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graphic. design basics amy. e. arntson graphic design basics FOURTH EDITION amy e. arntson UNIVERSITY WISCONSIN—WHITEWATER THOMSON —j—— wapsworTH GAPORE ¢ SPAIN preface Graphic Design Basics introduces students to an exciting and demanding field. Design is linked tightly to society as it both reflects and helps to shape the world around us. Designers are part of this dynamic, important process. To enter this field requires discipline: specific information, hands-on practice and an understanding of time-honored principles, ‘The fourth edition of this text continues to weave a concern for design principles with spe- cialized information about applications in the field of graphic design. ‘Students will nd a comprehensive introduction to the field of graphic design that stresses theory and creative development. The fourth edition includes many new, beautiful {ul-color visuals that refiect many stylistic directions. These new designs and ilustrations are among the best work from the history of 20th century design. Although graphic styles are constantly evolving, the structural underpinnings of good design remain constant. Their application leads to successful design solutions. ‘The tools of the graphic design field are changing quickly, offering opportunities for new complexities of creation and delivery of content. The fourth edition of Graphic Design Basics integrates information about computer graphics throughout the text and provides a guide to generating successtu! fies for electronic prepress. It also includes an entirely new chapter ‘on web design, which has become one of the most powerful and exciting new tools for designers today. Graphic Design Basics introduces the form and function of graphic design. it works well for courses in the field of design, as well as related courses dealing with visual communica- tion and advertising, Projects and exercises challenge the student to internalize the lessons in the text and to learn by doing. Chapters 1 and 2 present an introduction to the design process and the last one hundred years of design history. Chapters 8, 4, and 5 discuss the vital principles of perception, dynamic balance and Gestalt, and how they relate to graphic design Chapters 6 and 7 focus on design principles and applied skils in the special areas of text type and layout design. Ilustration and photography are combined in Chapter 8. The boundaries between these disciplines are less rigid than in the past, especially as electronic ‘media makes photographic manipulation, drawing tools and typography available to a broad range of professionals. Advertising Design is covered in Chapter 9, Chapters 10 and 11 contain extensive material on computer graphics. Traditional and electronic color are als- ‘cussed in Chapter 10 with information about color theory and its application both on and off the computer. Traitional and electronic prepress production are covered in Chapter 11 with

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