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Adobe Photoshop
The ability and understand the basics of pixel-based photo manipulation. The best Photoshop experts constantly learn and experiment through online tutorials, books, and seminars. This is the grandchild of everyone. Make a goal to spend X amount of time on a new technique each week.
Test: Can you make complicated choices via the selection tool? Are you with low reach? Do you understand how to use adjustments, masks, and channels? Can you remove blemishes, “scratches,” and color correctly
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Adobe Illustrator
The ability to use and understand vector-based graphics. This program is essential for creating sharp, clean artwork. You need this program for creating logo/identity, poster work, and even printing. The program can be a little tricky to learn, but it’s worth it to learn.
Do you understand the concept of decoration curves? Do you know how to create graphic images with text?
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Adobe InDesign or Quark Express
This program is important for any printing. Whether you sell books, magazines, brochures, sheets, or advertisements, you need to have the skills of a high-end layout program.
Could you compile a 32-page catalog? Do you understand the control of text with images? in other words, how to flow text in and around images. Do you have a basic knowledge of offset printing and prepress processes? Tip: if not, plan a visit to a fairly large local printer and ask if you can show their process AND bring along a list of questions.
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Flash
The ability and understand this motion-based juggernaut. Flash is now the most common video platform on the internet. Flash Player is installed on almost twice the many desktops and devices as any other video player. The web becomes more and more video-based with a thorough knowledge of Flash, it is, in my opinion, one of the most important programs to learn.
Can you create simple animation? Do you understand the concept of keyframes? Do you know how to embed a Flash movie on a web page?
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Understand typography
The most “overlooked” design skill is knowledge of typographic design. This is one of the hallmarks of a good and excellent designer. Our business is about communication, and if the type is not clear, appropriate, or well designed, the design is seriously affected.
Have you installed a font driver on your computer? Are you aware of typographic standards? Do you know the difference between PostScript, True Type, and OpenType fonts? Do you have a resource book for font references in your studio?
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Idea generation
In the design industry, it is critical to have a method of creating ideas. Why? The designers in all the world are paid for the most money, not because they know Photoshop or Flash better than you, but because they have the ability to consistently come up with new and innovative ideas that make their clients earn serious money.
What are all the methods do you use to generate ideas? Do you know that how other innovative thinkers come up with brilliant ideas? How often do you read (in general) to have a myriad of references and points of view? What do you do when your idea has dried up well?
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Building a network
To be successful in your life, you need the help and support of others. It is especially important for designers who have to spend a lot of time in their studios/offices—building the network of the trusted confidants and friends that will pay off in more ways than you know.
How often you attend networking events or seminars? Have you made any list of 5 influential people who can help your career? Do you have the sort of system for capturing and entering your new contact information? What can you do this week to open up and expand your network? Are you looking for a successful mentor?
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General business skills
You don’t have to be a genius, but you do need to know basic business skills, such as sales, marketing, accounting, tax strategies, database management, etc. It tends to be one myth that designers do not rather deal with. If you are marketing your own design company, or if you are a freelancer, the sooner you learn that your business is NOT graphic design, but that you will keep the advertising and marketing business light years ahead of your competition.
Details on online graphic design courses
Graphic design online courses have become very popular in recent years. As more and more people nowadays become interested in this field, the courses have also increased. But our busy schedules do not allow us to attend a regular school to learn this art form. But online courses help us to learn it without many brackets. There are some courses that provide course materials by mail. It is basically self-learning material that appears in the form of a CD or DVD along with a guide. Then there are some courses with video tutorials to help the learners. The biggest advantage of the courses is that you can learn them whenever you want. For example, you can teach them during your lunch or during a boring trip.
Cost factor
The cost of such a mainstream course is much higher than an online course. This is because there are a lot of operating costs associated with a mainstream school. Such costs are fairly minimal or almost none in the case of online courses. So you will definitely have to pay lower in an online course.
If you like the world of design if you want to create your own business card or pursue a career in the field of graphic design.