ITWB416 - Graphics Design

Computer Graphics

A sub-field of computer science that studies methods for digitally synthesizing and manipulating visual content, including 2D and 3D graphics.

Graphics Card

Decides how to use the pixels on the screen to create the image.

Lock

Left of the layer name

Visibility

Left of the lock

Line Segment Tool

Draws straight lines

Polygon Tool

Creates customizable polygons

Paintbrush and Pencil Tools

(2) allows free hand drawings with varied stroke styles

Raster Graphics

Each pixel is separately defined, as in a digital photograph.

Vector Graphics

Uses mathematical formulas to draw lines and shapes, allowing scalability without loss of resolution.

Computer Graphics

One of the most effective and commonly used way to information in form of graphics object.

Rasterization

The process of determining the appropriate pixels for representing picture or graphics object.

Scan Conversion

The process of representing continuous pictures or graphics as a collection of discrete pixels.

Pixel

The smallest screen element in a computer graphic display.

Pixel (1-3)

Picture Element = Pixel = Pel

Graphics Devices

Combination of input and display devices used for interacting with and viewing graphics.

Presentation Graphics

Used to generate visual reports like charts or graphs for research or presentations.

Entertainment

Used in making motion pictures

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Allows users to interact with a system through icons, menus, and windows.

Window Manager

Major component of GUI interface, allows a user to display mutimedia window areas.

AutoCAD

A computer graphics application used for engineering and architectural design.

Computer Art

The use of computer graphics in fine arts and commercial applications.

Virtual Reality

Provides a realistic effect using sight and sound, allowing user interaction with a virtual environment.

Telemedicine

Allows physicians to consult remotely using video conferencing and image sharing.

Image Processing

Converts and modifies images into digital form, often used in commercial and medical fields.

Education

A wide range of individual education software with multimedia.

Display Devices

Also known as Output devices, like video monitors that visually display computer graphics.

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)

An evacuated glass tube that uses electron beams striking phosphor-coated screens to produce images.

Control Gid Voltage

Determines the veloicty achieved by electrons when they hit the phosphor.

CRT Monitor

Displays colour pictures by using a combination of phosphors that emit different coloured light.

Bean-Penetration Technique and Shadow Mask Technique

Two basic techniques for producing colour displays.

Flat Panel Display (FPD)

Thin, lightweight displays with lower power consumption compared to CRTs.

Emissive Display

Convert electrical energy to light energy.

Non-emissive Display

Use optical effect to convert light into graphical patterns.

Plasma Panel Display

Writres images on the display surface point-by-point, each point remains bright

Plasma Panel Display

consist of two plates of glass with thin, closely spaced gold electrodes.

Liquid Crystal

refers to the fact that these compounds have a crystalline arrangement of molecules, yet they flow like a liquid.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

Uses light-polarizing crystals sandwiched between glass plates to display images.

Keyboard, Digitizers, Mouse, Image Scanners, Trackball & Spaceball, Touch Panels, Joystick, Light Panels, Data Glove, Voice System

Graphic Input Devices

-Scalable without resolution loss

-Lines are crisp and sharp at any size

-Print at high resolution

-Smaller file sizes

-Good for drawing illustrations"

Advantages of Vector Graphics (5)

-Drawings tend to look flat and cartoon-like

-Hard to produce photorealistic drawings"

Disadvantages of Vector Graphics (2)

Toolbox

By default, appears as a single column.

Click the top-left mini arrow to toggle into 2 columns.

Floating Palette

-Contains properties for shapes.

-Commonly used for changing colors and stroke width.

Adobe Illustrator

A vector-based design program for creating illustrations, logos, and diagrams.

Selection Tool

Used to select, move, and resize shapes or objects.

Direct Selection Tool

Used to modify individual anchor points and path segments.

Pen Tool

Creates precise paths using anchor points for lines and curves.

Pencil Tool

Draws freehand paths that can be reshaped or smoothed.

Add Anchor Point Tool

Add anchor points on paths.

Delete Anchor Point Tool

Delete anchor points on paths.

Anchor Point Tool

Convert from corner points to smoother anchor points.

Curvature Tool

Draw Edit Connected Lines and curves using anchor points

Group Selection Tool

Select an object within a group, or a group of objects within a parent group.

Magic Wand Tool [Y]:

Select objects that share an attribute, like color or opacity.

Lasso Tool [Q]

Drag to draw a shape around the elements that you want to select.

Artboard Tool [Shift+O]

Select, create, and adjust artboards on the canvas.

Hand Tool [H]:

Move the canvas around to view parts of your artwork.

Print Tiling Tool

Adjust the printable area of artboards.

Rotate View Tool [Shift+H]

Change the canvas orientation to a specific angle

Zoom Tool [Z]

Zoom in and out of the canvas

Mesh Tool [U]

Blend colors and create contours on the surfaces of objects.

Shape Builder Tool [Shift+M]

Create complex shapes by merging and erasing simpler objects.

Gradient Tool [ G]

Create gradual blend between colors.

Live Paint Bucket Tool [K]:

Create a Live Paint group and apply color, patterns, or gradients to different elements.

Live Paint Selection Tool [Shift+L]

Select elements of the Live Paint group.

Type Tool [T]

Enter text at a point or in an area

Area Type Tool

Use the boundaries of objects to enter and control the flow of text

Type on a Path Tool

Enter text along the shape of a path.

Vertical Type Tool

Enter text vertically at a point.

Vertical Area Type Tool

Use the boundaries of objects to enter and control the flow of vertical text.

Vertical Type on a Path Tool

Enter vertical text along the shape of a path.

Touch Type Tool [Shift+T]

Move, scale, and rotate individual characters in a word.

Rotate Tool [R]:

Rotate an object around a reference point

Reflect Tool [O]:

Flip an object over a reference point.

Scale Tool [S]:

Resize an object relative to a reference point.

Shear Tool:

Slant or skew an object relative to a reference point.

Reshape Tool

Reshape a path relative to an anchor point on the path.

Width Tool [Shift+W]

Change the thickness of strokes.

Vector Graphics

Technology Illustrator uses mathematical paths to create crisp and scalable vector graphics, ideal for logos and icons.

Customizable Interface

The interface offers various tools and panels that users can customize to fit different design need

Project Organization

Multiple artboards, layers, and color swatches help users efficiently organize their design projects.

Creative Cloud Integration

Seamless integration with other creative applications enhances workflow and productivity in design projects.

Panels

provide tools and options for specific design functions like color, layers, and properties, enhancing workflow efficiency.

Workspaces

are predefined or custom arrangements of panels that suit various design workflows such as typography or painting.

Window > Workspace > Essentials / Custom

Accessing Workspace

Layers panel

allows creating, naming, and rearranging layers, as well as dragging objects between layers for organization.

Layers

help organize complex artwork by grouping multiple objects for easy management and editing control.

Pen, Shape, and Pencil Tools

Users create shapes with _ (3) to design precise graphics

Hold Shift

to constrain proportions (e.g., perfect circle or square)

Hold Alt/Option

To draw from the center outward

Properties Panel

to change fill, stroke, size, and corner radius.

Direct Selection Tool

To modify individual anchor points

(1) Object > Expand (2) Object>Path>Outline Stroke

Convert to path (2)

Fill Color

applies to the interior of vector shapes, defining their solid or gradient appearance.

Stroke

defines the outline or border of shapes, adjustable by weight, style, and color.

Toolbar / Properties Panel

Users modify fill and stroke attributes via ____ or _____ for design flexibility

Shape Builder Tool

Merges or subtracts shapes interactively to create complex vector designs.

Gradient Tool

Creates smooth color transitions between multiple hues.

Type Tool

Used to add and format text within a design.

Artboards

Separate canvases within one Illustrator document used for multiple layouts.

Layers

Organizational tool for grouping and managing objects in Illustrator.