How to make a good graphic designer

As a rookie who wants to be a good graphic designer or web designer, we usually start by learning some tutorials from the Internet. We search for some of the effects we want to learn, such as tutorials on button effects, typography, page layouts, illustrations, and so on. All the way to the end we are hopeless, thinking that we can not be what we see Daniel, and then stop. I want to tell you, do not underestimate yourself, remember to eat bitter bitter, fang for people.

Success without effort is like reaping without sowing! No way!

--rev Run

Keep your curiosity, even if it's something you won't do.

When you search the Web, you see a well-designed website, you might say, wow! So beautiful! "Then you may ask yourself a few questions:

How do they make these buttons? How are these shadow effects and 3D effects implemented?

What color did they use?

What is the actual width of the website?

I often do what I don't do, in order to learn how to do it.

--pablo Picasso

Quick Challenge

First of all, I have to confirm that you will Photoshop basic operations. Here's what you need to do: Turn on Photoshop and try to copy the effect of the button (don't start with a tutorial on a similar effect, because you may end up finding only the wrong effect)

Sounds hard, doesn't it? Because you don't know how to replicate these effects. Think about it, you'll study the mixed options panel and you can experiment with other effects before you get the effect you want. I know it's not a perfect imitation, but it's good to learn while playing.

Then you wonder what color they're using? Well, it's really easy. Take a screenshot and throw it into Photoshop, and you'll know by sucking it in the eyedropper tool.

There are faster ways to install browser plug-ins:

1, Chrome:eye dropper

2, Firefox:colorzilla

Finally, how to know the width of the site. The most basic method is the same as the color, this time you use the Ruler tool (U) on the line. Browser plugin:

1, Chrome:page Ruler

2, Firefox:measureit

Here is a quiz to test yourself.

Use the blending options to find out how the buttons in the screenshot below are implemented, and note that they are not using strokes.

Tell me your answer in the comments and your opinion of this article.

Doing this allows you to learn on your own and can quickly increase your knowledge and creativity in using Photoshop, which is all very well.

See all kinds of tutorials

We all know that not everyone is used to learning and discovering. Every beginner needs someone to guide them step-by-step to accomplish some of the effects they want to use Photoshop for.

The solution is to see a lot of useful tutorials on the web. Start with these simplest examples.

Here are some very good tutorials to improve your Photoshop skills.

1, starting from here, Photoshop Golden Tutorial

2, more than 50 easy to learn Photoshop poster tutorial

3. Template display: How to design a gallery layout page with Photoshop

If you already have basic web layouts, advertising pictures, and business cards, look for those highly efficient tutorials that enhance your workflow and make things faster and simpler.

1, simple 4 steps to complete the Photoshop contour painting

2. How to apply retro-style images to advertising

3. Quick tutorials--using Photoshop to realize letterpress printing and embossed text effects

Now do it!

Now that you have the basic skills, it's time to practice. I call this "freestyle", you do what you want to do, think creatively based on what you've learned.

There is no rule here. We just try to do something.

--thomas Edison

There is an example:

If you want to draw some dashed lines in your design, depending on the Photoshop knowledge you already have, you will want to implement it in the following steps:

Line tool (U)

You might think, "Well, I think I can use the line tool (U), modify the next layer stroke options, and then reduce the opacity. ”

Type tool (T)

This time the dotted line is used on a circular logo. You might say, "How can I use a straight line to do this?" and then start thinking about other options.

And then you might think, "Ha, I can use the Type tool (T), because the type tool can work on the shape path." I tried to draw a circle that is about 20 pixels smaller than the background shape, type the bars, adjust the text spacing of the character panel, and finally reduce the opacity. "Ah, great, you use these two tools to accomplish the effect you want to do with your learning." It feels like you're a Daniel now. Dude, I know. :)

But seriously, don't limit yourself to tutorials, try creative thinking, and believe that you can do it in a different way.

Join Design Community

Through hard practice and practice, you may have created a masterpiece. Now you are looking for a place to showcase your design. I suggest you join Deviantart, which is the perfect design community website for beginners.

This is the first time I uploaded to Deviantart's Web page.

Other design communities:

1, 7 Deviantart design community that best showcases the talents of web designers

Why do you need to join the design community?

1, know and make friends with you have the same interest in the designer

2, sharing your design skills and knowledge to others will also increase your skills and experience.

3, keep active let others know you. This is a good way to advertise yourself free only by participating in and demonstrating your design

4, you may encounter your first customer

Some designers create to show others what they do, and I design to tell others what I have solved.

--brian Yerkes

Participate in the design competition

I was fortunate to have been selected to participate in the school design competition, which has the best designers in all classes. After that, I thought, "Is there a design competition online?" "It's nice to really have. I found it in Deviantart from my friend.

During that time, I have published a lot of my design here, but I still do not have a client, I want to earn some money through my efforts. The best way for me was to take part in the design contest.

How to participate in the design competition?

A competition in which a merchant or contest organizer usually has a theme like a Web page, print or logo. Everyone can get involved and everyone is likely to win.

Where can I join?

1, 99Designs

2, Crowdspring

3, Hatchwise

Game considerations:

1, think of it as your first customer, to meet their needs

2, to your customers to provide 2-3 options

3, in the feedback area to your customers to demonstrate your strengths to explain your point of view.

By doing this, your client feels that you are really insightful, so that he or she is more likely to choose your plan and you will be rewarded for it.

Support Point of view:

1, if you are serious about the game and according to the design materials they provide a serious study, the real design project will let you learn how to design.

2, it does improve your creativity.

Opposing views:

1, I say, you only have 1% chance to win.

2, need very hard work.

3, let you despair

Looking back on the countless games I mentioned on the Internet in 2010, I didn't win an award, which really made me desperate. But I was very active in the end, and finally the day I won.

My winning work

One day I read some articles about "speculative work" (speculative Work). Then I realized that my time and energy in the design competition had not been won. It stopped me from participating in the design competition and thinking about other ways to make money.

That's the article that explains what speculative work is.

1. What is speculative work and why should you say no?

I thought I would never take part in the design competition until last May when I had a lack of money and I really needed some extra cash. So I took part in the design competition again, which really helped me solve the economic problems of that period.

Good articles recommend you to read:

2, why and when do speculative work good?

Post to share your thoughts

When I realized that it was not good for me to take part in the design competition, I asked myself, "What if I share what I've learned with Photoshop?" Just like the tutorials you read from other good authors. ”

Then I decided to write a tutorial. At that time, I contacted some web design bloggers and asked them if I could write a step-by-step tutorial on website templates for them. Almost everyone turned me down, and they felt that my level of creativity was not up to the requirements of their site. But there was a blog that promised me to write the tutorial. Guess what blog it is? Yes, it's 1stWebDesigner. It really made me happy, and it made me feel motivated, and soon I wrote a detailed tutorial.

This is my first tutorial.

I think you should do the same. Don't be afraid to share your thoughts. I'm sure you'll enjoy the process, earn money and learn more.

This is the tourist guide: Web design must post guide

At the same time, designers have many advantages to post. In Rakhita's article, it says: Web Design learning tips and how you can profit from it

Summary

If you start learning Web design or graphic design, I suggest you do as I mentioned above. Try to be better is your first choice, this is one day you can achieve your goal to become a good designer premise. Just don't forget to keep learning and listen to peer advice, and they will help you improve your skills.

Translator's Sign Language: The entire translation is carried out according to the original line, and in the process of translation slightly individual understanding of the technology. If the translation has the wrong place, but also please peer friends pointing. Thank you!

Special statement: This article is translated by summer according to Michael John Burns's English article formerly known as "a beginner ' s Guide on the How to become a decoupled Graphic Designer". The entire translation with our own understanding and thought, if the translation is not good or wrong place also please peer friends pointing. If you want to reprint this translation, you need to indicate the source of English: http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/become-a-better-graphic-designer/and author-related information

--Author: Michael John Burns

--Translator: Summer

About Summer

Shenzhen family, web designer, love design, love the front end, love life more. Please pay attention to me: Sina Weibo, personal blog.