are essential to clear things up with your client and align properly. In addition, if you are working for a large organization you may need to talk to people of different levels. Having a strong communication skill makes you favorable and avoids any misunderstanding. Additionally, it could also help you in the future when you’re considering negotiating your pay.
If you used to work independently and you’re too shy to interact with other people, you might want to take some communication skills training. This will help you gain confidence in talking with other people. Coursera offers a variety of courses which include active listening, developing interpersonal skills, and successful negotiation.
Time Management Skills
Another important skill set that needs to be learned is time management. You will be working with deadlines. With the right time management skills, you’ll be able to decide which tasks are more important than others. Imagine consistently submitting your work beyond the expected schedule. This will hurt your reputation and you may lose clients in the end. Time management is important in keeping your current clients happy and attracting new ones. Check out some of these trainings to improve your time management skills.
Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills
If you want to stand out from the rest of the competition, make sure that your creative design is unique. This will give you an edge against the competition. Additionally, you may encounter plenty of problems in finalizing your design. You have to think outside the box and be a problem solver. Let’s say you’re working on a design and suddenly your trial version of the premium account expired. You’ll have to find the right workaround to finish the job right? Check out other websites that you can use for your needed elements, ask for help from friends, or check with customer service if you can extend. Do not get stuck with the problem. Be creative and find a solution as fast as you can. Dwelling on the challenges won’t let you beat the deadline.
I hope that by this time you can gain some valuable insights from this article. I hope that you get inspired to pursue your graphic design path. Learn the skills, polish, and add more as you go on. Who knows a newbie like you might be the one training new learners after a few years.
