Graphic design is an essential profession businesses need for marketing campaigns, visualizations of projects and presentations. However, you already know this because you have been in the game for a while and are ready to take your designs to the next level. There comes a time in every professional’s life when they need to advance their skills. If you are ready to move up in your career, learning the different graphic design techniques to boost your work is essential.
1. 3D Design and Rendering
3D design and rendering is an advanced graphic design technique that turns flat concepts into three-dimensional visuals. This process involves two key stages:
- Model creation
- Rendering
In the model creation phase, designers use modeling software to build 3D models. These tools enable you to create intricate shapes and structures, offering control over dimensions and spatial arrangements. Designers manipulate elements like edges and faces in a virtual space to form detailed models. The model development process can be complex, from creating product prototypes to animated characters.
The next step of 3D design is rendering. This phase is where models get their final appearance. The techniques involve applying textures, lighting and shading to make the design realistic. For instance, texture mapping adds surface details, like colors or patterns. Meanwhile, lighting and shading enhance the model’s depth or create a specific effect.
3D design is essential across various fields. You can use it in advertising to create hyper-realistic visuals of products so customers can visualize the items before purchasing. It is an excellent way for designers to bring visual concepts to life.
2. Custom Typography Graphic Design Techniques
Some graphic designers have an obsession with fonts. After all, working with them helps you communicate a brand’s identity and its vision. However, customizing typography goes beyond selecting pre-made fonts. Instead, it involves creating your own lettering that captures a specific style.
Custom typography often starts with a concept or theme. Designers begin by considering the message and tone they want the typography to convey. Different fonts can be playful, sophisticated or edgy. Your choice depends on the aesthetics and emotions you want to portray.
Yet, once you have chosen your concept, the fun part comes into play. Here, designers sketch their initial ideas, experimenting with letter shapes, sizes and spacing. Whether digital or by hand, you must focus on crafting letters that come in a set. Each character must work together with others while maintaining their unique features.
After sketching, you will refine your design using graphic design software. The tool you use will allow for more precise adjustments and fine-tuning. You can manipulate curves, adjust weight, and experiment with different styles like serif, sans serif or script. The goal is to create a balanced, readable typeface that resonates with your audience.
3. Printmaking and Materials
Printmaking is where you translate digital designs into physical forms. While the process involves incorporating your design skills, you must also know various printing techniques and material properties.
An excellent example of this technique is using graphic overlays in print design. Graphic overlays are printed graphics applied onto different materials, often used in product design, packaging and signage. They add a layer of visual and tactile interest, enhancing the aesthetics and functionality.
The process begins with selecting the right material and thickness for the overlay. Typically, the material’s thickness falls between five and 20 millimeters — anything over 20 mm makes it tougher to cut. The types of materials used can range from vinyl and polyester to polycarbonate. Each of their properties can vary in durability, flexibility and transparency.
The next phase involves creating graphics while taking the chosen materials into account. For example, your selected color can appear different when printed on various substrates. You must also consider the printing method, whether it is digital printing, screen printing or lithography. Each offers benefits regarding quality, cost and suitability for the material.
Finally, the overlay is produced and applied. This part can involve additional treatments like die-cutting, embossing or adding adhesive backing. These finishing touches are crucial for the overlay’s functionality, ensuring it adheres properly and withstands different conditions.
4. Color Grading and Manipulation Graphic Design Techniques
Color grading and manipulation are advanced techniques in graphic design that impact mood, tone and overall visual appeal. It involves adjusting colors in an image to achieve a specific look or feel, which can be a complex process for a beginner.
Before you dive into color grading, you must understand color theory. With 90% of first impressions of a design being based on color alone, designers need to know how colors interact, influence emotions and convey messages. Once you understand how colors impact audiences, you can use this knowledge to enhance the visual narratives of an image.
Designers often work with software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to execute color grading. Within these tools, you can adjust various aspects of color, like hue and saturation. Hue shifts can change an entire color scheme, while saturation intensifies or mutes colors.
Color manipulation is a more complex technique known as selective color grading. This is where you apply changes to specific areas of an image, leaving others untouched. This approach aims to draw the viewer’s attention or create a focal point in design.
In summary, color grading and manipulation are about controlling the visual atmosphere of a design. Through color adjustment, you create compelling imagery that keeps the viewer engaged for a long time.
5. Composite Imagery
Composite imagery combines multiple images or elements to create a single digital image. This method is particularly powerful for storytelling, allowing you to place various pieces into a narrative. For example, you will often find composite images in movie posters. They merge multiple elements of the main narrative into one frame, involving the setting, characters, conflict and theme.
When working with composite imagery, you must select various elements for the final design. These components can be photographs, illustrations, text or digital renderings. The key is that each component should work together to create a story or message.
Once you choose the elements, the next step is blending them seamlessly. Adobe Photoshop is a popular tool for this design phase. You can use tools like layer masks, blending modes and adjustment layers. However, attention to detail is essential in composite imagery. This considers everything from light source and shadows to perspective and scale to ensure the elements look like they belong in the same space. The goal is to make it realistic, depending on the intended effect.
Enhance Your Projects With Advanced Graphic Design Techniques
Mastering advanced graphic design techniques opens a world of creative possibilities. Each method — from 3D rendering to composite imagery — is a tool to express your vision and tell compelling stories. Keep in mind that the key to excellence in design is continual learning and experimentation. When you push your creative boundaries, you enhance your skills and leave a lasting impact in the graphic design world.
Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.
