WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESIGN

According to the dictionary definition:  graphic design as “the art or profession of visual communication that combines images, words, and ideas to convey information to an audience.” A graphic designer is responsible for arranging and using elements on different types of media (such as a poster, a package or a website), most likely with the use of a graphic software program such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Corel Photo paint

USING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN INSPIRATION

Photography is a great source of graphic design inspiration. There are many online resources that give you access to vast photo collections, from photography portfolios to stock photography websites.

Examples of Photography are

1.  Stock Photography: example of stock photography are

firstly. let’s talk about istock photography

iStockphoto is an excellent stock photo site where members generate the content, which includes photography, illustrations, video and flash files. Low resolution images for the web cost just over $1, and high-res files for print are only $6 to $20, significantly less than many stock sites. Member Generated What makes iStock unique is that their members, known as contributors, submit the entire collection of stock photography. Anyone can apply to be a contributor by taking an online quiz and submitting work samples, which must be approved by iStock staff. Contributors receive a percentage of each sale of their work. This structure results in a unique and eclectic collection of stock photography, illustration, flash and video at affordable costs. Cost Structure iStock works on a system of “credits,” which can be purchased in various quantities. Ten credits cost $13, 26 cost $33, and plans continue up to 1500 credits. Content is sold for 1 to 20 credits, depending on the file size. A 5-credit photo is approximately 4×6 inches at 300 dpi. This makes for a fairly confusing pricing structure, as credits cost slightly more than a dollar each, and the price per credit varies depending on how many you buy. This can make billing clients for stock photography annoying, as the designer has to calculate prices based on the number of credits bought, as opposed to just buying a photo at a specific cost. However, this is a trade-off for low-cost stock photos. The Collection Because of the user-contributed collection, there is often a large search result for photos and illustrations. While it may take some sifting, there are great files available on iStock. It is not the place to look for the classic “models posing” high-cost stock that many are used to. Instead, it is excellent for “real people posing,” photographic elements and backgrounds, and quality illustration. Editable flash files and video can also help a project in a pinch, as can the free image of the week.     Secondly.  shutterstock   Shutterstock is a subscription only stock site, offering a large collection of photos and illustrations at reasonable monthly rates. Shutterstock’s Fee Structure

Unlike many stock sites that offer “pay per photo” service, Shutterstock operates on a monthly to yearly subscription basis, with savings given to longer plans. Each plan includes up to 25 downloads per day, which comes out to an average of 750 downloads per month, at the following costs:

1 Month – $199 3 Months – $559 6 Months – $1059 1 Year – $1999

This structure makes Shutterstock ideal for design firms with several employees purchasing stock for any number of projects, or for individuals using a great deal of stock photography in their everyday work. Designers who intend to purchase only a few images per day or month would be better suited using a service such as Shutterstock’s Photo and Illustration Collection

Shutterstock boasts an extremely large collection (over two million images) of photos, illustration and vector art. A great deal of the photos are not the same style of high-end stock sites that feature the “model shoot” look, often at several hundred dollars per photo. However, some searching will find great, comparable images all included in the monthly fee. The collection is also great for photographic elements, modern illustration work, and background imagery for graphic design projects. The clean interface of the Shutterstock website offers quick searching and easy browsing by category.

lastly: Veer

Veer is a high-end stock site offering quality images and typefaces through a clear, user-friendly website. Images are available from a large selection of stock providers, including Comstock, Photodisc and Digital Vision. Photography The Veer photography collection is high quality, modern and professional. Themed collections such as Baby Boomer Lifestyle, Mountain Ranging and Swanky Spenders are best for projects with a significant budget, as individual photos range from $159 to $519, on average. The right photo may well be worth the investment if budget allows, as Veer offers edgy, well-shot selections in many categories. The cost of the photo would still be less than setting up a professional shoot of your own. In some cases a “super low resolution” image is available for less money, suitable for the web. Illustration Veer offers a unique collection of high quality illustrations for all types of projects. Much of the illustration is rights-managed, with pricing available on a per-image basis for logged in members. Royalty-free illustration costs, on average, between $49 and $349, depending on the resolution. The collection is diverse, from retro black and white images to collage style artwork to cartoons. As with the photography, the right image may very well be worth the cost. Type Veer clearly appreciates the importance of typefaces in design by featuring them prominently in their navigation, alongside photography and illustration. Users can browse fonts for sale by style, collection, or “what’s hot.” Prices vary, but many typefaces are available for $49 to $100. Veer also offers “Flont,” an application that allows you to test their fonts (and others) before purchasing. thank you. from: Sesan Samuel Oyedepo The Author