Graphic Design

The term ‘graphic’ means something that is vividly or clearly described. ‘Design’ means to work out the structure or form of something by making a sketch, outline, pattern or plan

‘Graphic arts’ includes any of the fine or applied visual arts based on drawing or the use of line. It is important to be aware that graphic art is not illustration, which is actually pictorial images and text decoration.

Graphic design’ is the production of a layout using text and/or images for the purpose of reproducing a finished design, referred to as artwork. The artwork can be for any number of medium: print, television, film, video and the web. The graphic designer works primarily on design and layout, image and photographic manipulation, and the colour management and prepress aspects of design.

‘Desktop publishing’ on the other hand, means to prepare or fit text and textural elements onto the page for printing.

Modern magazine and book publishing are typical examples of desktop publishing. The term ‘desktop publishing’ only came about with the advancement of computer and software capabilities.

The role of the desktop publisher varies from one project to another and may encompass the writing and editing of text, development of charts and tables, scanning of photographs, typesetting, designing page layouts, production of presentations and preparation of documents for print.