1. GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
What is Graphic Communications?
Graphic Communications are methods of sending messages using primarily visual means.
Examples:
Printing
Photography
Drafting

2. VISUAL DESIGN
Visual Design refers to how something looks -- this is extremely important regarding the effectiveness of the message
What makes a design effective?
Logo & brand identification
Grabs & holds attention
Appeals to target audience
Principles of Design
Balance (visual weight/symmetry)
Proportion (size relationship of all parts of design)
Contrast/Emphasis (drawing attention to certain parts of design through color, underlining, changing font, TEXT SIZE
Variety (adding different things to a design so it isn’t boring)
Rhythm (the design flows and keeps attention
Unity/Harmony (design aspects work together & flow)

3. CREATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
All printed products are designed first through a three-step process:
Thumbnail sketch (basic ideas, “napkin sketch”)
Rough layout (more detail, getting closer to real item)
Full-color comprehensive layout (actual rendering of final product)
Mechanical – “camera-ready” product reproduction that is ready for final print reproduction
Designing With a Computer
Desktop Publishing: using a computer to completely lay-out a publication. The entire three-step process is accomplished using software (quicker, allows easier changes/modifications for lay- out, color, sizing)

4. PRINTED COMMUNICATION
The Importance of Printing
Expressing messages would be difficult without printed words
Printing processes have made it possible to send thousands of duplicate messages
Printing preserves information & knowledge
Types of Printing Processes
The type of printing process used depends on:
Quality of reproduction desired
Cost
Speed
Major groups of printing surface
Relief: methods that print from a raised surface. Ink is picked up from a raised surface & transferred to paper
Types include letterpress & flexography

5. Porous: ink is transferred through many small holes in the material (usually an image or design), allowing ink to pass through the image or stencil onto the printing material
Types include screen printing
Planographic: any process involving the transfer of a message from a flat surface (most common used today)
Types include lithography (based on principle that water & oil don't mix).
Gravure: images are transferred from plates that have sunken areas, where the images are etched or carved into the surface. The exact opposite of relief printing. Provides very high-quality results.
Electrostatic: based on the principle that opposites attract and like particles repel, the image area is given a positive charge while the ink is given a negative charge, sticking to the correct areas. Heat sets the image. Most copiers use this process.
Photographic: light is projected through a plate (the negative) onto light- sensitive material
Ink-Jet: ink jets spray ink directly onto the surface, controlled by digital computer data
Laser: similar to electrostatic, they print on regular paper using a narrow, high- energy beam.

6. Digital Technology & Printing: integrated circuits dominate the printing industry today ensure accurate ink coverage, they allow easy changes in format/color/style, drive all the machines in the printing process, and allow print jobs to be performed “on-demand.”
Types include screen printing

7. COMMUNICATING THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Photos help us capture images, feelings, expressions, concepts, and information.
Photographic Process works similar to how our eyes work. Reflected light is picked up from a subject and focused through the camera lens onto film and the image is recreated when the film is developed. Parts of a film camera include:
Light-tight space (where image is recorded)
Lens (used to focus on the image)
Aperture with aperture diaphragm (lets light in & the diaphragm controls the amount of light)
Shutter (controls the amount of time light is allowed to reach the film)
Film holder (holds the film in place so it won't move)
Viewfinder (used to locate & position the image for the picture)
Film: comes in many formats & sizes. Contains an emulsion which is a sensitive material on the film that captures the image

8. COMMUNICATING THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Digital Photography: Images are stored electronically instead of on film, making it possible to see the image instantly without processing film. Because the image is stored digitally, it can be ed or uploaded onto the Internet, or easily integrated into some publication. Because the image is digitized, it can be altered or manipulated before publication.
Photographic Composition: composition is the way in which all the elements of the photograph are arranged.
Balance: the image to be photographed should be balanced within the image frame using the “rule of thirds”, where the image into thirds horizontally & vertically. The image is placed at an intersection two of the imaginary lines creating balance.
Framing: a foreground image is used to frame a background image.
Simplicity: photos should be kept simple, concentrating on the picture's center of interest.
Leading Lines: used to pull the attention into the focus of a scene
Holography: using lasers to record realistic images of three- dimensional objects, giving X, Y, and Z datum planes.

9. DRAFTING
Drafting: the process of accurately representing 3-dimensional objects and structures on a 2-dimensional surface. Drafting allows for the exact recreation of any product idea by the use non-verbal details.
Drafting goes through a two-step process:
Sketching (getting main ideas on paper)
Detailed drawings (drawing that accurately depicts the exact physical characteristics of the product idea)
Multi-View Drawing: shows two or more different views of an object from right angles, perpendicular views of the same object, etc.. The idea is called orthographic projection – drawing an object from every conceivable position in which it can be viewed. Most multi-view drawings are also known as working drawings – drawings that are fully dimensioned to show exact size, shape, and location in every detail.
Pictorial Drawing: show objects as they appear to the human eye. Fall into 3 categories:
Isometric: object is tilted so its edges form equal angles
Oblique: made from a front view where the top and side views are from any angle other than 90 degrees
Perspective: resemble the way something would appear in real life
Technical Illustrations: provide technical information in a visual way

10. DRAFTING
Computer Aided Drafting (CAD): Simply put, it is a computer software program that allows for virtually every visual input for a product or building being designed. All datum planes (X, Y, and Z) can be manipulated, material strength calculations can be made based upon anticipated or known stresses, and three- dimensional models (modeling) can be produced.
CAD/CAM systems have developed to the point that first operational models can now be developed tested, and prototyped to operational status.