Graphic Design Employment Blog

The purpose of Graphic Design Employment.com is this: to help designers build confidence through graphic design articles covering everyday, essential tasks. Most of the information here is knowledge that every designer has to know if they're to work confidently in a design studio. The focus is on the basic issues of preparing images correctly for print, setting up documents in InDesign and Quark, artwork press-preparation, best practices and general workflow. The Graphic Design Employment Blog is where you'll find new and updated training articles, useful websites and resources related to GDE.com. You can subscribe to the blog via an RSS feed so that you can tell when something new has been added. To subscribe to the Graphic Design Employment Blog (no e-mail necessary), right-click on the orange RSS button (see the buttons to the left, below the navigation menu) and then paste the URL into your RSS reader. Alternatively, click on the My Yahoo!, My MSN or Add To Google button if you keep a personalized home page there. Click here for a list of our graphic design tutorials. Click here to ask the author (Nick B Davies) a graphic design-related question.

5th black spot color plates are often used in page makeup. What is it and why?

If you're a freelance page makeup artist working on a publication which requires a 5th black spot color plate, this article explains how to handle the additional color and why.

You can edit PDF documents using Acrobat, but its capabilities are minimal.

If you need to edit PDF documents there are a number of ways to approach the task. You can edit a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat. This page tell you what editing features are available.

How to edit PDF documents using Photoshop & Illustrator as Acrobat Plugins.

If you need to know how to edit PDF files there are a number of ways to approach the task. To make complex changes you'll need Illustrator and Photoshop to help. Acrobat treats them as super-plugins.

InDesign Files - How to Set Up Business Card Layout Design for Press.

Learn how to set up InDesign files for press. This article demonstrates bleed, CMYK, spot colors and PDFX1a creation by producing a business card layout design. Applicable to all document layouts.

An Adobe student discount opens up the playing field

An Adobe Student Discount can make the difference between getting a job and losing a job. Knowing Adobe software inside out will give you the confidence that other candidates might lack.

4 Color Process Printing and Spot Color Printing - What the Difference?

Learn about the main printing processes involved in graphic design projects. Including 4 color process printing and spot color printing. What's the difference between Pantone and CMYK swatches?

Convert Quark to InDesign - Common Quark File Conversion Problems and Solutions

If you need to convert Quark to InDesign, here is a case study showing how to proceed. If the file is Quark XPress version 5 or later you will need to do some back-saving.

Cheap royalty free photos and stock images - where and how to find them

Over the years the Internet has made image research and purchase a breeze. Some major image libraries are listed here, as well as our recommendations for cheap royalty free photos and stock images.

Create a Glass Photoshop Button Using Layer Styles and Shape Layers

It's possible to create some great effects in Photoshop using just flat shape layers and non-destructive layer styles. This tutorial shows how to create a shiny glass Photoshop button, set in metal.

Photoshop Tutorial Bling Text - Adjustment Layers Photoshop Video Tutorial

Photoshop Tutorial Bling Text. A Photoshop tutorial demonstrating how adjustment layers and layer styles can be used to create great effects non-destructively. Also shown as a Photoshop video tutorial

Graphic Design Software You Need to Learn for Graphic Design Employment.

Since the introduction of the Apple Mac, graphic design software has transformed the industry. Find out what software you need to learn for graphic design employment in today's studios.

Illustrator Gradient Mesh Tutorial

The Illustrator Gradient Mesh Tool in Illustrator CS3 is an often overlooked, highly versatile tool. It can help you create realistic illustrations in Adobe Illustrator. Here is a demonstration.

Adobe Illustrator Tutorials. Video and Written Tips and Tricks.

Adobe Illustrator Tutorials. A collection of video and written tutorials created and collated in order to demonstrate some of the more useful tools and techniques of Adobe Illustrator.

Career Information on Graphic Design Employment.com, Jobs in Graphic Design

If you're starting out in graphic design, you'll find career information on graphic design employment. Also find numerous websites listing jobs in graphic design for all levels.

Re design an ad when the aspect ratio changes - timelapse video

If you need to re design an ad because the shape or aspect ratio has changed, you'll often find it takes much longer than you first think. This is a timelapse video of one, created in InDesign CS3.

A hair cutout in Photoshop using Blending Options Instead of Paths

Cutting out images using paths is all very well until you come across hair or fur. This article explains how to do a hair cutout in Photoshop without using paths that won't take all day.

Universal Proofreading Symbols for Graphic Designers

An often overlooked skill in graphic design training is the ability to interpret universal proofreading symbols. If you're a designer and know nothing about proofreading, learn these essential basics!

Quark Style Sheets Tutorial

It's essential to know how to create, apply and edit Quark style sheets when working with large documents in Quark XPress. They are easy to use and can save enormous amounts of time.

A Useful Proofreading Marks Chart -Universal Proofreading Symbols and Examples

As a graphic designer, I find it useful to have a proofreading marks chart in front of me when ploughing through heavily corrected pages! Here are some of the most common proofreading marks & examples

Press-Ready Image Tutorial - how to make high resolution images printer ready

A graphic design tutorial explaining how and why images are made press-ready. Builds confidence in graphic design graduates and first-job seekers by demonstrating industry techniques.

Prepress Training Checklist: make press-ready vector graphics & raster graphics

A checklist to keep by your computer when creating press-ready images. This prepress training website builds confidence in graduate or first-job graphic designers. Graphic design employment info.

Free Photoshop Tutorial Videos by Graphic Design Employment.com

Our Photoshop tutorial videos are a great way to learn new techniques and tricks. They're easy to follow and include links to static tutorials of the same topics which can be printed for reference.

Creating a Photoshop Cut Out and Placing as a Layered PSD File in InDesign

If you want to retain transparency when placing images in InDesign, you need to save a Photoshop cut out image as a layered PSD file. It'll blend in nicely!

Photoshop Clipping Paths - How To & How Not To Create Good Quality Paths

If anyone ever tells you to use the Photoshop Magic Wand Tool to create Photoshop clipping paths, don't believe them! This article shows you how to do it RIGHT - and how to do it WRONG!

Standard paper dimensions, possible uses and template downloads

A handy guide to standard paper dimensions, including sizes, possible uses and Quark and InDesign sample file downloads.

Over printing problems and solutions in Quark, InDesign and Illustrator

If you're browsing the internet looking for a solution to an over printing problem, this might be the page for you. Quark and InDesign overprinting issues and rich black CMYK values are covered here.

Live Trace in Illustrator. Create Accurate Line Art Tracings.

Live Trace in Adobe Illustrator used to be a standalone product called Adobe Streamline. Illustrator's line art tracing tools were pretty basic. Then Live Trace was built into CS2, great for line art.

Learn About Graphic Designer Employment - Essential Knowledge and Information

If you're getting ready to dive into a graphic design career, are you confident about what will be expected of you? Learn about graphic designer employment and the projects you're likely to work on.

Just what is a Bitmap? Simple Photoshop color mode explanation & image tutorial.

One of the few ways that poor image quality can be improved. This article, 'Just What is a Bitmap', gives a simple explanation of the Bitmap Photoshop color mode and demonstration of its use in print.

InDesign Transparency and Faded Background Image Effects

When using InDesign transparency on a background image, there are two ways to lock the image at the back so you don't keep accidentally selecting it. One is to use layers, and one to use master pages.

InDesign Style Sheets Tutorial

It's essential to know how to create, apply and edit InDesign style sheets when working with large documents in Adobe InDesign. They are easy to use and can save enormous amounts of time.

Image File Format Definitions for Print. When to Use EPS, PSD, AI, TIF Files.

Learn how and when to use different file types for different design projects. Image file format definitions, prepress preparation techniques, difference between raster and vector file types explained.

ILLUSTRATION How to Create Great Looking Line Art in Adobe Illustrator

ILLUSTRATION How to create great looking line artwork in Adobe Illustrator - even if you have no artistic skill whatsoever! Remember tracing paper? It's the same principle but better.

How Do Graphic Design Creatives Get Their Ideas and Inspiration?

Every creative experiences some sort of writers block at one time or another. So how do graphic design creatives get past this hurdle? Here are some ideas to start you off.

Graphic Design Tutorials - Essential Information for Graphic Design Employment

Our graphic design tutorials are aimed at graduate and beginner designers who want to know what their minimum knowledge level should be for graphic design employment.

Writing Graphic Design Resumes. Step by step to an effective graphic design CV .

The basics of how to write effective graphic design resumes. A format that presents the information clearly and logically. Don't get carried away! Write a good graphic design CV and get the job.

The Graphic Design Interview. Common Sense Tips for Graphic Design Employment.

So you've got yourself a graphic design interview! How do you handle it? Actually it's all common sense. Keep confidence high, think about what they want to hear and know the job you are applying for!

About The Graphic Design Employment Website and Author

The Graphic Design Employment website has been created for graphic design graduates who might have gaps in their knowledge after college.

Glassy Button or Enamel Badge Created Using Layer Styles in Photoshop

It's possible to create some great effects in Photoshop using just flat shape layers and non-destructive layer styles. This tutorial shows how to create a glassy button or enamel badge effect.

Free Quark to InDesign Conversion From QuarkXPress version 4, 5 or 6 - How?

Do you need to convert a large or complex Quark file to InDesign? It'll need some reworking however you do it, but here is the free Quark to InDesign conversion method as well as a commercial option.