DESIGN INFO
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CMYK & RGB
PRINT COLOURS:
Cyan (C)
Magenta (M)
Yellow (Y)
Black (K) /(Key)
The CMYK colour mode is for print materials, The inks are mixed to varying degrees the more ink colours the darker the result.DIGITAL COLOURS:
RGB - The red, green and blue colour space for digital imagery. All colours start as a blackness, and then RGB lights are added on top of each other to make it brighter.Pure white is created by mixing red, green, and blue light at an equal intensity.When creating any sort of project it’s important to use the right colour formatting going in, for designs intended to be printed out use CMYK (there is colour conversion for RGB, but won’t give accurate results.
Use an RGB colour mode for online graphics.
PANTONE - is a standard colour matching system where a code number is used to identify each colour. -
FILE TYPES
JPEG FILE TYPES: Support RGB & CMYK colour modes, Jpg files are most commonly used and supported.
PNG: (Portable Graphics Format) Allows for transparent backgrounds. These image files are capable of containing 24bit RGB color palettes and greyscale images.
Gif: (Graphics Interchange Format) An 8bit low memory option best used for a smaller file size on the internet.
EPS: (Encapsulated PostScript) vector graphics or drawings within a PostScript Document. A vector being shapes and edges created using mathematical equations, this is to allow for enlarging or shrinking without losing details like what would happen with jpg image enlarging.
Tiff / .tif: (Tag Image File Format) Useful for photographers as it can store high-quality image information.
Raw: Uncompressed images from digital cameras, large file sizes due to containing a lot of information from the camera to the users editing program.
PDF: (Portable Document Format) Best format for sharing documents for print purposes, It contains information for text, images, links, form boxes attachments and signature recognition.
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PAPER SIZES
A6 - 105 x 148 mm.
A5 - 148 x 210 mm.
A4 - 210 x 297 mm.
A3 - 297 x 420 mm.
A2 - 420 x 594 mm.
A1 - 594 x 841 mm.
A0 - 841 x 1188 mm.
DL - 99 x 210 mm(A5 folded once or A4 folded twice) Size for personal envelopes /brochures flyers.
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DIECUTS AND OTHER PROCESSES
Emboss: To produced a raised impression on the surface of paper by pressing it between two dies.
Debose: To produce a recessed impression on the surface of paper by pressing between two dies.
Die: Sharp metal rules mounted on a board for making diecuts, or a solid metal block used for stamping foil or an impression on paper. Diecut: A decorative or unusual cut made in paper by a metal die.
Ram cut: Rounded edges cut (instead of standard sharp cornered edges), Usually for business cards.
Trimming and Guillotining: Print jobs are usually duplicated on an SRA3 sheet to save on the amount of paper used then trimmed down to their actual size from the crop marks, stacks of the job can be cut at the same time.
Bleed: a design that needs to be printed will need a bleed in order for the edges to not have a bordering white line. The size is commonly a 3mm x 3mm from the page size which will have the artwork spilling up to.
Margin: this is a safe area for any text and important logo/artwork, it’s important to keep within these lines so it isn’t too close to the edge and cut off.
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PAPER STOCK TYPES AND FINISHES
Matte / Satin
Gloss
UV
Transparent and Translucent Papers
Waterproof papers
Uncoated paper
Recycled paper
Foam core board
Specialty paper
Coloured papers
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GSM PAPER THICKNESS
GSM (Grams per Square Metre). A measurement on paper thickness. The higher the GSM number, the heavier the paper/card stock. Thicker stock would generally suit business cards whereas a thinner gloss paper could be for a brochure.
80gsm - standard print paper
100-150gsm - slightly thicker more quality
300 - 350gsm - Thicker, used for business cards etc.
Kick back and enjoy one of my favourite time passing puzzles.
Using numbers in grids, make sure not to repeat them in a sequence or a grid.
Random Facts & Info:
Puzzles Section - Sudoku
William Addison Dwiggins coined the word “graphic design” in 1922. A typographer, designer, calligrapher, illustrator, and book designer.
Helvetica - a commonly used font you will see everywhere, created in 1957. Used in logos such as American Airlines, Jeep, Target, and Verizon Wireless for example.
Graphic design is multidisciplinary, interacting with many different industries and using many different mediums. Graphic design contributes to many industries including film, advertisement, home interior, social media and the fashion industry to name a few.
Tim Berners-Lee created the first website on the 6th of August 1991. Instructing how to use the internet at the time: Click here to see.
Companies demand faster project turnarounds, especially with the release of generative AI. Projects requiring completion within one week can be unreasonable based on how many processes a print might need to go through or deliveries needed.
Graphic design is a very social career. A lot of communication and charisma is needed. The designer needs to be able to explain their methods, understand the client and create lasting relationships with clients that can be beneficial to the growth of a company.
Website visitors will leave within 15 seconds, if the design fails to catch their attention or there isn’t a flashy deal or something to entice.
An early printing process: Wooden block was inked with a paintbrush, a sheet of paper spread on it, and the back of the sheet rubbed with a brush. The oldest known printed works were made by this technique: in Japan about 764–770, Buddhist incantations ordered by Empress Shōtoku; in China in 868, the first known book, the Diamond Sūtra; and, beginning in 932, a collection of Chinese classics in 130 volumes, at the initiative of Fong Tao, a Chinese minister.
Credit to the invention of the printing press goes to Johannes Gutenberg. Although it was earlier believed to have been Laurens Janszoon Coster 1370-1440 Coster is said to have printed with movable type as early as 1430, but definite proof of this claim is lacking. Johannes Gutenberg began his experiments around 1440 and was ready to put his method to commercial use by 1450.
More and more major companies are using Ai in their advertisements thus giving the impression of sameness and lack of effort, this is the current trend of 2025-2026, as investors feel the need for AI, the general public tends to frown upon its use. The company’s trust is put to the test. It is seen as a use to lay off employees for easy design work and to cut costs, meanwhile expenses go up.
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William Addison Dwiggins coined the word “graphic design” in 1922. A typographer, designer, calligrapher, illustrator, and book designer.
Helvetica - a commonly used font you will see everywhere, created in 1957. Used in logos such as American Airlines, Jeep, Target, and Verizon Wireless for example.
Graphic design is multidisciplinary, interacting with many different industries and using many different mediums. Graphic design contributes to many industries including film, advertisement, home interior, social media and the fashion industry to name a few.
Tim Berners-Lee created the first website on the 6th of August 1991. Instructing how to use the internet at the time: Click here to see.
Companies demand faster project turnarounds, especially with the release of generative AI. Projects requiring completion within one week can be unreasonable based on how many processes a print might need to go through or deliveries needed.
Graphic design is a very social career. A lot of communication and charisma is needed. The designer needs to be able to explain their methods, understand the client and create lasting relationships with clients that can be beneficial to the growth of a company.
Website visitors will leave within 15 seconds, if the design fails to catch their attention or there isn’t a flashy deal or something to entice.
An early printing process: Wooden block was inked with a paintbrush, a sheet of paper spread on it, and the back of the sheet rubbed with a brush. The oldest known printed works were made by this technique: in Japan about 764–770, Buddhist incantations ordered by Empress Shōtoku; in China in 868, the first known book, the Diamond Sūtra; and, beginning in 932, a collection of Chinese classics in 130 volumes, at the initiative of Fong Tao, a Chinese minister.
Credit to the invention of the printing press goes to Johannes Gutenberg. Although it was earlier believed to have been Laurens Janszoon Coster 1370-1440 Coster is said to have printed with movable type as early as 1430, but definite proof of this claim is lacking. Johannes Gutenberg began his experiments around 1440 and was ready to put his method to commercial use by 1450.
More and more major companies are using AI in their advertisements thus giving the impression of sameness and lack of effort, this is the current trend of 2025-2026, as investors feel the need for AI, the general public tends to frown upon its use. The company’s trust is put to the test. It is seen as a use to lay off employees for easy design work and to cut costs, meanwhile expenses go up.